The Dane Moore NBA Podcast

The Timberwolves fell apart Wednesday night against the Bulls when Karl-Anthony Towns was off the floor, getting outscored by 19 points. On today’s pod, we focus on the impact of KAT’s fairly chronic problem with foul trouble — and how Chris Finch and KAT may need to adjust accordingly. Will how KAT is being used under Finch — as the hub of the offense — impact the frequency of how often he commits offensive fouls? Can adjustments be made to keep KAT on the floor more often? KAT explains his 6th foul on Wednesday and his changed approach with refs this year (audio included) What will be the impact of playing analytically-driven basketball be on Ricky Rubio? How Rubio’s contract impacts the Timberwolves’ luxury tax situation next season. Could Rubio be traded at this year’s deadline? Submit your Blue Wire Hustle application here: http://bwhustle.com/join Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Chris Finch Era is officially underway for the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 27-point loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. So what have we learned about Finch thus far — from that game and from his public comments to the media thus far? Were there structural changes to the offense/defense? Who is going to play? And how long are they going to play for? Should we believe this means more minutes for Karl-Anthony Towns, Malik Beasley, Jaden McDaniels and Jordan McLaughlin What is Chris Finch about, and how does this connect to KAT? KAT has been utilized in a different way each of the past three seasons. What season will the Finch-version of KAT most resemble? Finch’s concept of providing players “bumpers” for what they can and cannot do Will the Wolves now run less pick-and-roll than they did under Saunders? How will that impact Anthony Edwards? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today's podcast, we take stock of the State of the Timberwolves after the dismissal of Ryan Saunders and hiring of Chris Finch. Kyle Theige of Canis Hoopus joins me to discuss Chris Finch's (rather awkward) introductory press conference. And we move down the list from Gersson Rosas to Chris Finch to Karl-Anthony Towns and to the trio of D'Angelo Russell, Anthony Edwards and Malik Beasley, taking stock of each individual's standing within the eyes of the fanbase. The conclusion? It's go-time. Submit your Blue Wire Hustle application here: http://bwhustle.com/join Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Britt Robson of The Athletic joins the pod for an instant reaction to the news of Ryan Saunders being fired and Chris Finch being hired in his place. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We’re just at the point where these fourth quarter collapses by the Timberwolves are getting ridiculous. Friday night’s collapse in the fourth might have been the worst of the season yet. With 3 minutes and 40 seconds left in the game, the Wolves were leading 81 to 75, yet didn’t score another point for the rest of the game. On tonight’s pod, we discuss why falling apart felt all the worse considering it came on the heels of Anthony Edwards’ filthy dunk to close the third quarter. Specific examples of execution breakdowns in the 4th, including a completely botched 2-for-1 Why the last two games against Indiana and Toronto serve as examples for why it is OK to not close games with your starters (McLaughlin over Rubio, anyone?) Ant’s dunk, and why I’m batting around the Bradley Beal comp for Edwards Jaden McDaniels with another impressive defensive performance, and why Pascal Siakam’s trajectory is one McDaniels could reasonably mimic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s podcast, Britt Robson of The Athletic joins to discuss his most recent column on the Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell pairing that published right before the news of Russell being shut down for the next four-to-six weeks. With that, we discuss the myriad of changes that now face the DLo-less Wolves both now and into the future, including: How the focus now shifts to the KAT and Anthony Edwards pairing Speculating on what the long-term future is of KAT on the Timberwolves Why Jaden McDaniels also deserves consideration for a similar amount of development focus How we saw this all play out in the loss to the loss to the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday Can the late-game offense go through KAT? Is late-game isolation for KAT better than an action that involves KAT but doesn’t guarantee a KAT touch? Comparing Edwards’ rookie year thus far to Andrew Wiggins’ first season Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.