Towns laments Timberwolves' recent struggles: 'It's my fault'

This was supposed to be the season the Minnesota Timberwolves' youthful core rose to the occasion, lifted the franchise out of the cellar, and guided the team back to the playoffs under new head coach Tom Thibodeau.

Not so fast, basketball world, because through the first 17 games of the 2016-17 campaign, Minnesota finds itself with a rotten 5-12 record after losing five of its last six games, including a 112-103 defeat to the Utah Jazz on Monday night.

While the onus to carry the team doesn't fall on just one individual, big man Karl-Anthony Towns - who's coming off a Rookie of the Year win last season - is taking the Wolves' losing skid harder than anyone, placing the blame squarely on himself.

"The more losses we keep accumulating, the more it feels like it's my fault. Look myself in the mirror and I've got to play better," Towns said, according to The Associated Press's Jon Krawczynski. "I've got to play a level where we can't lose and help my teammates out the best I can. I haven't done it recently."

Offense isn't what's ailing Minnesota, as the team currently ranks 11th in the Association by scoring 105.1 points per 100 possessions, with Towns contributing a near double-double of 21 points and 9.5 rebounds on 48.6 percent shooting. The defense is an entirely different story, though, with the team allowing opponents to put up 106.1 points per 100 possessions at 23rd overall.

Thibodeau's reputation for being a defensive specialist is getting torn apart each passing day, and it's not as though the roster is devoid of talent who couldn't possibly excel on that end of the floor, with the likes of Andrew Wiggins, Gorgui Dieng, Ricky Rubio, and Kris Dunn all more than capable of being above-average defenders on a nightly basis.

The Timberwolves don't have any veterans to help talk the younger players out of this current rut, so perhaps Towns feels he needs to take it upon himself to be the leader and vocal presence the team so desperately needs. His willingness to take a majority of the heat when it's evident that there's enough to go around is noble, yes, but whether or not it will light a spark under anyone remains to be seen.