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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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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JANUARY 8: Gorgui Dieng #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shoots the ball against the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 8, 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 Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JANUARY 8: Gorgui Dieng #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shoots the ball against the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 8, 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 Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images) /

9. Gorgui Dieng (8)

Season stats: 18.2 MPG – 6.4 PPG – 4.7 RPG – 0.5 BPG – 48.9% FG – 31% 3PT – 75.4% FT

Weekly stats: 16.8 MPG – 4.3 PPG – 2.7 RPG – 1.0 BPG – 54.5% FG – 33.3% 3PT

Another power rankings week, another few down games for Gorgui Dieng after looking fantastic in last week’s matchups.

Dieng has constantly shown signs that he can become the reliable scoring, rebounding, shot-blocking reserve that the Timberwolves sorely need — especially when Jamal Crawford misses games.

G-Train opened up the week with a mediocre four-point, three-rebound performance against the Rockets, struggling to find his range and failing to guard Houston big man Nene (12 points, eight rebounds) with any level of staunchness.

The inspiring Butler-less victory over the Toronto Raptors was a better outing for the Senegalese giant.

Dieng posted nine points, grabbed three rebounds and came away with two steals in his 20 minutes of playing time, burying 4-of-6 shots on an efficient night. This is exactly the type of night Timberwolves fans expect consistently from Iron-G.

And don’t forget this bank-opening buzzer-beater.

That is not what they got the next game out however, as Dieng put up a donut in the scoring column and grabbed just two rebounds to boot. He did have two emphatic swats, which were big in a game where defense did not come easy for Minnesota.

Those two blocked shots take Dieng’s January average up to 1.0 per game, a far cry from the 0.3 an outing he had managed up until this month.

Once again, Gorgui Dieng showed some good signs, but it wasn’t enough for him to rise in the power rankings. In fact, the stellar play of some of the other Timberwolves reserves has seen the G-Train derail to ninth place.

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