ramtour420 wrote:martin wrote:ramtour420 wrote:Is it too much to ask for out highest paid player to not make stupid fouls and not argue with refs ? That's all we need Towns to improve on. His d is a little better this year,so he is trending the right way there.
And this right here is what separates the really really really good from the elite. The mental side of the game.
MJ once said that basketball is 90% mental. I always thought it had to to with confidence when shooting and such. However, I could never properly understand it. But now I totally see it, Towns being a perfect example. All the talent in the world. Maybe the most talented player I have seen play. But mentally a 5th grader ...
And one has think he visits this and works on it? From his perspective if this has been an issue his whole career it will continue as will his critics. I get guys like Big Perk or Shaq on TV has to have a take and "Challage him". Makes for good TV engagement. I have said now a few weeks he looks like Ebiid out there and now putting a hurt on others. HE does get hit a lot and now wants to exact revenge? We used to call that "being tough"? That nobody came up to defend him vs. Draymond a sign? That or nobody wants to **** with him or his mouth? Or a sign they are not all with KAT? To do so also escalates things, creates more tech's and can also take the focus off the game. Dray wants that.
ON a side note Mike Browns hug with Dray reported as bothering some on the knicks seems silly. He was second chair with that team for 6 years and won there. There is a bond. Take a moment to recognize relationships is not a crime. If Guys are bothered by that they "need to do their ****ing jobs!" which is not to be over sensitive to a coach acknowledging a guy he coached for a long time! Brown is not grumpy like Thibs. The same guys that wanted Thibs gone the same as not wanting happy Mike Brown?
I like that Jalen is publically holding the players accountable. They are a veteran group and talented. The Best teams are not usually over coached but are given the latitude to figure it out. Phil Jax not only had talent on Bulls and lakers but alpha's that were drilled and able to adapt to the game and conquer. Thibs was too much a control freak to do that perhaps? Brown I think is trying and this team is not ready to as a group to get that. THis is why another coach might just be a sugar rush short term? Why a MIke Malone wore his ass out in Denver. He is cut like Thibs.
Vs Dallas I was ok with KATs beat down of Powell who put himself in that position to get hit by his defensive posture.
As for KAT, he is an emotional player. He smiles too. He wears his heart on this sleeve. He also wears his whiney side also. If he can find a middle ground that would be best. Maybe he has and this is all we gonna get? I so wanted his homecomiing to be a mutually beneficial and victorious relationship!
MY hope is this teams evolves into a collective that enjoys playing with and for each other. Maybe Brown sees this as part of the process and its up to the players how they come out of it? All the yelling and coaching cannot do this. Jalen seems to suggest its a player thing. Trades unless you blow it up won't do it.
1/20/2026 6:22 PM