Kevin Love - Miami Ground Machine

[godfather]

I'd say for the most part, he hasn't looked as good as he did in Minny...but again, he has gone from first to third fiddle. This is shades of Chris Bosh syndrome all over it. It took Bosh a while to figure out shit on that Miami team, but even still he contributed in the meantime. And he was an extremely valuable piece to that team.

I repeat: Love can shoot better. Hopefully, that's coming. But otherwise, 17/10 looks par for the course.

Not exactly, comparing the two isn't doing Love any favors, when Bosh was easily still having a much more productive season his first stint playing with LeBron James.

I think people are exaggerating Bosh's first year struggles a lot. It was a clear adjustment, like we expected, but Bosh didn't drop off from an efficient standpoint.

Kevin Love's numbers are down all across the board, people do realize that right? But I guess he's still just learning the system and how to play with LeBron.

 

[godfather]

Fans tend do defend him because he gets hammered and its really not fair. They expect superstar numbers and he's third fiddle on this team. Everyone admits his shooting percentages are down and that's concerning but everyone knows Kevin Love can shoot, he's done it his whole career up to this season. It's hard to go from being the third, sometimes fourth, sometimes fifth option on a team and running the offense that way to becoming the number one option over night. Give it more time than 65% of a season.

No one is hammering him, you're getting defensive over people just pointing out the obvious. Answer one question, do you think Kevin Love looks like his vintage self?

Just answer yes or no.

 

[Chris]

Not exactly, comparing the two isn't doing Love any favors, when Bosh was easily still having a much more productive season his first stint playing with LeBron James.

I think people are exaggerating Bosh's first year struggles a lot. It was a clear adjustment, like we expected, but Bosh was didn't drop off from an efficient standpoint.

Kevin Love's numbers are down all across the board, people do realize that right? But I guess he's still just learning the system and how to play with LeBron.

What numbers besides efficiency are you talking about? Bosh was 18/8, Love right now is 17/10 (actually a tad higher but I rounded down). Yes, Bosh was significantly more efficient (standard FG%, Love actually equals in TS% (edit: I said better but theyre actually about equal), but you mentioned numbers "across the board" which I don't think is being very fair since it'd be impossible for Love to continue to average 26 points on a team with Irving and James. Same PER too between first year Bosh and Love this year. Just not seeing this huge statistical difference.

I do agree Love is still adjusting. He also may not be healthy. I don't think we've seen the Love we will be getting if he stays here long term, and we may not even see it this season. *shrug*

 

[jlegg21]

This has nothing to do with how many points he has, or what option he is on the team. It has more to do with "hey does Kevin look like Kevin Love?" If fans want to lie and say yes, or not really care because we are winning, and that's all that's really important, I don't care.

But I notice the strong need for fans to defend him so much, suggests the obvious answer is no, he's not exactly looking like Kevin Love.

I don't care that much, I was just answering what gouri pointed. This isn't me throwing a hissy fit over how he played.

I had no real expectations of us winning tonight without our two best players, and Delly starting.

This... exactly what I was trying to get across in the game thread.

He's still a great player even at whatever percentage of his best this is and he does valuable things for this team every night. I want him to be the 3rd star here for a long time. But I cant kid myself anymore. Something is definitely off with him.

Probably should have sat him tonight anyway, if for no other reason than he would have avoided that hellacious kick in the nads...

 

[SanduskyCav]

No one is hammering him, you're getting defensive over people just pointing out the obvious. Answer one question, do you think Kevin Love looks like his vintage self?

Just answer yes or no.

I think he's Not shooting as well, I've said that. Vintage self? I have no idea. I bet I didn't watch a single Minnesota game in my life unless it was vs Cavs.

 

[SanduskyCav]

Not exactly, comparing the two isn't doing Love any favors, when Bosh was easily still having a much more productive season his first stint playing with LeBron James.

I think people are exaggerating Bosh's first year struggles a lot. It was a clear adjustment, like we expected, but Bosh didn't drop off from an efficient standpoint.

Kevin Love's numbers are down all across the board, people do realize that right? But I guess he's still just learning the system and how to play with LeBron.

Please go back and look at Bosh's numbers from year 1.

 

[Chris]

I think he's Not shooting as well, I've said that. Vintage self? I have no idea. I bet I didn't watch a single Minnesota game in my life unless it was vs Cavs.

Neither did most people here, and anyone who tells you they watched Minnesota games is probably lying.

Watched clips of Love, mostly on YouTube, which is probably how most people have seen him. I'd say he's definitely off and it looks like a health issue if you want my honest opinion. I know the Monstars did not suck the talent from his body, that much I know. Something is probably ailing him.

 

[Captain S]

Neither did most people here, and anyone who tells you they watched Minnesota games is probably lying.

Watched clips of Love, mostly on YouTube, which is probably how most people have seen him. I'd say he's definitely off and it looks like a health issue if you want my honest opinion. I know the Monstars did not suck the talent from his body, that much I know. Something is probably ailing him.

He Looked good physically last game

Maybe because it was a back to back

 

[godfather]

I think he's Not shooting as well, I've said that. Vintage self? I have no idea. I bet I didn't watch a single Minnesota game in my life unless it was vs Cavs.

Bingo, so you do agree, he's not playing as well. Thank You, that's all anyone is saying.

What numbers besides efficiency are you talking about? Bosh was 18/8, Love right now is 17/10 (actually a tad higher but I rounded down). Yes, Bosh was significantly more efficient (standard FG%, Love actually equals in TS% (edit: I said better but theyre actually about equal), but you mentioned numbers "across the board" which I don't think is being very fair since it'd be impossible for Love to continue to average 26 points on a team with Irving and James.

I do agree Love is still adjusting. He also may not be healthy. I don't think we've seen the Love we will be getting if he stays here long term, and we may not even see it this season. *shrug*

He's averaging the lowest amount of rebounds since his rookie year, his shooting percentage is down across the board. Maybe the guy is injured, something clearly is not right with him.

If you're going to round up, Bosh averaged 19 a game, shooting 50 percent from the field his first year.

LeBron James made Bosh a better player. Scoring more points a game doesn't necessarily make you better.

I don't see a "fit" problem with Kevin Love. He was getting pushed around by Louis Scola tonight. That should never happen!

Something is clearly wrong with him, whether it's his health, how we use him, whether he's in a mental funk. Maybe all above, but he's just not himself.

Of course he's still very good, I don't think anyone is saying differently. But yeah, we do and should expect more out of him.

 

[Snowblind]

The thing that's really bothering me about Kevin is just how bad his FG% is right now. Bosh's first year in Miami he shot close to 50%, granted his 3 point shot sucked. I think everyone would just be happier if he shot better percentages and that goes with being assertive and aggressive with getting his shots/looks.

Love just looks disinterested at times and its semi concerning. Maybe he's hurt? Maybe he needs to get the ball around the basket and get to the foul line more to get in a rhythm? Something has to give. Hopefully Blatt can get him some better looks and that Kevin can hit the open shots he gets when the time comes.

 

[Chris]

@godfather

Guys is averaging almost 11 rebounds per game... and we're complaining that he's averaging his lowest rebounds per game since his rookie year.

JFC...man...I'm not trying to be a dick but that is brutal.

Also not sure why you mentioned rounding up. I said I rounded down Love's numbers, not up. Regardless, the 1 point either way, and the fraction of a % either way, is not making or breaking your argument nor mine.

 

[godfather]

@godfather

Guys is averaging almost 11 rebounds per game... and we're complaining that he's averaging his lowest rebounds per game since his rookie year.

JFC...man...I'm not trying to be a dick but that is brutal.

Also not sure why you mentioned rounding up. I said I rounded down Love's numbers, not up. Regardless, the 1 point either way, and the fraction of a % either way, is not making or breaking your argument nor mine.

I misread that, it's late, I've had a few drinks in me.

I like Kevin, I am a fan, I don't see lack of effort, otherwise believe me, I'd rip him into shreds.

It's concerning. It's been this way for awhile. We keep waiting and expecting to see Kevin Love. He shows flashes of it, but it never sustains.

If I had to guess, and this is me just guessing, I have no real clue. I'd say he's having either knee or back issues, and maybe both. Maybe it's something that's just not going to go away either, and we just have to accept this.

I think we can get away with it though. As long as Irving and James are there and healthy.

 

[All4One1ForAll]

My problem is that people are acting like this is the Kevin Love we should expect and we're wrong to have wanted more out of him when we gave up such a great package. I don't care about the stats. I'm watching the games and Love clearly doesn't look as good as we thought he was. Getting pushed around by Scola, not being able to shoot a lick, not rising to the occasion when he knows LBJ and Kyrie are out…

I'm seriously worried about how he'll perform in the playoffs. Kyrie hasn't been there either, but we know he has that killer instinct. Love usually plays timid and soft and that's not gonna work in the playoffs. We need the real Kevin Love if we're gonna win a championship this year.

 

[Snowblind]

@godfather

Guys is averaging almost 11 rebounds per game... and we're complaining that he's averaging his lowest rebounds per game since his rookie year.

JFC...man...I'm not trying to be a dick but that is brutal.

Also not sure why you mentioned rounding up. I said I rounded down Love's numbers, not up. Regardless, the 1 point either way, and the fraction of a % either way, is not making or breaking your argument nor mine.

Honestly, most of his numbers are close (basic stats) to his career averages. His shooting percentages are down, but the biggest number is that he was getting to the line at a high rate and now he doesn't.

His trips to the line in 11-12 was 8.4, 12-13 was 7.9 (injured hand this year), 13-14 was 8.4. This year its 4.9. Clearly he did a lot more damage at the free throw line before this year.

Hopefully, this can get fixed because Kevin does look disengaged at times and will either be super passive or throw up junk.

 

[CommD]

Love multi-year max 2016 forward: NO.
Love 2015-16 opt-in to curent contractual salary level: OK.
Love multi-year max post-2017 forward: NO.
Love trade prior to 2016 trade deadline: YES (PLEASE!).