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Following their second straight 2-2 week, the Timberwolves record sits at 7-4. That's good for the seventh best record in the Western Conference, and have the ninth best record in the NBA.
All in all, not too bad.
Just like this year, the Wolves got off to a 5-2 start a year ago. Last year's squad was without both Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio, and they followed their nice start with 5 losses in a row. This year's team is 2-2 since their 5-2 start and optimism is much higher than it was a year ago.
Still, with a .500 record over the past couple weeks, it shouldn't be surprising to hear that almost every power ranking had the Wolves drop a couple spots this week.
Take a look, and let's hear what you think.
Average Ranking: 6.875 (Last week: 4.375)
No. 8 (Last Week: 5): Jason Patt, SB Nation
The Wolves were a bit of a roller coast this past week, going 2-2 and alternating blowout wins and close losses. Kevin Love, however, has not been a roller coaster. Love continues to play like an MVP candidate, and Minnesota's performance when he's on the floor versus when he's not bears this out. The Wolves' offense is 28.5 points per 100 possessions better when Love is on the court, per NBA.com's stats page.
No. 5 (Last Week: 3): Marc Stein, ESPN
The two Kevins -- Love and Martin -- have formed the league's highest-scoring duo in the season's opening month. And the Wolves' D, essentially spearheaded by zero shot-blockers, ranks as a top-six defense at this admittedly early juncture. If those trends and the good health lasts ...
No. 7 (Last Week: 4): Marc Spears, Yahoo! Sports
Kevin Garnett returns to Minnesota when Brooklyn visits on Friday. Garnett led the T'wolves to their last playoff appearance in 2004.
No. 4 (Last Week: 3): Matt Moore, CBS Sports
In Denver, in a game when nothing went right, they climbed back into the game. And that was an impressive win against the Celtics. This team is legit right now.
No. 8 (Last Week: 5): USA Today Writers' Poll
"Did you see that crazy pass by" officially should be Ricky Rubio's first name.
No. 8 (Last Week: 4): Matt Dollinger, Sports Illustrated
There's a lot to like about the Wolves, who lead the league in pace and have top-10 units in offensive and defensive efficiency. Kevin Love is putting up MVP-type numbers, averaging 26.8 points and 13.6 rebounds with a PER of 29.7.
No. 6 (Last Week: 6): David Aldridge, NBA.com
Lost in understandable gushing about Kevin Love's start is the fact that the Wolves' defense is light years better so far (defensive rating of 100.8 points per 100 possessions, No. 6 in the league).
No. 9 (Last Week: 5): John Schuhmann, NBA.com
The Wolves are one of three teams (GSW and OKC are the others) that rank in the top 10 on both ends of the floor, but the offense has been a lot more consistent than the D, which gave up 117 points in Denver on Friday. Though they're in the middle of a stretch in which they play three back-to-backs in nine days, Rick Adelman has shortened his rotation to just eight guys playing more than a few minutes.