The Dane Moore NBA Podcast

The Timberwolves loss in Portland felt like a regression -- similar to the losses in Los Angeles. On today's pod, we discuss why being a standard deviation below "bad team" could be costly, and why it's time to right the ship. Ricky Rubio says: "We gotta get better and we gotta get better now." How the Lillard-Nurkic pick and roll led to 47-point second quarter. Why the defensive scheme has changed. My assessment of Ryan Saunders' coaching thus far this season. Submit your Blue Wire Hustle application here: http://bwhustle.com/join Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In advance of Blazers-Timberwolves, Steve Dewald of Blazer's Edge joins the pod. Steve and I discuss the similarities between what the Wolves are building and what the Blazers have built. What is the ceiling of a "good offense, bad defense" team? How has Robert Covington fit in Portland thus far? Could Minnesota have outbid Portland for Derrick Jones Jr.? Do the Blazers miss David Vanterpool? And reflecting on Jake Layman's time in Portland. Submit your Blue Wire Hustle application here: http://bwhustle.com/join Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Britt Robson (The Athletic) joins the pod to discuss a set of storylines from this season that were not anticipated at the year's onset. From Jarred Vanderbilt's boomlet to the machinations of the D'Angelo Russell and Ricky Rubio backcourt pairing, we hit on all things Timberwolves from the first seven game of the season. Submit your Blue Wire Hustle application here: http://bwhustle.com/join Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jarred Vanderbilt finally got his shot -- and he DID NOT disappoint. On today's pod, we discuss the Timberwolves second loss to the Denver Nuggets -- another game that fell apart in the 4th quarter. We get into the obstacles in the way of Vanderbilt permanently fitting into the rotation, and why it feels like Ryan Saunders has to make it happen. Juancho Hernangomez talks about "lettin' it fly", and we discuss why this was the player Juancho was signed to be. Submit your Blue Wire Hustle application here: http://bwhustle.com/join Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

D'Angelo Russell said after the Timberwolves fourth consecutive loss on Sunday to the Denver Nuggets that he doesn't think the Wolves are "ready to win yet" because they are "still figuring out how to lose". On today's pod, we playback Russell's postgame comments and talk about how this team does not look ready to win yet. We get into: How Ed Davis moving into the starting lineup helped to get Russell going in pick and roll game; Why Russell and Ricky Rubio did not share the floor; Malik Beasley's impressive performance against his former squad; and asked the question: Can this team be expected to win any games in KAT's absence? Submit your Blue Wire Hustle application here: http://bwhustle.com/join Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's pod, Jack Borman (Canis Hoopus) joins me live from Target Center to pick apart the dismantling that was the Timberwolves 30-point loss to the Washington Wizards. We dig into why the D'Angelo Russell Experience has thus far been rough, and what needs to change. We also discuss what other adjustments need to be made for this Timberwolves team to remain somewhat competitive in Karl-Anthony Towns' absence. Submit your Blue Wire Hustle application here: http://bwhustle.com/join Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's pod, Britt Robson (The Athletic) joins to discuss why what Karl-Anthony Towns showed in the first two games is more reason for optimism than the two blowout losses in Los Angeles are reason for pessimism. We unpack Britt's most recent column that acknowledges the devastating, albeit expected, losses but also praises KAT's best defense of his career and Ryan Saunders' ability to expand his coaching blueprint. From there, we get into what the complicated plan might be in this KAT-less interim. The trappings of the D'Angelo Russell and Malik Beasley pairing. Britt's assertion that Ricky Rubio needs to start. Dane's assertion that Josh Okogie is the path to defensive competence. And just what the heck is going on in the frontcourt -- between Naz Reid, Juancho Hernangomez, Jake Layman and Jarred Vanderbilt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Losing two games the way the Timberwolves lost to the Lakers and Clippers is a slippery slope. Today we discuss the Wolves needing to inject joy back into basketball, even without KAT. On the show: we react to Ricky Rubio's harsh postgame commentary (audio included); discuss the Rubio-DLo pairing; what is going on in the frontcourt next to Naz Reid; why righting the ship is big-picture important; and trying to find ways to survive on defense. Submit your Blue Wire Hustle application here: http://bwhustle.com/join Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the 15-game stretch the Timberwolves played without Karl-Anthony Towns at the beginning of last season, they ranked third in the NBA over that stretch in defensive efficiency. They only won five of those 15 games, but they played with the identity of a team that executes on defense. On today's pod, I talk about this new Timberwolves roster finding their new KAT-less identity. Plus, we talk other observations from the loss: D'Angelo Russell not taking the lead in KAT's absence, and why that will need to change; Malik Beasley and Juancho Hernangomez needing to find their form from last season; Anthony Edwards, and why now feels like the time to shift him into the starting lineup. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

So who saw the Timberwolves beating the Jazz? Time for some observations from the Wolves win in Utah. Topics in today's pod: DLo and Beasley stepping up with KAT again in foul trouble; Okogie and Culver continuing to shine; Needing to start Naz over Layman against the Lakers; Saunders earning his keep; Why I think Anthony Edwards is the favorite to win Rookie of the Year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices