Dunking With Wolves
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Wolves Power Rankings: Alpha-Butler is in full force

By Jake Paynting

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 18: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 and Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves high five during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on December 18, 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 Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 18: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 and Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves high five during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on December 18, 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 Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – NOVEMBER 28: Jamal Crawford #11 of the Minnesota Timberwolves pulls teammate Gorgui Dieng #5 away from the Washington Wizards during the game on November 28, 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)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – NOVEMBER 28: Jamal Crawford #11 of the Minnesota Timberwolves pulls teammate Gorgui Dieng #5 away from the Washington Wizards during the game on November 28, 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. Gorgui Dieng (7)

Season stats: 17.6 MPG – 6.1 PPG – 4.6 RPG – 0.2 BPG – 48.6% FG – 20.8% 3PT – 75.6% FT

Weekly stats: 19.2 MPG – 2.5 PPG – 4.5 RPG – 0.8 BPG – 26.3% FG

It looked like Gorgui Dieng had finally turned his down 2017-18 campaign around just a few short weeks ago, but Dieng has come crashing back to earth with a string of quiet nights in Target Center.

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The 6-foot-11 reserve failed to shoot over 50 percent in any of the four outings this week, finishing a frightening 5-19 from the field over the week.

Many of these missed buckets were attempted from the dreaded ‘long-two’ mid-range zone. This shot is one that Dieng has proven he can hit in the past, but it would be beneficial for him to get in the post and show his soft touch that Timberwolves fans know he has.

Especially when the long two’s aren’t falling, like, at all.

Despite the rough shooting, the big Senegalese giant did have a productive night in the win over the Kings, like most Wolves that night.

Iron G is one of the most important cogs of the Minnesota bench unit, which means weeks like this where he bottoms out on the power rankings can’t happen often.

There is one exciting footnote on the Louisville products week, however. G-Train has finally begun to start blocking the shots at the rim again, registering a swat in three of the four games.

For the sake of Dieng, the fans and the team at large, let’s hope Gorgui Dieng can work his way back into the form he had begun to show a few weeks back.

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