Special guest author Thilo Latrell Widder begins a 4-part series looking back at Karl-Anthony Towns' postseason progression over the course of his career.
Thanks for this review of the man we love to love (and some love to hate). The relevant part of that clip is that KAT complains, albeit briefly, to the ref that he was fouled. (He was.) His complaints have only grown louder and more frustrating with age. And he still gets about one call for every three he deserves.
I was hoping that Thibs and drop coverage with KAT was in our rear view mirror. However, here we go again bringing it up. So Swamy, with Thibs here, why in Gods name did Leon bring him here. Was it a water torture thing. For the most part KAT has been terrific on the offensive end and more than adequate defensively since the all star break. Brown adapted ( a non Thibsian concept) and has help right KATs and the teams ship.
It was interesting reading the KAT pain with Thibs from a non Knickster. Kind of reinforced that we weren’t crazy in hating what we saw. I can’t wait till he gets to the Denver semifinals when Minnesota thought they straightened it all out.
I mentioned this in Tommy Beer's substack also: if there's any one thing that gives me great joy in this season (apart from the way the bench goes nuts, including the starters, when something cool happens), it's this notion that multi-year veterans maybe can grow into something more than they started as. Watching KAT stop doing the ticky-tack fouls, defend with verticality, rebound like a monster, and adjust his offensive approach to make him into baby Shaq has been gratifying. Watching Jordan Clarkson defend like his life depends on it in addition to getting those no-no-YES buckets, watching Mitch develop a passing game and even a few moves putting the ball on the floor, all this gives me life.
Does leave you wondering if the problem with KAT wasn't KAT, but maybe a coach that he had for an extended period in his career, and makes for major props for the current Knicks coaching staff.
Could KAT regress? Sure, maybe, under pressure. But we've seen an extended sample of high quality basketball. I think some of that should stick (or at least I'm hoping it does ...)
Great column today! Thank you JM for enlisting the writer to do such a compelling series. And thank you for Thilo Latrell Widder for such a well-written and interesting piece. Besides, how can I not admire a guy who carries “Latrell” in his name!
Among the numerous scary thing about the Hornets is the fact that their Starting 5 is absolutely, historically, killing it. It's only 400 minutes, but they've outscored opponents by nearly 30 pts/100 possessions: https://www.nba.com/news/hornets-improvement-2025-26-season
Fortunately, I don't think I've ever seen these Knicks get nervous. For better and sometimes for worse they seem to enter every game believing they're the better team.
Good stuff, and a timely reminder of two things Thibs did and was very stubborn about, and which were very problematic:
1. Insist that Kat play drop coverage, when it's clear he just doesn't have that skill. Just watching him last year attempt it, then seeing Mitch actually do it, made this crystal clear. But Thibs felt like no problem was not solvable by hard work.
2. Order his rotation by his level of trust in a player, not by their actual position or skill on the court.
Brown seems to have figured out a defensive scheme in which Kat can excel. That's huge, I mean, really critical, because it allows Kat to play the 5, and these lineups have offensive advantages. How did he do that? I think a lot of it has to do with every NBA team being more perimeter based and 3 pointer heavy. That plays into Kat's defensive strengths. And maybe a lot has to do with Kat's maturity. But it's pretty transformative.
Kat's always been a solid rebounder, so him being solid defensively means you can live with the mercurial nature of his offense. It also means you can round out the front court with Mitch and OG without really needing another decent 5 in the rotation.
On the subject of letting guys develop, I think that's always been true for guys picked in the first half of the first round. They'll get 100 chances. I think in recent years teams have realized it's good to keep guys around when they get after it defensively, even if their offense is poor. I think the Knicks have become masters of this technique.
Regarding the standings, we should really hope that the Sixers, and to a far lesser extent the Magic don’t slide into our first round matchup. Just like two years ago, Maxey, Embiid and George being healthy at the right time would is NOT a typical first round matchup. Count me out of that this year, please.
I only bring up the Magic because Franz is coming back, and we haven’t beaten the Magic with him this season - and the games got ugly. Again, not the same level of concern as I have for Philly.
It’s not really a matter of fear. If the Knicks lose to anyone in the first round it’s because they’re not good enough to be considered a contender. I’m just nostalgic for the days (and looking for my first recent Knicks example) when you win 50+ games, get a top seed, and have a routine first round series that’s never really in doubt.
Oh I agree. I’m just saying that the man reason they’ve been so disappointing is injuries. People look past that, and if they’re healthy in the playoffs, it’s just a completely different story. The Sixers are a far scarier example of this.
If the Magic are truly broken, they’ll fall to 9/10 and this won’t be an issue.
Who thought we’d beat Boston then lose to the Pacers, again. I found it useless to dread any playoff series vs. hope for others. Teams 5-8 all have positive qualities that can beat us. Toronto who we believe we own, can beat us. If we are the goods we will prevail. If we get knocked out, we don’t have the goods. Can they maintain the intensity especially on D. Will we keep the ball moving. Will we make the baskets. Will we hit fourth quarter foul shots. Will we avoid injury. Will our opponents reach unreal shooting percentages from 3. If we can’t beat Philly in round one, lots of our heroes will be packing bags for destinations unknown. The ball is in our court
Lee, between Mitch and the resurgent KAT, along with a little OG and Mo ( seriously) they will neutralize and frustrate Embid. I fear VJs speed and youthful exuberance more.
Mostly I fear Embiid will commit another unethical foul and end Big Mitch's career. Which is just one of the reasons why I wish nothing but the absolute worst for him, NBA wise.
Thanks for this review of the man we love to love (and some love to hate). The relevant part of that clip is that KAT complains, albeit briefly, to the ref that he was fouled. (He was.) His complaints have only grown louder and more frustrating with age. And he still gets about one call for every three he deserves.
I've become a KAT Truther myself so this is a good look back on the guy.
I was hoping that Thibs and drop coverage with KAT was in our rear view mirror. However, here we go again bringing it up. So Swamy, with Thibs here, why in Gods name did Leon bring him here. Was it a water torture thing. For the most part KAT has been terrific on the offensive end and more than adequate defensively since the all star break. Brown adapted ( a non Thibsian concept) and has help right KATs and the teams ship.
It was interesting reading the KAT pain with Thibs from a non Knickster. Kind of reinforced that we weren’t crazy in hating what we saw. I can’t wait till he gets to the Denver semifinals when Minnesota thought they straightened it all out.
Nice thought provoking piece John.
Thilo really killed this one, glad you enjoyed it! I'm starting to get worried that I'm as high on KAT as I am heading into the playoffs.
I mentioned this in Tommy Beer's substack also: if there's any one thing that gives me great joy in this season (apart from the way the bench goes nuts, including the starters, when something cool happens), it's this notion that multi-year veterans maybe can grow into something more than they started as. Watching KAT stop doing the ticky-tack fouls, defend with verticality, rebound like a monster, and adjust his offensive approach to make him into baby Shaq has been gratifying. Watching Jordan Clarkson defend like his life depends on it in addition to getting those no-no-YES buckets, watching Mitch develop a passing game and even a few moves putting the ball on the floor, all this gives me life.
Does leave you wondering if the problem with KAT wasn't KAT, but maybe a coach that he had for an extended period in his career, and makes for major props for the current Knicks coaching staff.
Could KAT regress? Sure, maybe, under pressure. But we've seen an extended sample of high quality basketball. I think some of that should stick (or at least I'm hoping it does ...)
where do I sign up for 85-90% of this version of KAT in the playoffs?
If you figure out where to sign up, let me know, because I want to sign up there too!
Though we didn't exactly get 85-90% of KAT against the Hornets.
i think we got 8.5% of him
Great column today! Thank you JM for enlisting the writer to do such a compelling series. And thank you for Thilo Latrell Widder for such a well-written and interesting piece. Besides, how can I not admire a guy who carries “Latrell” in his name!
My pleasure, and glad you enjoyed!
Among the numerous scary thing about the Hornets is the fact that their Starting 5 is absolutely, historically, killing it. It's only 400 minutes, but they've outscored opponents by nearly 30 pts/100 possessions: https://www.nba.com/news/hornets-improvement-2025-26-season
Fortunately, I don't think I've ever seen these Knicks get nervous. For better and sometimes for worse they seem to enter every game believing they're the better team.
I'm very, very curious to see how these teams match up tonight
Good stuff, and a timely reminder of two things Thibs did and was very stubborn about, and which were very problematic:
1. Insist that Kat play drop coverage, when it's clear he just doesn't have that skill. Just watching him last year attempt it, then seeing Mitch actually do it, made this crystal clear. But Thibs felt like no problem was not solvable by hard work.
2. Order his rotation by his level of trust in a player, not by their actual position or skill on the court.
Brown seems to have figured out a defensive scheme in which Kat can excel. That's huge, I mean, really critical, because it allows Kat to play the 5, and these lineups have offensive advantages. How did he do that? I think a lot of it has to do with every NBA team being more perimeter based and 3 pointer heavy. That plays into Kat's defensive strengths. And maybe a lot has to do with Kat's maturity. But it's pretty transformative.
Kat's always been a solid rebounder, so him being solid defensively means you can live with the mercurial nature of his offense. It also means you can round out the front court with Mitch and OG without really needing another decent 5 in the rotation.
On the subject of letting guys develop, I think that's always been true for guys picked in the first half of the first round. They'll get 100 chances. I think in recent years teams have realized it's good to keep guys around when they get after it defensively, even if their offense is poor. I think the Knicks have become masters of this technique.
I hope that April-May-June KAT makes October-November-December-January me eat every word.
you and me both
Regarding the standings, we should really hope that the Sixers, and to a far lesser extent the Magic don’t slide into our first round matchup. Just like two years ago, Maxey, Embiid and George being healthy at the right time would is NOT a typical first round matchup. Count me out of that this year, please.
I only bring up the Magic because Franz is coming back, and we haven’t beaten the Magic with him this season - and the games got ugly. Again, not the same level of concern as I have for Philly.
the only pushback I have is that the Magic may be broken. a team can only take so many hits in one season.
It’s not really a matter of fear. If the Knicks lose to anyone in the first round it’s because they’re not good enough to be considered a contender. I’m just nostalgic for the days (and looking for my first recent Knicks example) when you win 50+ games, get a top seed, and have a routine first round series that’s never really in doubt.
well put Lee.
Oh I agree. I’m just saying that the man reason they’ve been so disappointing is injuries. People look past that, and if they’re healthy in the playoffs, it’s just a completely different story. The Sixers are a far scarier example of this.
If the Magic are truly broken, they’ll fall to 9/10 and this won’t be an issue.
The only team I fear is the one we play tonight.
Who thought we’d beat Boston then lose to the Pacers, again. I found it useless to dread any playoff series vs. hope for others. Teams 5-8 all have positive qualities that can beat us. Toronto who we believe we own, can beat us. If we are the goods we will prevail. If we get knocked out, we don’t have the goods. Can they maintain the intensity especially on D. Will we keep the ball moving. Will we make the baskets. Will we hit fourth quarter foul shots. Will we avoid injury. Will our opponents reach unreal shooting percentages from 3. If we can’t beat Philly in round one, lots of our heroes will be packing bags for destinations unknown. The ball is in our court
I agree. I just think Philly is an outlier example because Embiid, if he’s healthy, can be absolutely unstoppable and unbecoming of a 6/7 seed.
Lee, between Mitch and the resurgent KAT, along with a little OG and Mo ( seriously) they will neutralize and frustrate Embid. I fear VJs speed and youthful exuberance more.
Mostly I fear Embiid will commit another unethical foul and end Big Mitch's career. Which is just one of the reasons why I wish nothing but the absolute worst for him, NBA wise.
It's unconscionable he wasn't heavily reprimanded for that. Should have been suspended for at least one game. Fortunately we beat them anyway.
They should win that series too. I’m just saying! lol.