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Timberwolves Power Rankings: Wolves hit rough patch

By Jake Paynting

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 25 Karl-Anthony Towns #32 Jeff Teague #0 Jimmy Butler #23 and Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 25 Karl-Anthony Towns #32 Jeff Teague #0 Jimmy Butler #23 and Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JANUARY 20: Gorgui Dieng #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during the game against the Toronto Raptors on January 20, 2018 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 – JANUARY 20: Gorgui Dieng #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during the game against the Toronto Raptors on January 20, 2018 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) /

6. Gorgui Dieng (9)

Season stats: 18.0 MPG – 6.6 PPG – 4.6 RPG – 0.5 BPG – 50.6% FG – 29.5% 3PT – 76.9% FT

Weekly stats: 15.8 MPG – 8.8 PPG – 3.4 RPG – 0.6 BPG – 64.3% FG – 88.9% FT

For the first time in the 2017-18 season, Gorgui Dieng has moved into the sixth-man slot in our weekly power rankings.

The 6-foot-11 reserve has finally kicked up his scoring and shot-blocking of late after struggling early in the season. Dieng was expected to be a high-caliber bench player when Taj Gibson signed, but it has taken him a while to get the hang of life playing under 20 minutes per game.

This power rankings week was different, however.

G-Train hit three of this four field goal attempts en route to six points, five rebounds, two steals and a block against Portland, backing that up the next night with nine points, four rebounds and a steal in the commendable loss against the Golden State Warriors.

Dieng had a quiet four points, four rebounds, three assists and a steal in the Nets victory. Although the three assists is the most the Senegalese giant has had since December 23 against the Suns when he also racked up three in a Wolves win.

Over the final two games of the power rankings week, the G-Train steamed to a whole new pace. He put up 11 points and three rebounds in the heartbreaking loss to Atlanta, nailing 5-of-7 from the field before draining 14 points (all in the first half) and two blocks in the Raptors failure.

Dieng has become deadlier than ever from the dreaded ‘long two’ zone, making a shot that is usually taboo to efficient offense into a shot that constantly keeps defenses honest. According to NBA/stats, the big man is shooting a blistering 51.8 percent on non-paint 2-pointers.

Gorgui Dieng has finally got the level that we as fans expected at the start of the season, let’s hope he can stay at that level.

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