8. Gorgui Dieng (9)
Season stats: 15.3 MPG – 6.1 PPG – 4.5 RPG – 0.9 APG – 46.8% FG – 26.7% 3PT – 74.3% FT
Weekly stats: 16.0 MPG – 5.3 PPG – 4.0 RPG – 0.7 SPG – 46.7% FG – 25% 3PT – 33.3% FT
Since coming back from his sprained right index finger, Gorgui Dieng hasn’t looked particularly comfortable in his game for the Timberwolves.
Before the injury, Dieng was averaging a tick under 7 points per game, converting his shots at a 50 percent clip. Since returning to the bench unit against Dallas after three games on the pine, however, ‘Iron G’ has posted just 4.7 points per outing on a meager 40 percent shooting.
Dieng started this week just as mediocre, failing to convert on a field goal against Orlando and battling his way to just 4 points and 3 rebounds in the awful loss to Miami.
It seemed like the fruitless streak would continue for the big man from Senegal, that all changed in the last game of the power rankings week, however.
Dieng had a mini-explosion in the comfortable victory over the Phoenix Suns, at least for what his form has been like this year.
Possibly even the entire season.
Dieng provided a huge bonus in a big man rotation that was missing a key piece in Nemanja Bjelica, providing the scoring touch that Bjelly supplies regularly. We can only hope that this game will give G some confidence to find his rhythm on a bench unit struggling to find consistent performers.
Dieng still needs to improve his defense too, with his block-less streak extending to an ugly eight games this week.