Minnesota Timberwolves Power Rankings: KAT loses his crown

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – NOVEMBER 24: Shabazz Muhammad #15 of the Minnesota Timberwolves defends against the Miami Heat during the game on November 24, 2017 at the 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. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

9. Shabazz Muhammad (10)

Season stats: 12.1 MPG – 4.4 PPG – 1.9 RPG – 0.3 SPG – 39.3% FG – 21.1% 3PT – 72.2% FT

Weekly stats: 8.6 MPG – 4.7 PPG – 2.7 RPG – 0.3 SPG – 44.4% FG – 66.7% 3PT – 100% FG

A bump to the ninth position in the power rankings this week will be the first time that Shabazz Muhammad has moved out of the last position since our very first rankings of the year.

Although he has improved marginally as the season continues – mainly with his shooting efficiency – Bazz continues to struggle to take the load off the starting wings.

You can easily see the evidence in the huge minute totals Andrew Wiggins and Jimmy Butler that Thibs is having a hard time trusting Muhammad when he is on the court, which is becoming less and less frequently.

At least there is one stat going for Shabazz Muhammad … I guess …

shabazz muhammad's assist to turnover ratio is 6. in 225 minutes he has 6 assists and 1 turnover. #1 in the league.
— Leonard Miller's Crossing (@companeromarcus) November 25, 2017

One turnover is good. One assist every 3.33 games is not so good.

Muhammad’s 10-point, 5-rebound performance against the Miami Heat gave Wolves fans some hope that Bazz can at least get his favored offensive game going.

He couldn’t maintain the momentum though, as Bazz failed to score in his 7 minutes against the Suns. Muhammad also posted a ghastly -63.0 Net Rating in the victory, beaten only by power rankings newcomer Aaron Brooks.

Bazz will have to find something, anything to improve his 2017-18 form if he wants to keep getting minutes, with Marcus Georges-Hunt and Anthony Brown both chasing Muhammad’s minutes viciously.