The recent slate of games for the Wolves has been a rough one, and this week's record put them at 1-3. They're now 9-10 on the year, and are set to face the conference champs from last year, the Spurs and Heat, this week. The average ranking a week ago sat at exactly 10. With the Wolves dropping below .500 for the first time this week, it shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that their average rank fell yet again.
Still, most writers gave the Wolves the benefit of the doubt due to their tough schedule.
The game against Miami ends what has been a Murderers Row of sorts in the Wolves' schedule. Following the Spurs on Wednesday and the Heat on Saturday, they'll face off against Detroit and Philadelphia.
Take a look, and let's hear what you think.
Average Ranking: 11.5 (Last week: 10.0)
No. 11 (Last Week: 8): Jason Patt, SB Nation
The Wolves had a really difficult schedule to navigate last week, and they came out of it just 1-3. The defense has been a major problem for Minnesota, as they gave up 108.5 points per game in the four games.
No. 11 (Last Week: 9): Marc Stein, ESPN
No shame that K-Love hasn't quite been able to maintain his 25-point, 15-rebound, five-assist pace. The only players to do that for an entire season are Wilt (twice), Elgin Baylor and Kareem. The Wolves just wish the schedule would ease up some; San Antonio and Miami are next at home.
No. 13 (Last Week: 9): Marc Spears, Yahoo! Sports
The T'wolves have cooled, dropping six of their past eight games. It doesn't get easier with San Antonio and Miami up next.
No. 11 (Last Week: 9): Matt Moore, CBS Sports
Gotta punish them for the losses, but this team is better than its record and once the schedule evens out, it should pad the win margin.
No. 11 (Last Week: 10): USA Today Writers' Poll
Kevin Love has double-doubles in all but one game this season. What went wrong Nov. 13?
No. 10 (Last Week: 8): Matt Dollinger, Sports Illustrated
The Wolves are fun to watch, but they'd rather be boring and winning. Minnesota has lost to Oklahoma City, Indiana, Houston and Denver over its last five games, a telltale sign that the Wolves aren't up to snuff compared to the league's elite.
No. 13 (Last Week: 11): David Aldridge, NBA.com
Wolves finally pull the plug on the Derrick Williams experiment. Luc Mbah a Moute could definitely fill the defensive perimeter role vacated when Andrei Kirilenko went to the Nets.
No. 12 (Last Week: 13): John Schuhmann, NBA.com
The Wolves have lost six of their last eight games to slip below .500 and into 13th place in the unforgiving Western Conference standings. They ranked fifth defensively just nine days ago, but have allowed opponents to shoot 47 percent from 3-point range and score 110 points per 100 possessions over their last five games. And now they face the two teams that met in The Finals.