The Dane Moore NBA Podcast

The Timberwolves enter the Christmas Break undefeated with a win over the Pistons. Good audio quotes from the players postgame, so I let that carry today's show -- beginning with KAT discussing where he's at mentally. From there we get into Anthony Edwards looking NBA ready. We talk Josh Okogie being the team's best power forward, shutting down Blake Griffin. Some commentary on the defense (zone!). And then I explain why D'Angelo Russell didn't start, and how that really impacted Ryan Saunders' rotations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Britt Robson (The Athletic) joins the pod to discuss his column on points of interest for this Timberwolves season. Dane and Britt run through what can be gleaned from the preseason in an effort to begin to define this team. Topics include: Ryan Saunders' great challenge with the rotation. What can be expected from the D'Angelo Russell and Malik Beasley combination in the backcourt. Reason for optimism with the Anthony Edwards and Jarrett Culver wing duo. The burden Karl-Anthony Towns carries on both ends of the floor. And finally, where the Timberwolves might finish offensively and defensively this season -- and how that will translate to the win column. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There had to be some reason the Timberwolves waived Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. Right? Jack Borman (Canis Hoopus) joins the pod to discuss the value of the financial flexibility gained by waiving RHJ and weigh it against the value that will be lost on the floor. What does this mean in terms of a potential PJ Tucker trade? Dane and Jack also watched the Detroit Pistons final preseason game in advance of the Wolves season opener against the Pistons. Where should the Wolves offense be able to cook against a weak Pistons defense? What type of offensive threats do Blake Griffin and Derrick Rose pose? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Karl-Anthony Towns gave my favorite postgame interview of his career after the Timberwolves beat the Mavs in the preseason finale. For so long, KAT has noted how the Wolves as a team need to improve defensively, but this was the first time he spoke honestly about his defensive shortcomings. I thought those words were noteworthy, so I play the audio from that interview on the pod and share we I think those words carry weight. Then we get into observations from the game. Anthony Edwards starting to look like a top pick. Jarrett Culver and Josh Okogie becoming a formidable wing duo. Naz Reid cracking the bigs rotation being a sign of things to come. And Jordan McLaughlin signing a two-way contract to return to the Wolves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jack Borman (Canis Hoopus) joins to discuss where the Timberwolves will rank this season in terms of offensive rating and defensive rating. Outside of last season, the Timberwolves have been in the top-half of the league in offensive rating every year of KAT's career. How high can the presences DLo, Rubio and Beasley elevate the offense this season. And defensively, the Timberwolves have been bottom-ten of the league in terms of defensive efficiency every season of KAT's career. Where does this team's combination of defensive talent and scheme project them to land in the league's defensive hierarchy this season? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After watching Ja Morant explode against the Timberwolves in these first two preseason games, it's worth asking how Morant ranks in the league's hierarchy compared to Karl-Anthony Towns. Dane makes the case for why KAT is more likely to have a better 2020-21 season but also why it's closer between the two when we consider the long-term. Additionally, Dane digs into four more observations from the Timberwolves second preseason game. Including: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson's case for cracking the rotation; the lack of offensive synergy thus far; Jarrett Culver's impressive start to the season on both ends; and the commonality between the players that have looked most comfortable in these first two preseason games. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode, Dane digs into the Timberwolves preseason opener. What it was like to cover a fan-less game at Target Center, and how it reminded Dane of a specific preseason game from back in 2011. From there, we get into five observations from the opener. 1) Jake Layman starting and producing at power forward. 2) What we saw from the Rubio-DLo backcourt pairing. 3) Jarrett Culver looking great defensively. 4) Just getting the chance to see KAT play. 5) How Jaylen Nowell appears to be the third point guard in the absence of Jordan McLaughlin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode, Britt Robson (The Athletic) joins the show for Part 2 of our season preview. After discussing Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards in Part 1, we dive into the D'Angelo Russell and Ricky Rubio backcourt pairing, and where Malik Beasley fits into that calculus. We also talk about the importance of insulating Towns in the frontcourt -- and how Britt would handle the bigs rotation. Then we close with how the Timberwolves might stack up in a confusing Western Conference this season. Dane also shares why he is planting his flag on D'Angelo Russell exceeding expectations this season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode, Britt Robson (The Athletic) joins the show to begin previewing the Timberwolves season. In Part 1, we discuss how this is the most mysterious Timberwolves team in franchise history due to the countless unknowns. Karl-Anthony Towns being the greatest mystery. Where is he mentally? And what does that mean for what actually shows up on the floor. We also dive into Anthony Edwards -- another one of the season's great unknowns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode, we dive into the Timberwolves big man position(s). For a team that needs to improve defensively in the frontcourt, Gersson Rosas has chosen a non-traditional path in two consecutive offseasons. The power forward position has been an interesting data point to track as Rosas has reshaped the roster -- and will remain fascinating this season. Who does Ryan Saunders decide to give those big man minutes to? Is 6'4" Josh Okogie in the mix? Who else is a power forward? Who is exclusively a KAT backup? And how might this all work out this season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices