KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS – Page 6 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

‘Ant’ Rubbing Elbows with LeBron, Jordan & Oscar

Posted on April 16, 2024 by David Shama

Anthony Edwards is in elite company after finishing the regular season on Sunday with 2,049 points, 430 rebounds and 405 assists.

At 22 years and 253 days old, Edwards became the fourth-youngest player in NBA history to total 2,000 plus points, 400 plus rebounds and 400 plus assists in a season. The others are legends LeBron James (three times), Michael Jordan and Oscar Robertson.

Edwards finished the season as the only player in franchise history to average 25 plus points, five plus rebounds and five plus assists. His 2,049 points rank second in Wolves history to Karl-Anthony Towns’ 2,061 in 2016-2017.

Edwards’ value was significant defensively, too, helping the Wolves to a second-best franchise record of 56-26. President of basketball operations Tim Connelly told Sports Headliners that Edwards and teammate Jaden McDaniels (23-year-old starting small forward) “are two of the best perimeter defenders in the league.”

The Wolves finished the season No. 1 in scoring defense in the NBA, allowing 106.5 points per game. They also led in defensive field goal percentage, allowing 45 percent. It’s a franchise first for Minnesota to finish a season ranked first in either category.

The defense, which also led the NBA in advanced defensive rating, is led by 7-1 center Rudy Gobert. He’s the favorite to win his fourth NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award and is part of a total team commitment limiting scoring by opponents.

“When you have that many guys committed to playing defense…it’s infused through your team and everybody buys in,” head coach Chris Finch told Sports Headliners.

As the No. three seed in the playoffs, the Wolves will need to play better defensively and offensively against the sixth seeded Suns who swept them during the regular season including an embarrassing 125-106 loss in Minneapolis Sunday. The Wolves, trying to drive the basketball where there were no openings and throwing errant passes, committed a ghastly 19 turnovers leading to 26 points in the first half.

The Suns, 49-33 during the regular season, present matchup problems for Minnesota. Point guard Mike Conley is only 6-foot tall and faces a Phoenix backcourt with 6-6 Devin Booker Beal and 6-4 Bradley Beal. Up front the Suns have 6-11 shot master Kevin Durant who was guarded by the Wolves’ 6-6 Edwards on Sunday.

The Suns have mobile and effective scorers in Beal, Booker, Durant and 6-4 small forward Grayson Allen. That raises questions about whether the Wolves can play Gobert and 7-foot-power forward Karl-Anthony Towns, the Twin Towers, for long stretches defensively.

Offensively, on Sunday the Suns constricted offensive opportunities for Edwards, who averaged 25.9 points per game this season. Double teams and constant attention resulted in just seven field goal attempts and 13 points for Edwards.

The NBA is all about adjustments from game to game and it will be pivotal for the Wolves to not only create more opportunities for Edwards to score but also move the basketball better to present better opportunities for other players.

The Wolves, who were resoundingly defeated by the Suns in all three games this season, have home court advantage in the potential seven-game series starting with Saturday’s opener in Minneapolis. The Suns are about a two-point underdog for Saturday.

The Wolves, who finished 42-40 last season, have a strong Coach of the Year candidate in Finch. Edwards will draw some attention for NBA MVP and power forward Naz Reid is a legit contender for Sixth Man of the Year.

Quoting Kevin O’Connell on QB Hunt and Justin Jefferson

The Vikings have a lot of voices providing input as they evaluate quarterbacks for the upcoming NFL Draft. Head coach Kevin O’Connell offered insight yesterday when asked about a situation where the Vikings could be trying to decide on who to draft when a couple of quarterbacks are almost equally valued by them.:

Kevin O’Connell image courtesy of Minnesota Vikings

“Yeah, I mean, luckily, we’ve got a lot of really smart people in this building and between Kwesi’s (GM Adofo-Mensah) staff and our coaching staff, the process has been really good. The quarterback position is one where you may have 10 really smart coaches or personnel folks watch the same cut-up, and you might come away with 10 different opinions on a player.

“That’s why we have to spend a lot of time together. That’s why we spend a lot of time with the players themselves and really envision not only what they’re going to be like as an NFL quarterback, but what are they going to be like as a quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings if we’re able to get one of these guys. …”

Superstar receiver Justin Jefferson didn’t attend yesterday’s first voluntary offseason workout program. That’s not unexpected from an uber talent who is in a year of contract talks.

O’Connell is unsure when Jefferson might participate in workouts, with volunteer days now and mandatory activities ahead. “… I know I’ve had a lot of great dialogue with Justin throughout even the early part of this offseason and leading up. So, you know, my hope is we can get him around the team.

“He’s obviously such a special player, but it goes beyond that. Especially this time of year because of just the energy and the flat-out way he comes in when he’s in this building and he goes to work and how his teammates respond to him.

“So, I want him here as much as we can have him, but also understand that there are a lot of factors involved. And like I said, there’s nobody I love having more around on a daily basis, just because of how he elevates others. Truly a special, special player.”

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J.J. McCarthy Might Give Vikes Second Best QB in Draft

Posted on April 7, 2024April 7, 2024 by David Shama

Daniel House studies more film of prospective NFL quarterbacks than any media person I know. He analyzes game films of college quarterbacks not just from 2023 but dating back in some cases to before the pandemic.

And guess what? In this 2024 quarterback rich NFL Draft he agrees USC’s Caleb Williams has the most upside, but his No. 2 may surprise you. Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye often receive more praise as prospects, but based on what House refers to as “projection” he thinks J.J. McCarthy is No. 2.

“Soley based on the fact that his ceiling is the highest of these quarterbacks. …He really wasn’t able to showcase everything that he could do because of Michigan’s style of play and how they completely dominated teams up front,” said House who offers his football insights on Mnvikingscorner.com and Gophersguru.com.

“When he was asked to do things within the system, to showcase his strengths, he executed those things. And when he gets in an NFL system that builds around what he does best—you put him in a good situation—I think he’s really going to forge and take off based on his talent.

“I don’t think people give him enough credit for his athleticism. This guy is very, very athletic. He’s slippery. He can extend plays but he’s not one of those guys that is going to hold onto the ball too long and back himself into some poor decisions.”

McCarthy has been linked to the Vikings since last fall, with the notion GM Kwesi-Adofo Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell were focusing on the former five-star recruit who helped Michigan to the 2023 national championship. Back then and for a while this winter speculation was McCarthy could be available in the middle of the first round or later.

That seems to have changed, with talk now McCarthy might be selected among the first six picks in the April 25-27 NFL Draft. Four quarterbacks going in the first five or six selections? It’s possible and that scenario would mean the Vikings trading up to be positioned for McCarthy or another high QB prospect.

Trade capital could mean the Vikings offering their No. 11 and No. 23 first round picks, and more, to be in a prime draft spot. McCarthy could be the target because of his skills and how those physical and mental attributes fit the Viking offense that favors play-action and passes over the middle of the field.

Daniel House

“I think he fits Kevin O’Connell’s offense the best (compared to Daniels and Maye) and he’s got the highest ceiling overall when he gets into an offense that fits his strengths—the play fake, the ability to suck defenders up, doesn’t get frustrated when things aren’t available. He’s a great improv, off-schedule quarterback when he needs to be,” House said about the 21-year-old who is the youngest among the four quarterbacks ballyhooed in the draft.

“The thing I notice is how he loves to give receivers hand signals, and then just redirects them and knows where to put the ball to give them a chance or draw a flag. Flashes the ability to move defenders with his eyes, and pump fakes, and really shines throwing over the middle of the field which I think is something Kevin O’Connell really is looking for in his next quarterback. …”

If the Vikings stay at No. 11 in the first round, McCarthy is unlikely to be available, but Bo Nix from Oregon and Michael Penix Jr. of Washington could be. In a league where successful quarterbacks have been found not only in the first round but even as free agents, the Vikings might find their man at No. 11 or later.

House refers to Nix as “a great athlete,” praises him for his throwing accuracy and pump fake that fools defenders, and for having a high football IQ. He said Nix’s pro success will depend on the system he plays in. “If he ends up with someone like Kevin O’Connell, I think he could do quite well.”

House praises Penix’s improvement during his college career and likes the quarterback’s ability to find openings in the secondary. “He’s more of a gunslinging type of quarterback where he’ll drive it into the tight window because he’s got such a strong arm and the ball really jumps out of his hands differently.”

House said Penix can make all the throws, his processing is better than he is given credit for and he thinks “someone is going to really fall in love with him as their quarterback.”

Of course, every prospect has elements like processing that evaluators are uncertain about. For a detailed look at the top quarterbacks in this month’s draft google their name and the NFL.com/prospects.

Worth Noting

Good guy Dalton Risner, the Vikings left guard who signed a one-year deal with the club last year but now is a free agent, switched agents recently in what seems to be a slow-moving contract process. Could Blake Brandel, who the Vikings re-signed last month, change from a utility backup role to a starter at left guard?

A controversial call in the closing seconds of Friday night’s Women’s Final Four cost UConn an opportunity to tie or win their semifinal game against Iowa but afterward former Hopkins superstar Paige Bueckers said one play doesn’t determine the outcome and she could have played better. Her former high school coach, Brian Cosgriff, texted this last night:

”No excuses. Even after one of the toughest losses ever. It’s what makes Paige special off the court, too!”

Quote on X last week from Robbinsdale Cooper LB Emmanuel Karmo —the top-rated class of 2025 state of Minnesota prep football prospect by 247Sports —after visiting Ohio State: “Had a great time in Columbus yesterday (April 1). Love the facility and the people and can’t wait to get back down on campus.”

A timely program on NIL’s impact on college sports featuring Gophers athletic director Mark Coyle will be the topic for the Capital Club’s April 24 breakfast at Mendakota Country Club. More information about the club is available from Patrick Klinger, patrick@agilemarketingco.com

With the Timberwolves facing salary cap challenges in the next offseason, forward-center Karl-Anthony Towns could be traded. If so, his absence may create a bigger role for center Luka Garza who recently saw his two-way contract converted into a standard NBA contract. Now in his third NBA season, Garza scored a season-high 16 points last week against the Raptors in just under 10 minutes. A skilled offensive player, Garza averaged 36.7 points in three G League games this season with the Iowa Wolves.

Anthony Edwards has at least one steal in 17 consecutive road games and can continue the streak in Los Angeles tonight against the Lakers. The club record is 24 set by Terrell Brandon in 2000.

That was Nebraska head basketball coach Fred Hoiberg, presumably in town for recruiting last week, seen at the Original Pancake House in Eden Prairie.

7 Vines Vineyard and Winery in Dellwood will be the site on Monday, June 10 for a tribute by friends and former teammates of the late Jim Carter who passed away in California last November. The celebration of life for the former Gopher football captain (1969) is being organized by former teammate Jim Brunzell.

The Wild, looking at missing the playoffs for the first time since 2019, seem likely to use minimal time in deciding whether to bring back 39-year-old goalie Marc-Andre Fleury.

The Twin Cities chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association is nominating Wild center Marco Rossi for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy presented annually to the player best exemplifying perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.

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Ex-NBA Referee Describes Edwards’ Rants as Classless

Posted on February 1, 2024February 1, 2024 by David Shama

Ken Mauer Jr. believes Anthony Edwards was classless when ripping the officiating after his team’s game against the Thunder in Oklahoma City Monday night, but he said that referees Mark Lindsay, Karl Lane and Matt Myers will not hold a grudge against Ant.

Mauer, the St. Paul native who was a highly respected NBA referee for 37 years, didn’t see the game but heard about comments made by the Timberwolves 22-year-old high scoring guard now in his fourth professional season. Although Minnesota won the game between two of the Western Conference’s premier teams, Edwards said the officiating was “terrible,” that it was like competing against eight opponents on the floor (not five) and that his team won despite not receiving the calls they deserved from referees whose integrity he questioned.

Edwards knew his postgame comments invited punishment from the NBA office. Yesterday the league announced a $40,000 fine for his critical remarks after his team’s 107-101 win, a game where he scored 27 points.

“There’s no class there,” Mauer told Sports Headliners yesterday when asked about Edwards’ critical words. Mauer said there is a professional way to converse with officials and how to talk about them. Edwards crossed the line. “I just think they’re (the rants) without merit,” Mauer said by phone from his home in Florida. “I just don’t understand.”

Basketball is an emotional sport, and it can test the self-control of players as it did with Edwards on Monday night. “He’s a young kid,” Mauer said. “He just doesn’t quite get it yet.”

Edwards, who is averaging 25.5 points per game and has the potential to become a consensus superstar, has been in “hot water” with the league before. In 2022 he was fined $40,000 for anti-gay remarks made during the off-season. Last year he was assessed a $50,000 penalty for an incident in the spring when he recklessly threw a chair in frustration that struck bystanders.

Mauer said the league’s referees need to know the NBA office is supportive of them. Fines and reprimands of players show that backing and without such actions referees will be upset.

There will be no inclination by the three officials who worked Monday’s game, or any other league referees, to have a vendetta against Edwards, Mauer said. “Do they carry a grudge? No. Referees, they remember but referees don’t do that (hold grudges).”

By remembering incidents with players or coaches, the potential is created to have future dialogues among all concerned. Referees and players can learn from what happened and be better prepared to handle similar incidents going forward.

Mauer said NBA officials are constantly evaluated. “They get graded for every call for every game.” A supervisor will let them know if they make a mistake.

Mauer’s NBA career ended after the 2021 playoffs. He was suspended without pay for the 2021-2022 season for refusing to be vaccinated for COVID. The league didn’t mandate that players be vaccinated but did so with referees. In a two-sentence letter from the league in September of 2022 he was terminated. Mauer’s convictions told him his treatment was wrong and he initiated litigation against the NBA that is ongoing. He has an appeal for legal funding help on his GiveSendGo web page.

Mauer doesn’t want it to sound like “sour grapes” but he believes the quality of officiating in the league may not be what it once was. “There’s referees that they’re hiring that have refereed only four or five years in their entire careers,” he said.

Mauer can recall an era when it was common for rookie NBA officials to have 10, 12 or more years of prior experience at other levels of basketball. A referee facing a challenging situation for the first time is in a different place than one who has seen those circumstances many times. The league decision makers have for a while now been expanding the number of referees and have prioritized gender hiring. The total number of officials entering this season was 74 and the league had an all-time high eight female referees going into the prior season.

Mauer said contrary to the view of fans and media, officials don’t play favorites with players, teams or venues. They don’t now, nor did they during his time, Mauer maintains.

“There were many times I didn’t even know the player that I was calling the foul on. …We don’t care. We just go and do our job.”

Mauer said coaches, players, fans and media know the Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns is a “whiner,” but that reputation doesn’t predispose officials to treat him unfairly. “Referees have guidelines they must follow. They follow (apply) for all the players.”

When Mauer worked in the NBA he talked with Towns and others who complain frequently about calls they don’t like. There’s no upside in that for players, Mauer said. He viewed Towns’ rants as immature behavior.

LeBron James and the Lakers don’t receive preferential treatment because he is one of the greatest players ever, or because his team is a flagship NBA franchise, per Mauer. He believes the league’s greatest players are probably more deserving of favorable calls because they make the difficult look easy despite having defenders hanging on them or hacking their arms.

Home court advantage in the NBA? Maybe so for various reasons like fan support spiking adrenaline in players but Mauer contends refs don’t intentionally favor home teams. Mauer said legendary NBA referee Earl Strom prided himself on a record that showed visiting teams won more often than home teams in games officiated.

Mauer said it was once pointed out during his career that the same was true of him. “I never kept track of things like that. I just go out and do my job.”

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