Karl-Anthony Towns' first exposure to the NBA's playoff stage has not drawn rave reviews, not that he's paying any heed.
In consecutive losses to Houston to open the first-round series, Towns has shot 5-for-18 and averaged 6.5 points per game. It is only the third time in his three-year career that he's gone consecutive games without reaching 10 points; he had a three-game stretch early in his rookie year, then two consecutive eight-point games later in his first season.
And it has made him the target of much national criticism as the team prepares for Saturday's Game 3 at Target Center. TNT analyst Charles Barkley said Towns had a long ways to go offensively.
"He's got to get in the gym, man, and work on his game this summer," Barkley said.
ESPN's Stephen A. Smith called Towns "soft."
"They put Clint Capela on you, and then after that they put Nene on you," Smith said. "Not only do you seem not to have an answer, you don't seem to find one. This is bad."
So does Towns use this as motivation?
No, he said, because he's not listening.