Shaq offers advice for Karl-Anthony Towns: ‘He needs to demand the ball’
Karl-Anthony Towns struggled offensively in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ first playoff game against the Houston Rockets on Sunday, and one of the best big men to ever play has some ideas for how Towns can prevent that from happening going forward.
Towns scored just eight points on 3-of-9 shooting in Game 1, and Shaquille O’Neal feels that has a lot to do with the 7-footer not establishing himself down low and demanding the ball.
Shaq says Karl-Anthony Towns is the man on the team and needs to demand the ball.
In GM1, KAT only attempted 9 shots in 40 minutes. Derrick Rose attempted 15. pic.twitter.com/YbkWUnkEpR
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) April 16, 2018
“What I would tell him to do is run to the middle of the floor every time and just stand in there until the ref calls three seconds two times in a row,” Shaq said. “Not only will it get yourself in the game, the defense starts to panic and they’ll start to double and triple a couple times early and you kick it out to your shooters.
“I know he’s young, but he’s the man on the team and he still needs to demand the ball. When they switch and a little guy (guards) him, all the guards telling him to clear out — no, you don’t move. You say, no give me the ball. Throw me the ball.”
Towns did manage to chip in with 12 rebounds, but he knows he has to do a better job in other areas if the T-Wolves want a shot at giving Houston a series.
Karl-Anthony Towns: "I've got to be better all the way around."
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) April 16, 2018
While Shaq may be known more for his goofy antics in his post-playing days, Towns would be wise to listen to any advice he has to offer. His four championship rings, three NBA Finals MVP awards, 15 All-Star appearances and spot in the Hall of Fame really say it all.