Dieng’s strong play of late earned him a spot on this week’s rookie team.
Gorgui Dieng
With Minnesota big man Nikola Pekovic out, Dieng helped lead the Wolves over a DeMarcus Cousin-less Sacramento squad with 12 points, 11 rebounds, 5 blocks, 2 steals in his first career start last Sunday, and followed that up with a 10 point, 11 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block performance in a win in Dallas. The very next night, Dieng dropped 22 points and grabbed 21 rebounds while dishing 4 assists in a loss to the Houston Rockets. Houston was without Dwight Howard, but Omer Asik isn’t a slouch by any means, and Dieng did this on the second night of a back-to-back. With the Wolves lacking much incentive to bring Pekovic back, the 6”11 former Louisville center from Senegal should continue to get ample opportunities in Minny. Dieng failed to extend his consecutive double-doubles streak to four on Sunday vs. Phoenix (6 points 2/3 FG, 9 rebounds, 2 assists in 25 minutes), but that he had the highest +/- on the team (+10) and was the only other player who had a positive +/- besides Kevin Love, he only had 3 fouls, and the Wolves blew a 22-point lead suggests that he should have seen more action.
Matt Dellavedova
With Kyrie Irving out with a biceps injury Dellavedova has seen his role expand and he’s performed admirably, dropping back-to-back double-doubles against the Thunder (11 points, 10 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal) and Rockets (14 points, 10 assists, 6 rebounds, 1 steal) this week. He also helped the Cavs play spoiler to the New York Knicks on Sunday night, as the Cavs overcame a 17-point deficit to knock the Knicks to 29-41, three games behind Atlanta (31-37) for the eighth and final playoff spot. In another incredibly disappointing and frustrating season of Cavalier basketball in the post-LeBron James era, a case could easily be made for Dellavedova being the team’s top bright spot of the season.
Trey Burke
With yet another solid week, posting averages 14.3 points and 5 assists per game, Burke is beginning to show that he can consistently contribute, and that he has the chutzpa to take the big shot even when he isn’t necessarily feeling it that night, as evidenced by his game winner vs. Orlando 3/22 (5-15 FG on the night). While the Jazz (23-47) have been unable to string together many wins besides that, it is probably in Utah’s best long term interest for the team to be losing right now in hopes that those few extra losses will net them a better pick in this year’s draft.
Mason Plumlee
The Nets swept their competition this week, going 4-0 against Phoenix, Charlotte, Boston, and Dallas, and Plumlee is probably as worthy of recognition as anyone on a team that is really hitting their stride right now. Plumlee started the week with a 14-point (5-6), 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steal performance in 27 minutes vs. the Suns, and really brought it to older brother Miles and company (who are currently ½ game behind Dallas for eighth in the West) on the inside. Against the Bobcats, Plumlee added 11 points (4-6 FG), 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block in just 19 minutes, and followed that up with an 18-point (6-7 FG), 5 rebound, 3 assist, 3 steal performance in 21 minutes.
Michael Carter-Williams
The Sixers have lost 24 in a row, and unless they can beat San Antonio, Houston, or Detroit in their next three games, they’ll break the NBA record for most losses in a row (set by 2010-11 Cavs). While Carter-Williams still had his usual turnover-trouble and his shooting percentage was less than stellar this week, his impressive stat-lines and the fact that Philly has actually hung in there and had a chance to win a few of these games may have already clinched him the Rookie of the Year honors. After posting 15 points and 13 rebounds vs. Indiana, he flirted with a triple double in games vs. the Bulls (16 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists) and Knicks (22 points, 13 rebounds, 9 assists). Victor Oladipo has started to put together some nice lines since returning to the starting lineup this week, but unless Oladipo is able to register another triple-double or have a string of phenomenal games to end the season, I can’t see anyone beating MCW for ROY.
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