You realize he has only 7 career games of 30-20 and hasn't done it since the lockout season right? The reason we haven't fully seen Minnesota Love is he is not our #1 option. He takes nearly 5 shots a game less than he did in Minny and also takes 4 less free throws a game. He's averaging 18 and 12. You know who else in the league has those numbers? Andre Drummond. That's it.
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Kevin Love - Miami Ground Machine
- Thread starter Jack Brickman
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K1rieIrving>AllOtherPG's
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We all know what this guy can do offensively and that was never an issue,
but Love really surprised me last game on the defensive end,
he was moving his feet like crazy, taking charges, sacrificing his left nut, keeping his hands up, moving and contesting shots, instead of camping near the rim.
that's a complete 180 from the Love I have seen the last 3 games,
if he can keep this level of effort and hard work on a consistent basis not only he will be an Allstar, he can also be a very solid two way player for us.
but Love really surprised me last game on the defensive end,
he was moving his feet like crazy, taking charges, sacrificing his left nut, keeping his hands up, moving and contesting shots, instead of camping near the rim.
that's a complete 180 from the Love I have seen the last 3 games,
if he can keep this level of effort and hard work on a consistent basis not only he will be an Allstar, he can also be a very solid two way player for us.
Chris Parker
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I disagreed but didn't pile on with a rating.
1) we won't ever be getting Timberwolves Love because that guy was the product of a shitty team where he got all the touches and focus.
2) Kevin Love was better than his career stats in several things last year and people talk about how poorly he played. He's always going to be Chris Bosh, and will never be fully appreciated because he's shadowed by the sun.
3) On defense Kevin Love improved all last season, and has been nowhere as bad as everyone seems to think. (Neither has Mozzy, but that's another discussion.) While some numbers show he's regressed this year, he's improved in others. He's still (and perhaps always will be) a below avg help defender. Sometimes downright abysmal. but he's not terrible on the ball. Took a charge last night, has slapped away more than a few balls inside the last few games. I believe when people complain about Mozzy and Love they're usually complaining about Mo Williams defending the ballhandler, or maybe they're just haters like this guy.
https://vid.me/9Bhx
4) While Kevin Love's rebounding numbers aren't what they were in Minnesota (see #1) they have been better this year than last, and you have to account for the fact that Tristan, Mozzy & LBJ are all good rebounders in their own right.
5) In total, maybe not everyone believes Love's terrible, and while his shooting around the rim has been abysmal, he's shown real touch 3'-10' like AMAZING touch around the basket. So maybe he shoots that hook or does a few more headfakes like he has the last couple games.
Indeed, maybe - small sample size aside - he has looked like a better version the last couple games already?
Rick Astley
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He's posted way more beautiful games after that. Better than 30-20. Showed flashes of it last season as well. I don't expect him to do it left and right.
I just want to see a way more confident and all-star form Love that somehow relates to a monster form as a 2nd option even if he doesn't get games like that anymore. We haven't seen it consistently enough to tell ourselves this is the best that we can get from a max player.
I don't think everyone is in the same page. I was talking about a more confident Love. He's got no hops, gets blocked more than everyone does, and hardly finish around the rim save for the last few games of course. The body language he's showing off for the past 2 seasons is atrocious compared to Wolf Love that may have to do with coming off of injury concerns or being relegated to 2nd or 3rd option, betting it has more to do with the former. I reckon Love himself could squeeze out 3ppg more on both Cavalier seasons.
This to be honest. I really don't give a rat's ass about what he will accomplish personally or statistically. A confident and consistent Love is all this team needs. No pressure. No jinx. I am nervously holding my breath. I root for this guy.
You realize he's had 5 20-10 games already this season right? Including 2 24-14 games, a 22-15 game and a 22-19 game. Sure he's been a little inconsistent, but these are ELITE numbers, especially as a second option. Blake Griffin, Andre Drummond and Anthony Davis all have 5 total 20-10 games this year as #1 options. Love is a #2 option to LeBron Fucking James. Only DeMarcus Cousins has more than them with 7 such games.
If we narrow it down to his best games, Love trails only Drummond in 24-14 games. Drummond has 3, Love has 2. Everybody else either has 1 or 0. What else do you want from him?
tocov
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THIS SO FUCKING MUCH.
Love has been put on the grill by people so many times for his apparent bad defense, but so so many of those times were just guards driving past Mo like he's a garden gnome and forcing Love and Moz to rotate and leave the paint wide open.
Yesterday Love played with Delly and JC on the ballhandler and those cases were minimized to virtually zero, and everyone hailed (rightfully so) Love's defense.
Rick Astley
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See, you're not reading what I'm really saying. I'm not disputing he MUST post better numbers. I've already said I'm content with the numbers. It's his demeanor that might be stemming from his injury that bugs me the most. If he has a better back he'd probably have way better numbers and that's a bonus in my book.
What do I want from him? Simple. To have a consistent game and better health so I don't have to read dumbass posts every after loss.
K1rieIrving>AllOtherPG's
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that definitely helped Kevin quite a bit, But in regards of the level of effort, keeping his hands up and moving his feet when they ISO on him, contesting shots instead of breaking to get the rebound ect...
that was all Kevin, it looked like he really wanted to play some defense that game, was fun to watch him get mad when he made a mistake on that end, looked like he really cared and it showed, I hope this is just the beginning
go cavs275
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He is really showcasing his offensive arsenal now that he is getting the opportunities to do so. I could not be more happy with what he has shown the past few games. He may not put up the numbers that he put up in Minnesota, but I want to see similar efficiency. Last season he had a PER of 18.9, which was extremely sub-par for him. By the end of this season, I expect/predict his PER to be around 23-24, which is about superstar level.
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Love's defense has been very good this year. The Atlanta game showcased that, Atlanta bigs weren't able to do anything. I also like that Love is able to step out on the perimeter and guard a jump shooting big like Millsap and bang down low with those same players.
He is a spectacular all around player able to pass, defend, rebound, and score inside and outside at a high level.
He is a spectacular all around player able to pass, defend, rebound, and score inside and outside at a high level.
JMoneyYourHoney
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I'm a pro-Love guy but let's not get carried away here.
I'm not getting the praise for Love's defense this year, he's looked really bad at times. Hell this game had to be the first time this season that he actually had his hand up defending somebody, boy what a difference it made.
tocov
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I'm not denying he played good D. He gave it his best definitely.
I'm just saying that many times people pin bad D on him because the paint is open when it's not necessarily his fault.
Frank Reynolds
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Love's usage of the triple threat position is awesome to watch. His fundamentals are on point.
He's got a great shot fake, great offensive awareness in general. His hook-shots are looking better.
He needs to shoot the bank shot, it's there all day for him.
He's got a great shot fake, great offensive awareness in general. His hook-shots are looking better.
He needs to shoot the bank shot, it's there all day for him.
LeShaq
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The most hilarious part of that play was that LOVE got called for the foul, when he clearly got kneed in the nuts (by Millsap, I think it was).
