Tag: play-in

Karl-Anthony Towns is shaking his ‘soft’ label, but the Clippers just showed he still struggles with physicality

Physicality is still a problem for Karl-Anthony Towns

The book on Karl-Anthony Towns so far in the NBA has been that he’s a “soft” player. Folks think he’s a guy you can just push around with fear of no real consequences.

Some of that is a bit unfair. Mostly because it has nothing to do with the game of basketball — that’s not even where the perception comes from.

It all stems from what happened with Jimmy Butler years ago in 2017 when he demanded a trade out of Minnesota. The story always goes that he smoked Towns and the Timberwolves starters in practice with a team of third string players.

That infamous practice story is always generally at the root of all the hubbub that surrounds Towns and his “softness” on the court. He’s worn that label for a long time.

He’s also done plenty of work this season to shake that label as the Wolves have gone on their journey to the playoffs for the second time in since 2004.

Bullying KAT doesn’t really work as much anymore. We’ve seen that in moments like these.

And this one, too.

However, it’s pretty clear that physicality can still get to him. The Clippers made that clear with the way they guarded him in Thursday night’s play-in game.

The Wolves won, yes. But Karl-Anthony Towns was quite literally taken out of the game. Here’s how they did it:

Warriors vs. Lakers betting picks: Prediction, point spread, odds, over/under for Wednesday’s play-in game

Predictions, picks and best bets for Wednesday’s tilt for the Western Conference play-in game between the Warriors and Lakers.

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On Wednesday, the Golden State Warriors will meet the Los Angeles Lakers in the play-in game to decide the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference postseason with a game at Hollywood’s Staples Center. If you’re looking to do some last-minute betting research, you’re in luck. Warriors Wire will give you the latest point spread, moneyline odds and over-under number, as well as the information you’ll need to make the smartest bet on BetMGM.

The game tips off at 7 p.m. PT and can be seen on ESPN.

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The lines, courtesy of BetMGM

  • Point spread: Lakers -5.5
  • Money line: Lakers -250 / Warriors +190
  • Over-under: 217.5

Advice and prediction

While it’s hard to bet against a streaking Steph Curry, the Los Angeles Lakers could cause trouble for the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night. Despite winning six games in a row to close the season, the Warriros still struggle when it comes to keeping teams off the glass. With the Lakers featuring a frontline that has Anthony Davis and Andre Drummond, the Warriors will have to fight to limit the defending champ’s getting multiple attempts at the tum.

Along with a size advantage, the Lakers boast the league’s top defensive rating. The Lakers will likely unload a bevy of defensive combinations to slow down Curry, forcing the rest of Golden State’s cast to make plays. If Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins or Jordan Poole can’t answer the bell, the Lakers could run away with the play-in game.

Best Bet: Under 217.5

Prediction: Lakers 108, Warriors 98

Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.

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