Well with the way he's being used currently he definitely is a stretch four. Love would be correct though if he was still playing in Minny.
Love is launching 8.1 threes per contest in his last seven games. His highest rate of threes taken was last season in Minnesota when he shot 6.6 a game, and that was along with the inside touches he received. No matter what the statistics suggest, Love is not in agreement on the big-man long distance tag.
“I heard some people calling me that but I know I’m not a stretch-four,” Love told NEOMG. “I’m a post player that can shoot. Right now I’m just doing what I’m called to do. For good, bad or indifferent, I’m playing my role and doing what’s asked of me. Tonight, I stayed out on the perimeter.”
===
Thoughts? Opinions?
I 100% agree and have been saying it since the beginning. He's being underutilized a lot of the time. It's part coaching staff, part LeBron and Kyrie not getting him the ball in his post spots, and occasionally Kevin just not demanding the ball in the post.Love is launching 8.1 threes per contest in his last seven games. His highest rate of threes taken was last season in Minnesota when he shot 6.6 a game, and that was along with the inside touches he received. No matter what the statistics suggest, Love is not in agreement on the big-man long distance tag.
“I heard some people calling me that but I know I’m not a stretch-four,” Love told NEOMG. “I’m a post player that can shoot. Right now I’m just doing what I’m called to do. For good, bad or indifferent, I’m playing my role and doing what’s asked of me. Tonight, I stayed out on the perimeter.”
===
Thoughts? Opinions?
I 100% agree and have been saying it since the beginning. He's being underutilized a lot of the time. It's part coaching staff, part LeBron and Kyrie not getting him the ball in his post spots, and occasionally Kevin just not demanding the ball in the post.
But however you cut it, I agree with Kevin 100%.
If we weren't doing so well, didnt have the chance to pay him the most money, and hadn't have Kevin's repeated assurances that he's not going anywhere, those comments would be a little worrying. But I'm not worried about that with Kevin.
But my stance hasn't changed since November. We are missing out on so much of Love's skill set. I hope Blatt is listening.
I am almost giving up on use utilizing Love the correct way this season. It feels too little and too late at this point. But during the summer, I really hope Blatt watches a lot of tape on Kevin Love, and how to utilize him better.
To be fair to Blatt, sometimes we forget the guy has never coached in the NBA at all. He doesn't have a familiarity of the players, like previous coaches do.
So it might take him another season to familiarize himself better with culture of the NBA, and adjusting to his players more.
There's no denying it, we don't utilize him fully, and it's unfortunate.
We have to stop making excuses for this man. Kerr has never Coached in the NBA, but doing a fantastic job with the Warriors.
He's been coaching for 20 years. How hard is it for him to watch film and get Love into position to score? He seems very ignorant to the fact Love isn't just a spot up shooter.
Kerr has watched and covered the NBA for years. He was a GM, he has experience in the NBA culture.
Blatt hasn't had anything to do with the NBA in any capacity whatsoever.
Hell, some of us fans have probably watched more NBA game than he has.
James wants to reduce midrange jumpers; okay great, analytics supports this. But you need variety in your offense. Love should be playing in the post as well as beyond the arc.
Can't win without midrange jumpers; I don't care what analytics say. Having that in-between game is extremely important. The players that don't have that in their game end up going through long shooting droughts and are just down right inconsistent. It's the one shot you can consistently get a good look at against set defenses.