Ant drops 40 on Dallas, wins All-Star MVP, and then calls out Cade Cunningham — and the Wolves turn around and get smoked by the 76ers. Classic Wolves basketball. This week, Tom and Josh recap both post-All-Star break games, break down what Ant's All-Star MVP historically means for a player's future, and dig into the Wolves' brutal remaining schedule (third hardest in the league). Plus: Is Cade Cunningham really the best American basketball player in the NBA? And Beringer gets his first start! — which went about as well as you'd expect without Rudy and Naz.

We're halfway there and livin' on a prayer that this team figures it out in the second half.

The Wolves hit the All-Star break sitting 6th in the West despite having better talent than last year. What went wrong, and can they turn it around?

We break down Julius Randle's ridiculous All-Star snub (1000 pts, 250 rebs, 250 ast - only 7 players hit that, all All-Stars except him), recap the wild first-half storylines from continuity failures to Mike Conley's decline, and debate our expansion draft protection list.

Plus: Ayo Dosunmu's instant defensive impact, the Rob Dillingham saga, Baron Beringer's raw potential, Jaden McDaniels shooting 45% from three, and why Ant's "just waiting for the playoffs" quote defined the season's effort problems.

WHO WE'D PROTECT: Ant, Jaden, Naz, Ayo, DDV, Baron J, and two controversial choices.

Second half prediction: Can effort and consistency save this season, or is this just Timberwolves basketball?

The Wolves went 1-3 this week despite adding Ayo Dosunmu at the deadline. Tom and Josh break down the team's defensive collapse (29th ranked after being 2nd the week before), Finch's confusing response to Rudy's callout, and why Julius Randle continues to frustrate. Special guest Justin from JTalksHoops joins to give the Bulls fan perspective on Ayo and Julian Phillips - what the Wolves are really getting in this deal. Plus: trade deadline winners and losers, why dodging the Giannis trade might have been the right move, and whether Finch's job is on the line.

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