Week 4 NBA Power Ranking – Big shifts on the ladder while OKC Thunder clings to middle rung
Minnesota Timberwolves:
Offense: (106.7 ) -17th
Defense: (108.5 ) – 17th
Net: (minus -1.7) – 19th
Record: 7-6
Games Week 4: (2-2) Won vs. Pistons, Spurs, lost to Wizards, Rockets
Games Week 5 (3 games): Mon, Nov. 18 vs. Jazz | Wed, Nov. 20 vs. Jazz | Sat, Nov 23 vs. Suns
Is it too early to cite Andrew Wiggins as having taken the step? His numbers through the early season say he’s taken a big step in all the key statistical categories. Although some suggest the Canadian got fed up being disrespected as a player ranking outside the top 100 perhaps it’s a more simple fact — Head Coach Ryan Saunders moved Wiggins back to the shooting guard position which is his more natural role.
And, while the modern era of the NBA focuses on positionless basketball facing players who he can outplay on both sides of the ball seems to be the greater reason why Wiggins is experiencing growth in this campaign.
| Season | G | FGA | FG% | 3PA | 3P% | 2PA | 2P% | eFG% | FTA | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-15 | 82 | 13.9 | .437 | 1.5 | .310 | 12.3 | .453 | .454 | 5.7 | .760 | 1.6 | 2.9 | 4.6 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 16.9 |
| 2015-16 | 81 | 16.0 | .459 | 2.3 | .300 | 13.6 | .486 | .481 | 7.0 | .761 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 3.6 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 20.7 |
| 2016-17 | 82 | 19.1 | .452 | 3.5 | .356 | 15.6 | .473 | .484 | 6.6 | .760 | 1.2 | 2.8 | 4.0 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 23.6 |
| 2017-18 | 82 | 15.9 | .438 | 4.1 | .331 | 11.7 | .475 | .481 | 3.8 | .643 | 1.0 | 3.4 | 4.4 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 17.7 |
| 2018-19 | 73 | 16.6 | .412 | 4.8 | .339 | 11.8 | .441 | .461 | 4.1 | .699 | 1.1 | 3.7 | 4.8 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 18.1 |
| 2019-20 | 11 | 20.9 | .478 | 6.5 | .361 | 14.4 | .532 | .535 | 4.8 | .736 | 1.3 | 3.8 | 5.1 | 3.6 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 25.9 |
| Career | 411 | 16.4 | .442 | 3.3 | .334 | 13.1 | .469 | .475 | 5.4 | .735 | 1.3 | 3.0 | 4.3 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 19.6 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/17/2019.
Although the Wolves are benefiting from Wiggins’ growth there are still major warning signs in this early season. With four weeks in the books in the 2019-20 campaign each week the Wolves net differential (which bears the most compelling argument for top teams in my opinion) has regressed:
- Week 1: plus +8.8
- Week 2: plus +5.4
- Week 3: minus -0.7
- Week 4: minus – 1.7
That is NOT the type of thing a team who has designs on winning can hang their hat on.