The Dane Moore NBA Podcast

Late-game execution issues continue to plague the now 7-22 Minnesota Timberwolves. Wednesday’s loss to the Indiana Pacers was no exception. On today’s we get into that game with the following topics: A new closing five of: Karl-Anthony Towns, Jaden McDaniels, Anthony Edwards, Malik Beasley and Ricky Rubio How going with McDaniels over Jarred Vanderbilt created space for the KAT and Rubio pick and roll down the stretch. Malcolm Brogdon and Domantas Sabonis dominating the Wolves’ defense in the fourth quarter and overtime Beasley’s execution lapses in overtime The dominance of the Jordan McLaughlin and Naz Reid pick and roll pairing, not only tonight but the whole season Would KAT benefit from getting some run next to McLaughlin? -KAT’s commitment to defense this season His postgame commentary (audio included) on how he attributes not having coaching turnover for being more mentally engaged on the defensive end this year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With D’Angelo Russell out for the next four-to-six weeks, it’s time for the full-on Anthony Edwards experience. No Russell means Edwards will take the reigns as the Timberwolves’ primary playmaker, and it might change everything. We discuss on today’s pod, with topics including: Why Russell being out will be the best thing for Edwards’ development as a playmaker. In the four games since Karl-Anthony Towns has returned — all of which have come without Russell — Edwards is averaging 19.5 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists per game while shooting 57% from 2 and 32% from 3. How Ricky Rubio will be an important character in this next chapter It will be time to test the rationale for bringing in Rubio. Can he grow Edwards like he did Donovan Mitchell in Utah? Why it might be time to begin considering a KAT-less window down the road where Edwards is “the guy” if/when KAT decides to move on Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Everything the Timberwolves run on both sides of the ball makes so much more sense with Karl-Anthony Towns in the lineup. On today’s pod, we get into how this plays out and which players we saw this specifically impact against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday night. Why the Timberwolves spread offense was destined to fail without a presence like KAT, who actually causes the defense to shift Why it wasn’t a coincidence that Anthony Edwards had his most-efficient shooting night (from 2) while KAT was out there next to him How Edwards’ skillset is proving to overlap more with D’Angelo Russell’s than it does Malik Beasley’s — and why that’s not necessarily a bad thing KAT unlocking the dunker spot — and Jarred Vanderbilt took advantage of that How Ricky Rubio runs on the competence that KAT provides Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The 2020-21 Minnesota Timberwolves have been more interesting of the court this season than they have been intriguing on the floor. And Friday night’s loss to the Charlotte Hornets was no different. On today’s pod we get into the postgame comments from Karl-Anthony Towns and Malik Beasley. Topics include: Karl-Anthony Towns describes being “spooked” by PJ Washington’s positive COVID-19 test an hour before Friday night’s game (audio included) KAT describes how the positive case impacted him mentally in tonight’s game, particularly in the first half. KAT describes where his excitement level is at for the final 46 games of the season (audio included) Why is he is excited to play but also worried about COVID. Malik Beasley calls for more minutes and more usage in the Timberwolves offense (audio included) Why Beasley feels he is capable and deserving of taking on a bigger role. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Now a third of the way into the Minnesota Timberwolves’ season, Karl-Anthony Towns is back, and the season finally feels like it is beginning. Britt Robson of The Athletic joins the pod today to discuss the following topics and more: Karl-Anthony Towns is back What is ‘stealth tanking’? We’ve seen many iterations of tanking over the course of the Timberwolves’ existence. And this version — if it is, in fact, a form of tanking — is perhaps the most confounding. If they have not been prioritizing winning over all else, how did they do it, and will that change now that KAT has returned? Britt and I disagree on the potential of the KAT and D’Angelo Russell pick and roll pairing. In advance of Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball squaring off for the first time, we discuss the ways in which the two are being developed — and the environments they are being developed in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After missing 13 games over the course of 28 days in the league’s health and safety protocol, Karl-Anthony Towns returned to the lineup on Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Clippers. Does this mean we’ve entered a new window of the Timberwolves’ season? On today’s pod, topics include: KAT shares details on his experience with COVID-19 (audio included) What he went through and how he appears to be back to full health. The decision to continue playing Josh Okogie after the Clippers opted to leave him wide open How Okogie’s man not respecting him on the perimeter totally deleted the spacing in the Wolves’ offense and how the offense cratered in response. How players like Malik Beasley will need to adjust to playing next to KAT What would the Wolves’ record be if KAT had been healthy all season? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today’s pod, we discuss how Malik Beasley represents whatever good there has been during this dismal start to the season by the Minnesota Timberwolves. In another flat Timberwolves loss in Dallas on Monday, Beasley’s 22 fourth quarter points, on seven-consecutive made shots, stood out as a lone bright spot. In addition to Beasley, today’s topics include: Beasley becoming not only the best player but the leader of the 2020-21 Wolves Josh Okogie and Ricky Rubio getting back in rhythm a bit after recent cold streaks What in the world happened to D’Angelo Russell, who only played the first six minutes of the game? Why I would use minutes played as evidence of the Wolves not chasing “marginal wins” Juancho Hernangomez returns Jaylen Nowell’s eighth-consecutive double-digit scoring night, and his continued hot shooting since entering the rotation (37% from 3, 56% from 2) Will Jarrett Culver take Nowell’s minutes when he returns? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Minnesota Timberwolves’ one-year anniversary of the D’Angelo Russell trade shaped up to be a fittingly bizarre game in Oklahoma City. On today’s pod, we work backward from Naz Reid getting the final shot to arguably the most disastrous first half in the Ryan Saunders Era. Topics include: Naz Reid deserving the final shot How Reid’s 21 second-half points put the Wolves in the position to give him the last shot. And what Naz said he saw on that play (audio included) Should the closing lineup have been: Reid, McDaniels, Layman, Beasley, Edwards My theory on why it would have been fine to close this game without a point guard. Why Jaden McDaniels needs to start if Josh Okogie doesn’t With Okogie demoted from the starting lineup to the fringe of the rotation, Anthony Edwards has become the Wolves de facto “wing stopper.” Should that role go to McDaniels? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Were you expecting a nice win? On today's pod, we talk about the Wolves' "ugly" win in Oklahoma City. DLo's game-winner, and why it wasn't hero ball this time. Time to take stock of the DLo-Rubio pairing with a numbers dive. Should Rubio be closing games? And is it just time to both start and close games with Jaden McDaniels? DLo speaks glowingly of the rookie (audio included), making the case for a new starting lineup: KAT, McDaniels, Edwards, Beasley, DLo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode, we get into how in the world the Timberwolves blew a 16-point lead with 10 minutes left against the Spurs. Where the Timberwolves 4th quarter offensive execution broke down. Why Saunders said he puts some of that on him (audio included). Where the execution of what they were running cracked. And how in the world Anthony Edwards couldn't get a touch the whole quarter. The game could have also been saved on the defensive end. But DeMar DeRozan had 16 4th quarter points, as the Wolves scrambled to find answers to no avail. Should have Ricky Rubio came in for Josh Okogie? Why did Saunders prioritize offense over defense? Was that the right move? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices