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Timberwolves Power Rankings: No Butler, no worries

By Jake Paynting

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 14: Marcus Georges-Hunt #13 and Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on January 14, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 14: Marcus Georges-Hunt #13 and Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on January 14, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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HOUSTON, TX – JANUARY 18: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves controls the ball defended by Eric Gordon #10 of the Houston Rockets in the second half at Toyota Center on January 18, 2018 in Houston, Texas. 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 Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – JANUARY 18: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves controls the ball defended by Eric Gordon #10 of the Houston Rockets in the second half at Toyota Center on January 18, 2018 in Houston, Texas. 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 Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

3. Jimmy Butler (1)

Season stats: 36.9 MPG – 21.7 PPG – 5.4 RPG – 5.0 APG – 47.6% FG – 35.4% 3PT – 87.5% FT

Weekly stats: 42.3 MPG – 23.0 PPG – 4.0 RPG – 2.0 APG – 53.3% FG – 87.5% FT

Due to injury, Jimmy Butler falls a couple of spots this week after leading for the past nine power rankings weeks. The Timberwolves may be winning games without Butler, but make no mistake, this team still missed its best player in the Toronto and Los Angeles meetings, and it was only accentuated in Wednesday’s debacle in Portland.

The sore knee that has kept Jimmy G. Buckets from getting his signature buckets isn’t serious, and the Wolves expect him back as soon as possible.

Butler was featured in the blowout loss to the Houston Rockets, leading the Timberwolves with 23 points and chipping in four rebounds and two assists in the process. It was slightly less than a typical Jimmy Butler output, but it was the entire team that was disappointing on the night.

Butler was voted by the NBA coaches to be an All-Star reserve, which will be the fourth time he has graced an All-Star game with his very non-All-Star type game (read: he plays defense).

Let’s hope to see the All-Star back in his Wolves colors in the near future.

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