Timberwolves Power Rankings: Winning record in sight

A look back at the best performers over the last seven days of Minnesota Timberwolves basketball.

As the 2017-18 NBA season winds down the Minnesota Timberwolves continued to push hard for a top six playoff seeding this week, although not with the success most fans would have enjoyed.

Minnesota finished the power rankings week with one win and two losses, taking their record to 41-31 on the year – just one win away from sealing their first winning record since the 2004-05 campaign.

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The week started off with an important tilt against the fellow Western Conference playoff fighters San Antonio, a game where the Spurs seem to outclass the Timberwolves in every area. The game finished with a disappointing 117-101 scoreline.

It did include this mind-boggling spinning lay-up by our 7-foot center however:

The schedule demanded another big effort the very next night, with a tough match-up against the current first-seeded Houston Rockets. The Wolves allowed a staggering 77 first half points, leading to a 21 point lead at the break. Despite an exciting fourth quarter comeback, the game finished 129-120 Houston’s way.

After two heart wrenching defeats, the Butler-less Wolves needed  to come away with a win at home against the Los Angeles Clippers, and they pulled through.

It was a comfortable 123-109 victory, with the Timberwolves same four players (Towns, Wiggins, Teague and Crawford) scoring 20 points or more for the second game in a row. That is the first time since 1998 that the feat has happened:

A stunning statistic in an important week.

Let’s dive in deeper and take a look at the best and worst performers over the this stretch of games.

*All players must play 10 total minutes to qualify*

9. Gorgui Dieng (8)

Season stats: 17.2 MPG – 5.9 PPG – 4.5 RPG – 0.5 BPG – 47.2% FG – 26.5% 3PT – 76.8% FT

Weekly stats: 12.2 MPG – 2.3 PPG – 4.0 RPG – 0.3 BPG – 33.3% FG – 50% FT

As we close in on the final ten games of the season, it’s time to write this Gorgui Dieng season off as a bad one. Although, Dieng can still help restore some of the fan faith by excelling in this playoff push.

Unfortunately, that looks unlikely at the moment.

Dieng, like most of the Wolves roster, has been underwhelming on the defensive end this season. It’s his offense falling off a steep cliff that has been surprising. The G-Train has ground to a halt lately, hitting a woeful 31.6 percent of his shot attempts in the last 10 games.

This power rankings week was no different. He started out with a an inconspicuous four points (2-4 FG) and two rebounds in the Spurs loss. Dieng featured in just 11 minutes, which has been a deserved theme of late.

The Senegalese giant backed that up with just three points (1-2 FG) and grabbed two rebounds against the Rockets. His impact was bigger than usual though, with a scuffle with Chris Paul and Gerald Green seemingly igniting a spark under a previously lackluster Timberwolves outfit.

Watch the full kerfuffle here:

He finished off the week with a stinker against the Clippers, despite the game being an enjoyable one overall for Minnesota. The big man failed to connect on any of his three field goal attempts despite his six rebounds and two assists being a reasonable output, the most telling statistic was the eight points the Timberwolves were outscored by with Dieng on the court – despite winning by 14 points.

Gorgui Dieng can certainly help Minnesota going forward, but he will need to pick up his game on both ends, quickly.

8. Tyus Jones (7)

Season stats: 17.7 MPG – 4.9 PPG – 2.6 APG – 1.1 SPG – 46.3% FG – 34.9% 3PT – 89.1% FT

Weekly stats: 13.7 MPG – 3.0 PPG – 1.3 APG – 0.3 SPG – 33.3% FG – 50% 3PT – 50% FT

It has been a great season for Tyus Jones, who has truly earned the right as one of the more under appreciated bench players in the league.

However, Jones didn’t look that way this week.

Whether it’s just a slump, or the arrival of Derrick Rose – something has been slightly off with Jones’ game lately.

The 21-year-old started off the week nicely, dropping nine points and two assists on a sizzling 3-4 shooting against the Spurs, a game where he hit his only 3-point splash for the week (which has been a sore spot for him lately), but it went awry from there.

Jones failed to score in the loss to the Rockets, posting just one assist and two personal fouls in one of his worst games of the entire season. It’s rare to not see Jones chipping in with assists and steals, in fact, Tyus Stones is still the only qualified player who averages over one steal in under 18 minutes per game.

The point guard backed that up with another scoreless night against the Clippers, once again chiming in with an underwhelming one assist and one steal. Another forgettable night for Jones, who will be crucial in this final stretch of the season.

Whatever has caused this late season slump will need to be cured, a lot like Dieng. Especially with Tom Thibodeau’s – favorite Derrick Rose – bearing down on Tyus Jones and his minute totals.

Speaking of the infamous Derrick Rose.

7. Derrick Rose (Unranked)

Season stats: 17.4 MPG – 9.0 PPG – 1.6 APG – 0.2 SPG – 44.2% FG – 22.2% 3PT – 86.4% FT

Weekly stats: 13.7 MPG – 10.3 PPG – 2.0 APG – 0.3 SPG – 53.8% FG – 100% FT

Despite an absolute uproar from the Minnesota fan base when he signed, Derrick Rose enters his first Dunking With Wolves power rankings in surprisingly good form.

He wasn’t the superstar player that we all remember from days past, but the 29-year-old looked like he has the energy, athleticism, and looks to have a few more successful NBA stints. That was until he was set back again by a sprained ankle that will keep him out of the Wolves line-up for at least two more games.

D-Rose started his debut power rankings week with a solid eight-point, two-assist performance against the San Antonio Spurs, although his 4-9 shooting probably isn’t the type of volume or efficiency most Wolves fans crave. Regardless, the Wolves will take the energy off the bench.

Against Houston however, the former MVP was electric, scoring 14 points (6-11 FG) and dishing out three assists in his 19 minutes. Rose looked like a player with a lot left in the tank, he opted to cut hard off the ball instead of playing in isolation, and it paid off big time.

Including this off-ball movement that led to a throwback two-handed hammer:

https://twitter.com/NBAonTNT/status/975541613161275392

Rose looked fantastic again before the ankle sprain against L.A., dropping nine points in six minutes before the injury happened. His 4-6 shooting was surprisingly good again, furthering the narrative that he is a good fit in Tom Thibodeau’s scheme.

If Derrick Rose can get back to this sort of form if and when he returns the court, there will be a few people who will have to eat their words.

6. Nemanja Bjelica (3)

Season stats: 19.3 MPG – 6.8 PPG – 4.0 RPG – 1.3 APG – 48.4% FG – 43.2% 3PT – 82.1% FT

Weekly stats: 31.5 MPG – 8.0 PPG – 7.3 RPG – 2.0 APG – 43.5% FG – 33.3% 3PT – 100% FT

After skyrocketing up to the third position in the power rankings ladder last week, Nemanja Bjelica will have to settle into the sixth man spot this time around.

Bjelly has been fantastic in his makeshift starter role for the most part, but his no-show in the Clippers win hurts his ranking this week, especially with so many other Wolves having fantastic stretches.

The big Serbian started off with a solid seven points and eight rebounds against the Spurs, however his 3-7 shooting didn’t help on a night where the Spurs seemed to be everywhere on the defensive end.

Bjelica was up to his old tricks against the Rockets, literally:

He dropped 15 points, six rebounds and three assists to go along with the schoolyard move on Chris Paul, nailing a pair of triples on the night too. The 3’s are good, the four long-range attempts are still far too little however, with the flamethrower stroke that Bjelica has he should be attempting at least six per night.

The aforementioned dud against the Clippers was next, the 6-foot-10 swingman hit on just 1-6 from the field for his two points – his eight rebounds and two assists were the only saving grace on the Bjelly box score.

Nemanja Bjelica has been a high quality Jimmy Butler stand-in so far, Minnesota will need him at his very best going forward if they want to nab a top six seed.

5. Taj Gibson (5)

Season stats: 33.5 MPG – 12.3 PPG – 7.1 RPG – 0.7 BPG – 58.1% FG – 21.2% 3PT – 76.6% FT

Weekly stats: 31.9 MPG – 9.0 PPG – 5.0 RPG – 0.3 BPG – 52.1% FG – 100% FT

Taj Gibson clearly misses Jimmy Butler on the offensive end but his all-around defensive brilliance and hard hat attitude keep the 32-year-old in the fifth position for the second week in a row,  after a string of top three weeks.

Gibson and Butler work in tandem like they have played together for years – probably because they have – on offense, and Mr. Clean misses the star’s ability to find him for an easy bucket after sucking in the defense. This is one of the main reasons the big man is having a career year in so many offensive categories.

Nonetheless, the Mr. Clean express keeps chugging on.

He scored eight points and grabbed four boards in the Spurs loss, before having an unusually quiet four-point, three-rebound night against the Rockets.

With the work rate the former Bull possesses, it’s tough to keep him down for long.

He burst back into the scoring column against Los Angeles, dropping 15 points, pulling down eight rebounds and blocking a shot against in the big win. Gibson is a constant on the offensive glass, and his post-game is one of the most under-appreciated in the entire league.

To top it off, Mr. Clean runs the floor as hard as anyone on the floor – usually resulting on easy buckets like this one:

With Butler’s return imminent, Taj Gibson will probably be the biggest individual benefactor, but he has been great night-in, night-out this year so there is no Mr. Clean  complaints over here.

4. Jamal Crawford (6)

Season stats: 20.1 MPG – 10.4 PPG – 2.3 APG – 0.5 SPG – 42.2% FG – 33.7% 3PT – 90.2% FT

Weekly stats: 27.2 MPG – 15.0 PPG – 1.7 APG – 0.7 SPG – 53.1% FG – 40% 3PT – 100% FT

Jamal Crawford turned 38 this week, he also spent the three-game stretch playing like he was still in his prime. I guess that ‘forever 21’ moniker really is true.

In honor of the milestone, Let’s take a look at his best moments of this season courtesy of the Timberwolves official Twitter:

Now that we have that out-of-the-way, let’s dig into the week.

Like we have said all season, the good J-Crossover weeks will come with the bad and we have to live with that. This week was one of those sweet ones.

Crawford started off quietly, with his 5 points against San Antonio coming off seven shots, a big part of the cold-shooting theme that seemed to litter the box score in the disappointing loss to a true playoff seeding rival.

That was the last time there was any coldness in the veteran’s week, starting off with a blazing night against the Rockets. J-Crossover dropped 20 points on a sizzling 8-12 shooting, including 3-4 from downtown.

He backed that up with another 20 points against the Clippers, keeping the hot streak going with his 7-13 shooting. When Crawford is scoring effectively off the bench, the Wolves are a genuinely hard team to beat, the problem is when he has his (expected) off-nights, there isn’t many other scoring punch’s at the ready.

If Jamal Crawford stays in forever 21 mode for a solid stretch, the Wolves might be looking in great playoff shape.

3. Jeff Teague (4)

Season stats: 33.1 MPG – 13.9 PPG – 7.1 APG – 1.5 SPG – 45% FG – 38% 3PT – 82.9% FT

Weekly stats: 34.9 MPG – 19.7 PPG – 10.3 APG – 1.3 SPG – 51.4% FG – 62.5% 3PT – 94.1% FT

With a three-game stretch like Jeff Teague had this power rankings stanza, he can consider himself unlucky not to be higher than third position.

The 29-year-old point guard has been on a tear since Jimmy Butler went down, and has looked more and more comfortable with the increased responsibility each game. The run has put some of the early season worries around Teague’s fit to bed.

Unlike most of the Wolves, Teague had a solid night against the Spurs, posting 16 points (6-13 FG, 1-1 3PT), eight assists and two steals. That included this circus lay-up that probably shouldn’t be physically possible:

The diminutive guard backed that up with a big 23-point, 11-assist night against the Rockets, with three of his five made baskets coming from beyond the 3-point arc – good sign for Teague who still passes up 3’s far too often.

Teague finished off the week with another double-double, dropping 20 points and 12 assists on a blistering 8-13 shooting but with just one made triple this time around.

When Teague is in this kind of zone he adds a wrinkle to the Timberwolves offense that fans haven’t seen for a long, long time. Let’s see if he can keep it up over the final 11 games of the season.

2. Andrew Wiggins (2)

Season stats: 36.2 MPG – 18.1 PPG – 4.1 RPG – 1.8 APG – 44.6% FG – 33.7% 3PT – 64.7% FT

Weekly stats: 36.0 MPG – 23.0 PPG – 3.3 RPG – 2.0 APG – 53.7% FG – 75% 3PT – 76.5% FT

In Jimmy Butler’s absence, the second fiddle – Andrew Wiggins – continues to shine on both ends, maintaining his second place position in the power rankings over Jeff Teague – albeit by the skin of his teeth.

Wiggins has taken the role of the Timberwolves premier perimeter threat in his stride, looking like the elite scorer that everyone within the organization knows he can be.

Despite the loss, Maple Jordan was wonderful against San Antonio. He posted 21 points, five rebounds and five assists. The most encouraging stat however is the fact the Wolves were outscored by just two points with the 23-year-old on the court, they lost the game by 16 points.

He scored another 21 points (8-16 FG, 2-3 3PT) against the Rockets, chipping in two boards and two steals as well. He also gave forthcoming MVP James Harden a taste of his own medicine, euro-stepping The Beard back to Texas:

Wiggins exploded to finish the week, putting up 27 points (9-16 FG, 4-5 3PT), three rebounds, three assists and three impressive blocks. He was feeling it from all over the floor on offense, and was the player everyone wants to see on the defensive end.

Watch below as he hounds Austin Rivers like a rabid dog, ending up with a deflection that brings the Target Center crowd to its feet:

This is the Wiggins the Wolves want, nay, need.

1. Karl-Anthony Towns (1)

Season stats: 35.4 MPG – 20.9 PPG – 12.2 RPG – 1.4 BPG – 54.9% FG – 42.6% 3PT – 85.6% FT

Weekly stats: 38.3 MPG – 24.3 PPG – 12.0 RPG – 1.0 BPG – 55.1% FG – 55.6% 3PT – 82.4% FT

As Jimmy Butler continues to sit, it’s no surprise that Karl-Anthony Towns has taken the alpha dog mantle and ran with it.

KAT has been one of the most deadly scorers in the league lately, and nothing changed this power rankings week as Towns feasted on every opponent that the schedule served up.

The 22-year-old posted 23 points (8-15 FG, 2-2 3PT), nine rebounds, two assists and a block against the Spurs. The only pitfall for the night was that Towns’ direct opponent for most of the night LaMarcus Aldridge went off for 39 points on 14-22 shooting.

He wasn’t horrible defensively, but he wasn’t staunch enough to stop the sizzling Spurs All-Star.

Towns is an All-Star himself however, and he showed it to finish the week. He dropped 20 points (9-15 FG) with a monstrous 18 rebounds against the Rockets, he was even better against the Clippers too.

KAT went off for 30 points (10-19 FG, 3-7 3PT), nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block, which isn’t even a surprising stat line anymore as Towns seems to put up huge numbers each and every game.

He also blocked Boban Marjanovic, who is roughly the size of your average giant:

Watching the alpha version of Karl-Anthony Towns is fun. He is unstoppable on offense and his confidence seems to be spilling over onto the defensive end.

Next: Timberwolves in the Playoffs

With a lighter schedule to finish the season, the big man might just drag his Timberwolves into an exciting April and May.

Tune in next week to see how Towns and the rest of the crew fare!