来源：https://medium.com/the-cauldron/the-only-game-in-towns-684860926de2 (5/21的文章，不过因为有些数据跟影片不错，所以我还是翻来给大家参考。) The Only Game In Towns 状元唯一选择：Towns When the Minnesota Timberwolves pick first overall in the 2015 NBA Draft, Kentucky’s Karl-Anthony Towns’ name should be called. 当灰狼抽到2015年NBA状元後，Towns就该是成为壮元的唯一选择。 At this time a year ago, the Minnesota Timberwolves were shopping Kevin Love and beginning yet another rebuilding project of indeterminate length. Even before giving up one of the best players in the NBA, Minnesota already had the longest playoff drought in the league. They turned Love into Andrew Wiggins, the No. 1 overall pick in 2014 and the Rookie of the Year, but they still had to suffer through a miserable season, as waves of injuries to their remaining veterans forced them to play skeleton units comprised of inexperienced players with little chance of winning games on a nightly basis. That’s how a team goes 16–66 and racks up the most ping-pong balls headed into the lottery. 时间回到一年前，灰狼那时候在兜售Love和展开另一段不知何时会结束的重建旅程， 即使还没交易掉这位NBA全明星，灰狼也已经是联盟中最久没进入季後赛的球队了。 他们後来用Love换来了2014年的选秀状元：Wiggins，但他们还是经历了一个凄惨的球季， 太多主力的受伤，让他们被迫要让许多菜鸟扛整季，这也是为什麽他们最终只拿下联盟最 差的16胜66负的战绩。 They wouldn’t take any of it back now, though, after becoming the first team with the worst record in the NBA to win the lottery in over a decade. GM/coach Flip Saunders will have options at No. 1, but it’s hard to see a scenario where he doesn’t end up going with Karl-Anthony Towns. 但他们不需要再哀怨悲叹了，因为他们是十多年来第一次抽到状元的NBA炉主。 球队的GM：Saunders可以决定谁是状元，但很难想像他最後不选Towns。 Towns and Jahlil Okafor spent most of the season in a tight race for the top spot on most draft boards, but Towns began to pull away in the final months, as he assumed a bigger role in Kentucky’s offense and helped lead the Wildcats to an undefeated regular season. While you can make a statistical case for either of the freshmen big men, Towns’ ability to protect the rim and spread the floor is the perfect fit with the young core the Timberwolves have in place. They will consider the top-ranked perimeter players—guys like D’Angelo Russell, Emmanuel Mudiay and Justice Winslow—but Towns to Minnesota makes too much sense not to happen.When projecting their games to the next level, the biggest advantage Towns has over Okafor is on defense. That’s the main concern of the Timberwolves, who had a defensive rating of 112.2 last season, dead last in the NBA. Towns was the anchor for one of the best defenses in recent NCAA history; with Willie Cauley-Stein spending a lot of time chasing smaller players around the perimeter, it was Towns’ job to defend the low post and shut down the paint. Okafor isn’t nearly as athletic and he’s more of an offensive-minded player at this point in his career, which you can see in their defensive numbers. Towns跟Okafor整季都在竞争状元，但最後几个月Towns拉开差距， 因为他在UK承担起了更大的进攻角色，也让野猫队创下39胜1负的成功赛季。 你可以试着去作Towns及Okafor的赛季数据统计， 而你会发现Towns守护篮下以及拉开空间的能力正是灰狼所需要的。 他们或许会考量选择前几顺位的外围球员，像是Russell、Mudiay、Winslow， 但是Towns让这件事难以成真。 如果要阐述Towns跟Okafor最大的不同，那显然就是防守了。 这是灰狼最欠缺的，上一季，灰狼每场被对手攻下112.2分，是NBA最差的球队。 Towns显然是个救星，他是这几年NCAA最好的防守者之一， 在比赛中，队友WCS主要会去外围补防对手的後场球员， 而Towns则负责把关禁区，守好低位。 相对而言，Okafor没有这麽好的运动能力，而他生涯也是个以进攻为主的球员。 看看防守数据吧： ┌────────┬───┬───┬────────┬────╮ │ Towns防守数据 │ 次数 │ FG% │对方每次进攻得分│百分等级│ ├────────┼───┼───┼────────┼────┤ │ 低位背框 │ 47 │ 16% │0.489 │94 │ │ 定点跳投 │ 34 │ 33.3%│0.912 │54 │ │ 单打 │ 24 │ 17.6%│0.333 │96 │ └────────┴───┴───┴────────┴────┘ ┌────────┬───┬───┬────────┬────╮ │ Okafor防守数据 │ 次数 │ FG% │对方每次进攻得分│百分等级│ ├────────┼───┼───┼────────┼────┤ │ 低位背框 │ 104 │ 44.4%│0.846 │40 │ │ 定点跳投 │ 54 │ 35.3%│0.963 │40 │ │ 单打 │ 33 │ 39.3%│0.879 │30 │ │ 档切後的切入者 │ 31 │ 28.6%│0.677 │69 │ └────────┴───┴───┴────────┴────┘ Towns has all the tools to be a high-level defensive player. At 7 feet, 250 pounds with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, he has the size to hold his ground in the low post, the quickness to move his feet and defend on the perimeter, and the length and athleticism to play well above the rim and clear the defensive glass. You can see his activity in these GIFs—he’s flying around the court and generally making things extremely difficult on everyone he’s going up against. Despite giving up 25-plus pounds to Okafor, Towns is the more effective rebounder, one of the areas of the game where you see the difference in athleticism between the two. Towns具备所有成为顶尖防守球员的条件：七尺高，250磅重，臂展7尺3， 他在低位有吨位可以扛住对方进攻球员，他的速度让他可以到外围补防， 而他的身高跟运动能力让他有好的空防，可以巩固防守篮板。 你可以从来源连结的GIF观看他的活动力，他满场跑来跑去，让每个对位球员都感到害怕。 虽然比Okafor轻了25磅以上，Towns却比较会抓篮板，这是可以看出他两体能差异的一环。 [GIF] (Towns抓篮板) [GIF2] (Towns盖锅) Where Okafor has the edge over Towns is on offense, especially in the post, as he is one of the most accomplished back-to-the-basket scorers to come into the NBA in a long time. His efficiency numbers were off the charts at Duke, although that was an almost ideal situation for him, being surrounded by four players who could shoot 3s and open up the floor. Towns’ offensive numbers weren’t quite as high, but he wasn’t playing in nearly as much space at Kentucky, or with perimeter players who could make plays like Winslow, Tyus Jones and Quinn Cook. He also was the more versatile scorer, getting points in more ways than Okafor, who was only effective in the paint. Okafor比Towns要优秀的地方就是进攻了， 特别是低位，他的低位背框是NBA选秀长久以来数一数二的。 但他是有些得益於Duke体系的，他的4个队友都可以投三分，让禁区清空。 Towns的进攻数据没那麽高，但他在UK没有那麽大的禁区空间可以打， 队友也没有像Duke的Winslow、Jones、Cook这样的Play Maker。 此外，他相对Okafor而言进攻更多样化，不仅限於禁区而已。 看看进攻数据吧： ┌────────┬───┬───┬────────┬────╮ │ Towns进攻数据 │ 次数 │ FG% │每次进攻得分 │百分等级│ ├────────┼───┼───┼────────┼────┤ │ 低位背框 │ 154 │ 51.4%│0.922 │76 │ │ 补篮 │ 63 │ 61.2%│1.365 │91 │ │ 切入 │ 60 │ 72.5%│1.267 │79 │ └────────┴───┴───┴────────┴────┘ ┌────────┬───┬───┬────────┬────╮ │ Okafor进攻数据 │ 次数 │ FG% │每次进攻得分 │百分等级│ ├────────┼───┼───┼────────┼────┤ │ 低位背框 │ 328 │ 55.8%│0.933 │79 │ │ 补篮 │ 88 │ 64.7%│1.170 │68 │ │ 切入 │ 66 │ 90.4%│1.636 │99 │ │ 快攻 │ 49 │ 89.2%│1.469 │96 │ └────────┴───┴───┴────────┴────┘ What makes Towns such a fascinating prospect is that he’s the rare big man who can protect the rim while also being able to step out of the paint and open up driving lanes to the rim. Most rim protectors are like DeAndre Jordan or Tyson Chandler, guys you don’t have to guard more than 3 feet away from the basket. While Okafor has the ball-handling and passing ability to run offense out of the high post, he’s not a good jump shooter and the defense can collapse in the paint when he doesn’t have the ball in his hands. Towns是如此稀有的长人在於，他可以保护禁区，又可以守到禁区外再冲回禁区补防。 大部分禁区防守者，像是DeAndre Jordan或是Tyson Chandler， 通常不会守到离篮框三尺远以外的地方。 此外，虽然Okafor在高位有好的控球跟过人技术，但他跳投不好， 所以若他在高位没有持球，对方防守可以内缩。 You can also see the difference in their games in a graph of their free-throw percentage and block percentage numbers in comparison to the starting centers in the NBA. Towns is in the top right while Okafor is in the bottom left, even though blocks are much easier to get at the NCAA level. 你也可以看看来源连结中的图表， 将Towns及Okafor的FT%跟BLK%与几位近年的NBA禁区球员做比较。 Towns是在右上方(罚球跟火锅率都高)，Okafor、Noel在左下方(罚球跟火锅率都低)， Whiteside在右下方(罚球差、火锅率高)，Hibbert在左上方(罚球好、火锅差)， Len、Gobert在中间(罚球、火锅都普通)。 [图表] The decision for the Timberwolves becomes even easier when you look at the rest of their roster. Okafor replicates some of what Nikola Pekovic already does at center, and there’s no way you could play those two floor-bound, non-shooting Goliaths together in the modern NBA. Towns can start his career playing as a power forward next to Pekovic, and he can slide down to center as he gets older, especially since Pek’s medical future is so cloudy. Playing Towns at center also allows Minnesota to utilize all their young players on the perimeter—guys who want to get out and run, not hold the ball, enter it into the low post and play station-to-station basketball. 当灰狼队看一下他们的队伍组成，选择又更容易了。 Okafor扮演的角色跟Peko相近，你也不可能让他们两个不会外围跳投的球员同时上场， 相对而言，Towns可以跟Peko一起上，打大前锋，当他变老了後可以转去打中锋， 特别是Peko的伤势，让他的未来难以捉摸，禁区球员需要能够有些弹性。 让Towns打中锋也可以让灰狼队充分利用他们为数不少的年轻外围球员。 I’ve been focusing on the big men because Minnesota already has one of the most exciting young perimeter trios in the league with Ricky Rubio, Zach LaVine and Andrew Wiggins, so there’s no reason to bring in someone who will just take the ball out of their hands. Rubio signed a $55 million extension last summer and is the current face of the franchise. Wiggins is the future face of the franchise. LaVine had an up-and-down rookie season and is most known for winning the Dunk Contest, but he showed flashes of greatness as the year went on. All three guys should be improved by playing with a big man who can get out and run, have their back on defense, and spread the floor for them on offense. 我只专注在比较Towns跟Okafor，因为灰狼队已经有了Rubio、LaVine、Wiggins要养， 没理由再选个後卫抢球投。Rubio去年夏天签了55M的合约，且是球队现在的看板； 而Wiggins会是未来的看板；LaVine新秀赛季起起伏伏，最知名的是拿下灌篮大赛冠军， 但未来几年他会发光发热的。这三个新星有了Towns的加入後一定会更进步， 因为Towns活动力极强，可以禁区内外跑来跑去，可以做为他们防守的後盾， 也可以在进攻时站在高位帮他们清开空间。 Maybe the most exciting part about the future in Minnesota is how well all their young pieces fit together. They should be one of the most fun teams in the NBA next season, with Rubio leading the break, LaVine and Wiggins on the wings and Towns right behind them. They will still be a really young team that will make a lot of mistakes and struggle to execute in the half-court, but that won’t matter when they are running and gunning at every opportunity, taking advantage of their young legs and putting out a highlight reel every night. Towns has the athleticism to run with those guys and he can even lead the break himself. When you see a 7-footer who can dribble, move and finish like this in the open court, it’s hard not to get excited. 或许最让人兴奋的点在於，未来灰狼队会起什麽化学效应？ 他们肯定会是下赛季最有趣的队伍之一： 想像一下Rubio带头打快攻，LaVine、Wiggins在侧翼，而Towns紧跟在後的画面。 他们还年轻，会犯错，打半场会有点挣扎，但他们会持续进步的。 Towns的活动力可以带动这些家伙，他甚至能自行打快攻。 当你看到一个七尺长人可以如来源连结的GIF般：抄截、运球突破、全场快攻上篮得分， 你怎麽能够不期待？ [GIF] (Towns抄截後一条龙上篮得分) Even the young players in Minnesota who aren’t as well regarded fit in well with the core they are putting together. They gave up a future No. 1 pick for Adreian Payne, another shotblocker who can knock down perimeter jumpers and open up driving lanes for the basket. Playing with Towns as a small-ball center should also be the best chance for Anthony Bennett, the No. 1 overall pick in 2013, to resurrect his career. There are questions about both players, particularly Bennett, but this is a guy who would still be a senior in college next season if he hadn’t declared for the draft as a freshman. There’s no reason to write off a guy with his pedigree when he’s still significantly younger than a lot of players in this draft. 甚至连那些目前在灰狼发挥不好的球员，都可能因为Towns翻身。 例如，灰狼用未来一轮换来的Adreian Payne，不错的跳投以及切入的防守者。 前年状元：Anthony Bennett，也可以在把Towns拉去中锋打小球时上场。 别忘了AB也才21，还有机会救。 They also have the option of pairing Towns with Gorgui Dieng, another defensive-minded big man with a mid-range jumper. That doesn’t even count Shabazz Muhammad, another perimeter player who can stretch the floor and run the break, and who started to come into his own in his second season in the league Dieng这位以防守为主、有一点中距离的球员也可以跟Towns搭配。 还没算到Shabazz勒，他可以打快攻，可以拉开空间，在上季开始崭露头角。 A quartet of Rubio, LaVine, Wiggins and Towns with either Bennett, Payne or Muhammad gives you a plus athlete at every position, three guards who can slash to the lane, and two big men who can step out and attack close-outs with the dribble and finish at the rim. If you close your eyes and project a few years down the road, they could have more than a passing resemblance to the wing-heavy Golden State Warriors. Rubio/LaVine/Wiggins/Towns的组合， 搭配AB、Payne、Shabazz让你在每个位置都有体能优势， 三个後卫撕破对手防线，两个大个子可以在内外线攻击。 想像一下未来灰狼队可能变身成为另一个勇士队吧。 The biggest decision GM Flip Saunders (and ownership) may have to make is whether head coach Flip Saunders remains in that role. Saunders要下的最大决定或许是下季还要不要继续当教练。 Over the last few seasons, former Minnesota VP of Basketball Operations Fred Hoiberg, now the head coach at Iowa State, has become one of the most buzzed-about young coaches in the game. What makes Hoiberg such an attractive coaching candidate is the modern offense he runs at Ames, spreading the floor with five shooters, keeping the ball moving and creating good looks out of the flow of the offense without needing a lot of set plays. 应该要找Hoiberg来当教练， 他带队球的流动很好，5个上场球员都可以跳投进攻， 可以5人拉开、清开空间打挡切，打法也好看。 (不过现在被公牛抢了，看看就好) Karl Towns is the perfect fit for this kind of offense. Regardless of whether or not Hoiberg ends up coming to replace Saunders, the Timberwolves will want a guy running that type of five-out, spread pick-and-roll going forward. Towns barely ever got to run the pick-and-roll at Kentucky. Playing in a two-man game with Rubio should get him plenty of easy looks around the basket. Towns很适合Hoiberg体系，就算Hoiberg没来，灰狼也要找个可以教类似战术的教练。 Towns在UK几乎没有打挡切(自己背框单打居多)，到了灰狼跟Rubio打挡切会让他更轻松。 [GIF] (P&R) If Saunders does give up the head coaching position, it will be one of the most sought-after jobs in the NBA. The chance to coach guys with the talent of Towns or Wiggins doesn’t come around very often, much less both of them at the same time. Minnesota would have the No. 1 overall pick in the last three drafts, and they would be playing those guys with one of the best passers and floor generals in the league in Ricky Rubio. Towns also is a very good passer, and he will have better options to find from the post than he did at Kentucky. 如果Saunders放弃当教练，这会是NBA最受欢迎的工作之一。 (特别提到Towns的传球也不错，在灰狼他可以赚更多助攻。) [GIF] (Towns妙传) [GIF2] (Towns妙传2) If there’s a concern about Towns, it’s that he’s a young guy who isn’t always locked into the game mentally and who can be too eager to make things happen, which is why he spent a lot of time in foul trouble as a freshman. That’s the other thing about Towns to Minnesota—there’s no better person to teach a young big than Kevin Garnett. 如果有什麽要担心Towns的，那就是他偶尔在场上会分心，而有时会太迫切要防住对方， 导致他常有些犯规麻烦。不过不要担心，灰狼队有KG可以好好的训练他。 You never want to compare a young player to a future Hall of Famer, but when a 7-footer is an elite athlete with a fundamentally sound game who can slide between the 4 and 5, it’s hard not to make the comparison. Towns is going to have Garnett in his ear every day, teaching him how to play on both sides of the ball, how to be a professional on and off the court, and showing him what it takes in terms of work ethic and intensity to be one of the best players in the NBA. 你不会胡乱的拿一个年轻球员跟未来名人堂做连结， 但如果有一个七尺球员，有不错的运动力，可以打好4号、5号， 加上有KG每晚在他耳边碎碎念，喔不，是耳提面命， 他的前途确实不可限量。 The sky is the limit for how good Karl Towns can be, and Minnesota is the perfect situation for him. If the Timberwolves draft Towns at No. 1, they will be a team to watch for a long time to come. 天空才是Towns的极限，而明尼苏达就是最适合Towns的地方。 --

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