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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 – DECEMBER 14: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shoots a free throw during the game against the Sacramento Kings on December 14, 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 – DECEMBER 14: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shoots a free throw during the game against the Sacramento Kings on December 14, 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) /

2. Karl-Anthony Towns (3)

Season stats: 35.7 MPG – 20.5 PPG – 11.6 RPG – 1.4 BPG – 52% FG – 38.3% 3PT – 83.2% FT

Weekly stats: 40.9 MPG – 23.3 PPG – 12.0 RPG – 2.3 BPG – 45.3% FG – 42.9% 3PT – 74.3% FT

After dropping to a season-low third in the last instalment of the power rankings, Karl-Anthony Towns was back with a vengeance in the last seven days of Wolves ball. Dominating on both ends this time around.

Towns started the week with a marquee match-up against the process that is Joel Embiid, and despite his struggles on offense (19 points on 6-16 shooting) KAT more than held his own in the hustle areas, finishing with 16 rebounds, 3 blocks and 4 steals.

Two of those blocks on the 7-foot-2 Embiid, who he dominated when given the chance.

The 7-foot Kentucky product used the next two games to get the offense cranking, posting 30 and 28 points respectively in the Sacramento and Phoenix games, but the defense didn’t lag behind.

Towns swatted 5 shots against the Kings and swiped 2 balls away against Phoenix, all while slowly becoming more aware and physically able on defense under Taj Gibson and Jimmy Butler’s tutelage.

Slowly but surely Towns is rounding out his game. Along with the defense, the big man has started upping his assist levels to more than reasonable standards.

KAT posted 4 or more assists in three of the four games this power rankings week, with the highlight being his 5 assist performance against a helpless Willie Cauley-Stein and the Kings.

Karl-Anthony Towns is rising again in the rankings, and he certainly looked like a number one type player this week, except he has an immovable object in his road for that title.

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