The Dane Moore NBA Podcast

On today’s show, we recap our final regular season game of the year for the Wolves and look for nuggets from this game that are relevant as we look forward to the play-in and playoffs. We also reflect on a 46-36 season now in the books and compare this first the Wolves have taken the first steps that the Houston Rockets took a decade ago, when Chris Finch was an assistant on Kevin McHale’s staff. We also talk about what we saw in Greg Monroe’s return and discuss what Nate Knight’s future with the Wolves might be.— Comparing the 2021-22 Wolves to the 2012-13 Rockets— Finch hints at how the Wolves might pursue the Clippers matchup— What Greg Monroe showed in his return on Sunday that leads us to believe he might be able to contribute in the postseason— Nate Knight’s future with the Timberwolves Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Los Angeles Clippers writers Lucas Hann and Robert Flom of 213Hoops to preview the Wolves-Clippers matchup from the perspective of the opponent. We dig into the four matchups these two teams have had this season — and acknowledge that this matchups are only so relevant, given how much the Clippers have evolved since the beginning of the season. Topics include:— The Chris Finch vs. Ty Lue chess match— The role Patrick Beverley will play, given his familiarity with the Clippers— How the Wolves will handle the Batum-Zubac double look on KAT, and how the Clippers can throw different personnel into that coverage— Paul George’s shot selection and the way he might pursue the Wolves aggressive defensive coverage schemes— The role the benches will play— Our predictions for the matchup Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Britt Robson of MinnPost to discuss Britt’s most-recent column previewing the Wolves play-in matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers. But prior to previewing the Clippers, Dane and Britt reflect on Anthony Edwards’s historic if not a bit overzealous 49-point performance on Thursday night. Topics today include:— Ant’s 49-point performance against the Spurs— How much should we care about Ant gunning for 50 points?— How many teams in the West are a worse matchup for the Wolves than the Clippers?— An extensive preview of the matchup against the Clippers— The importance of KAT’s offensive volume being high— Will Finch go with the same starting 5 against the Clippers? Who will be in the rotation?— The role physicality, experience, poise and Pat Bev will play against the Clippers— Play-in score predictions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today’s show, we dig into Anthony Edwards’s career-high scoring night against the San Antonio Spurs and discuss the role a conversation with an assistant coach and the ability to get to the free throw line played in Edwards’s ability to dominate to the tune of 49 points. We also make the case for Patrick Beverley to make one of the All-Defense teams and discuss the impact the Greg Monroe signing could have on the Wolves play-in and potential playoff run.— Ant finding a way to dominate all four quarters— The Wolves coaching staff challenging Ant to dominate— How getting to the free throw line more could put Ant on a different level— Pat Bev’s case for making an All-Defense team— The Greg Monroe signing and the role he could play for the Wolves in the playoffs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today’s show, we react to the Wolves 18-point loss at home against the Wizards and ask if this was the most demoralizing loss of the season thus far. With a real opportunity to make hay in the pursuit of the six seed, the Wolves got beat up by the size of Kristaps Porzingis and Daniel Gafford, continuing a year-long struggle for the Wolves against big frontcourts. In addition to discussing the loss, we run through where the Wolves currently sit in the standings and also reflect on what the return of Jaden McDaniels might mean.— The value lost in being the seven seed versus the six seed— Comparing this loss to the other worst losses of the season— The Wolves chronic problem of underestimating lesser opponents— More size problems: Porzingis and Gafford dominate the interior— Why the Wolves shouldn’t bank on generating turnovers in the playoffs— The return of Jaden McDaniels Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today’s show, we discuss the Wolves eventually taking care of business in Houston against the Rockets, in a game fueled by elite offense and often non-existent defense. While it wasn’t a well-rounded performance, it was the second consecutive game that all three of Karl-Anthony Towns, D’Angelo Russell and Anthony Edwards have produced in tandem. So we look back at the production of the Big 3 this season and wonder out loud about what level they can get to in the playoffs.— The KAT + Ant + DLo trio’s effectiveness this season compared to other Big 3s— The role of Chris Finch’s ability to relate to the KAT + Ant + DLo as people— The impact of Malik Beasley’s presence around the Big 3— Jordan McLaughlin now providing shooting in addition to his usual under the radar impact Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Britt Robson of MinnPost to discuss just an excellent basketball game in Denver on Friday night, featuring perhaps the best center duel we’ve seen in the NBA this season. In addition to discussing the Towns and Jokic matchup, we discuss the role the surrounding pieces enhanced the game — or in the case of the Nuggets, hurt their changes of coming out with the win. We bounce around quite a bit, but here are a few of the topics we hit on:— KAT’s internal belief that he can take Jokic— The surrounding contributions of not only Edwards and Russell, but also the critical role Jordan McLaughlin and Taurean Prince played in the win— The difference between the play-in and getting the six seed— Britt’s most recent column on three concerns that linger as the season comes to a close Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's show, Dane is joined by the DNVR Nuggets crew in Denver to preview the Nuggets-Wolves matchup and discuss how the Western Conference standings are shaking out. Lots of KAT-Jokic talk, along with our takes on which player might be an X-factor in this matchup. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today’s show, we discuss the Toronto Raptors beating the Wolves on Wednesday night at their own game — forcing turnovers, getting offensive rebounds and making 3s. It was also another game where Karl-Anthony Towns got removed by Toronto’s aggressive coverage on him. So we also ask the question of how the Wolves can raise KAT’s usage through the aggressive coverage. We also talk D’Angelo Russell’s extended stretch of cold shooting and get into how the bench is taking form after losing Jaden McDaniels and Malik Beasley to injuries.— Can the Wolves get more from KAT when he’s aggressively being doubled?— DLo’s down, then up, then down production chart this season, and how it has been the opposite of the Wolves defense’s production arc— The role defense will play in Jaylen Nowell being in the playoff rotation— The Wolves have been outscored by 76 points in the three games Malik Beasley has missed this season Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today’s show, Dane is joined by Timberwolves beat writer Jace Frederick of The St. Paul Pioneer Press to discuss the five things this season that they were most wrong about. Dane and Jace each run through their five things that have most caught them by surprise. Topics include:— Before we get to our lists, some talk on battling Denver for the six seed in the West— The Wolves finding offensive success without KAT having a massive usage rate— How many wins strong coaching can add— Jordan McLaughlin’s emergence as a consistent rotation player— The Wolves’ shot selection this year— Managing to have a competent defense without having substantial size or frontcourt depth— The importance of Jarred Vanderbilt— How important is getting the six seed?— Much more Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices