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Minnesota Timberwolves Power Rankings: Bench hierarchy is solidifying

By Jake Paynting

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 19: Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves drives to the basket against the Detroit Pistons on November 19, 2017 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 19: Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves drives to the basket against the Detroit Pistons on November 19, 2017 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – NOVEMBER 19: Gorgui Dieng #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shoots the ball against the Detroit Pistons on November 19, 2017 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – NOVEMBER 19: Gorgui Dieng #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shoots the ball against the Detroit Pistons on November 19, 2017 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

9. Gorgui Dieng (9)

Season stats: 15.1 MPG – 6.3 PPG – 4.6 RPG – 0.1 BPG – 46.9% FG – 27.3% 3PT – 78.1% FT

Weekly stats: 12.4 MPG – 4.0 PPG – 2.3 RPG – 30% FG – 33.3% 3PT – 83.3% FT

After a sprained index finger kept Gorgui Dieng out for most of last week’s games – and caused his slip in the power rankings – Dieng gave us no reason to see him rise back to the eighth spot he had locked up for the first three weeks of the season.

Like most of the bench unit this week, Dieng saw his minutes steadily drop this week.

Coach Tom Thibodeau has been quite stubborn with his bench this season, and Dieng, the 2016-17 starter, has been one of the many players who seem lost trying to fit in to a new role this season.

His field goal percentage this week, and overall, may be worrying for all Timberwolves and Senegal fans, but what may be truly the most frightening Grogui Dieng statistic is his complete lack of rim protection this season.

The big man has blocked just two shots in his 212 minutes on the court this season, an astoundingly low mark for a guy who made his name in the league for his steady defense and shot-swatting.

Last season, albeit in larger minutes, Dieng blocked 1.2 shots per game, at a block percentage of 3.1 percent of all shots. This season Dieng has averaged just 0.1 blocks per game, and his block percentage has plummeted down to 0.8 percent.

Even without his offensive game clicking, Dieng is relied on to make defensive stops, and he is struggling with that too.

He must improve in all areas to see his power rankings mark rise next week, or again at all this season.

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