Kevin Love - Miami Ground Machine

[Birdy89]

I have to wonder if he is hurt.

He has made a career of nursing nagging injuries. He's never really been what you would call an ironman.

He looks like he's about 10 years older than he really is out there the way he lumbers around.

Once the back heals it will be something else. It is what it is with him.

 

[Sebastian]

I mean, if Love is okay with it and would welcome the rest, I don't really care about any backlash the media would give. Means nothing to me and should mean nothing to the team. We have bigger goals.

A statement game against a shitty team is rather meaningless. The bigger statement is Love being healthy enough to play at an all-star level in June.

 

[wuck]

Just watching him during warmups and timeouts at the game tonight made it seem like his back was acting up. He was competing on defense and was not dogging it on offense. He just didn't look like he trusted his shot. He was eager to facilitate, and the Cavs aren't taking advantage of that part of his game. He just doesn't look completely healthy at this point. He seems to be toughing it out. I wonder if the Cavs can wait until the All-Star break to let him get a break or if they give him a game off here or there. It's also possible that his back is just finicky this season.

 

[Sebastian]

Just watching him during warmups and timeouts at the game tonight made it seem like his back was acting up. He was competing on defense and was not dogging it on offense. He just didn't look like he trusted his shot. He was eager to facilitate, and the Cavs aren't taking advantage of that part of his game. He just doesn't look completely healthy at this point. He seems to be toughing it out. I wonder if the Cavs can wait until the All-Star break to let him get a break or if they give him a game off here or there. It's also possible that his back is just finicky this season.

I vote for at least a game off a week. Not only does his back issue effect his lift and agility, but to compensate he must wear braces that limit his movement. Love is wearing a back-brace along with one of these:

The combination of the two has him running like a robot.

 

[clevelandrox23]

Classic Kevin.

 

[kookoo]

We need another big before Love can get days off. Marion can play the 4, but we can't split the 4/5 between 3 guys. It's going to burn out at least one of them.

 

[Pioneer10]

This is not Minnesota. He will have a game where LBJ AND Kyrie are dominant and he just go up and down the floor. So what? Just rebound,defend and make the right basketball plays. As long as the team winning...

Funny his defense was actually dare I say decent tonight. Felt like everybody other then Irving couldn't hit anything from outside tonight: JR, Shumpert, and Love bricked a bunch of wide open 3's otherwise this game would have easily been a blowout rather then just a comfortable win.

 

[CHIMOCHIS]

He needs to start making shots

We have the best PF in the game, and another top 5 PF in Love

That's why we're looking for a backup PG who can dribble and pass the ball into the Post to the King

 

[MirORich]

I really liked the two times, both in the 3rd qtr, where Love fed the ball to Timo in deep post position for easy baskets. You have to reward the bigs for establishing deep position and that was good recognition by Love both times.

 

[King of Swords]

I am not nearly as down on Love as some have been. He IS making an effort on D as far as I can tell, and he contributes with some nice passing (the full court feeds as well as nice entry passes to Mozgov).

However, his shot is clearly off, and it sure looks like the back is involved. I'd have to imagine that Kevin and the team are just trying to get to the All-star break to give it some rest. Having seen what the rest period did for LBJ, I'm trying to be optimistic about what it can do for Love.

At some point, I think Blatt is going to have to utilize smaller lineups with Marion and LBJ manning the 4 to enable Love to get some games off. I realize that he may be unwilling at this point with the team just picking up momentum.

 

[wremy]

Yea dude had a bad game...he is 18-11 for the yr..and just had a big role in our win vs OKC..

relax

 

[Lee]

Yea dude had a bad game...he is 18-11 for the yr..and just had a big role in our win vs OKC..

relax

Thing is even when his shot wasn't falling he competed. He had decent defense against a tough matchup, he hustled for balls, quick outlet passes, and left it all on the court even when he wasn't making shots.

Shooters aren't on every night, the key is not letting them effect their effort. I don't see how people don't like Love's effort every single night he brings all he has.

 

[iamacavalier]

I was fully expecting to come on here today and have to defend Love. Glad that people saw what was going on. He wasn't comfortable with his shot so he facilitated and still stretched the floor for James and Irving. His back is obviously effecting his shot. He could obviously use a break. And even though he is the 2nd best PF in the east he likely won't make the allstar game and will get a week of rest.

 

[SenatorTress]

Love does need a break. He looks tired and beatup.

I am getting tired of the national narrative that says the Cavs need to utilize him properly. When he's on the court he's not aggressive on the offensive end. He doesn't post his man and adamantly call for the ball. He doesn't execute the pick and roll to the hoop. What he basically does is stand around the three point line and wait for a shot. So, when you do that, those are the shots you get.

 

[BigJ]

Over at realgm people are acting like Love is sooo horrible... a poor mans Ryan Anderson^^ pretty out of their minds^^

Hes at 17-10 wich is still propably THE best line for a 3rd Option in the entire NBA
While beeing bothered/injured and looking for his shooting stroke.

I think the Week of at the All Star Break could be huge for Love!
Rest and Heal like Lebron did.

Its simple as hitting one of those wide open threes he misses right now.. He would be at 19+ppg again easily just if he finds his three.