Love on Scott Van Pelt Show

[Klomp]

http://espn.go.com/espnradio/player?rd= ... id=6015699

[Tha Juice]

Thanks Klomp. I didn't realize that the whole leaving MN thing was just talk between Durant & Westbrook that extended back to World Championships last summer. Love also sounded really enthusiastic about the future with our young talent, salary cap and believes by this time next season the Wolves will be a .500 or better team.

[teven_1]

wow that's a load off.
You gotta love K-Love

[shangrila]

Can someone do a recap if they don't mind? Cheers

[Tha Juice]

Can someone do a recap if they don't mind? Cheers

Well other then my first post, SVP just brought up that Love's last block was in the game against the Bulls on Boozer. Van Pelt also brought up that Love was in 9th place in AS voting and that he was gonna try and spread the word to vote for K-Love like they did with David Lee in NY last year. Love said it would be an honor to play in the All-Star game this year and it would mean a little more since it was in LA this year where he was born and played college ball. That was pretty much all they talked about.

Oh and Van Pelt told Love to "think block" against the Wizards.

[Breakdown777]

I'm glad he sounds loyal to Minny. Hopefully all the losing doesn't change that this season. I'm not sure if I want him trying to block Andray Blatche all night....It'd be much easier to steal it from a guy like him.

It's interesting that K Love is getting All Star buzz. The 20-15 averages are impressive, but I'm still wondering where that line between "good stats on a bad team" and a winning record is. It's not to often that a bottom 3 team gets an All Star selected.

Speaking of all stars....where does Love rank?

Forwards/Centers:

Locks - Duncan, Pau Gasol, Dirk, Durant, Melo
Next - Lamar Odom, Lemarcus Aldridge, K-Love, Millsap, Al Jefferson, Scola, Griffin, Serge Ibaka,
Maybe - Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol, Nene, David West, Beasley,David Lee

So depending on if 2 or 3 of the "next" get in, and if Melo gets moved east...My opinion would currently have the most likely at:

1. Odom (coaches love winning teams)
2. Millsap (UTH is a good team..I'd love to give the nod to Al but Millsap has had better standout games).
3. Aldridge
4. Love/Griffin battle. Both teams are horrid, but sometimes rookies get more love. Ibaka could be the selection if winning is the major factor.

[theGreatRC]

Ibaka? Love would outshine Ibaka if they were both on the same team. Ibaka is a good defensive player and shot blocker, but Love is a complete player and Ibaka is still raw and I can't see him achieving the statistical accomplishments that Love has done if Ibaka were in Love's situation.

Griffin and Odom have a legit chance to get in over Love; they are both having great seasons.

Aldridge has really come on as of late.

Millsap has actually cooled down and I don't think he's in serious discussion

[Devilzsidewalk]

I agree w/ your locks, I'd have him w/ Aldridge and Odom on that maybes list. The other guys are behind.

[wolves_fan_82au]

i found these stats interresting on love

ppg
oct 14 ppg 13 rpg 1.3 apg
nov 20.1 ppg 15.4 rpg 2.1 apg
dec 22.7 ppg 16.1 rpg 2.8 apg
jan 23 ppg 17.5 rpg 2.4 apg

if those stats keep going up imagine what he could avg by april

[Klomp]

Love is a beast but he's not far from the bad version of Blatche on Offense.

[King Rube]

i found these stats interresting on love

ppg
oct 14 ppg 13 rpg 1.3 apg
nov 20.1 ppg 15.4 rpg 2.1 apg
dec 22.7 ppg 16.1 rpg 2.8 apg
jan 23 ppg 17.5 rpg 2.4 apg

if those stats keep going up imagine what he could avg by april

Those numbers in Jan. are crazy.

[Klomp]

While I was talking to Love, marveling at his production in a system that rarely intentionally features him, Wolves’ PR man Mark Rosenberg pointed out a stat of which I was previously unaware:

According to NBA.com’s ratings, Love is the most efficient player in the league. Who wouldn’t want to be atop this Top 10:

1. Love
2. Pau Gasol.
3. LeBron James
4. Amar’e Stoudemire
5. Blake Griffin
6. Dwight Howard
7. Dirk Nowitzki
8. Chris Paul
9. Kevin Durant
10. Dwyane Wade

http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/113543099.html

[LOBO 7]

While I was talking to Love, marveling at his production in a system that rarely intentionally features him, Wolves’ PR man Mark Rosenberg pointed out a stat of which I was previously unaware:

According to NBA.com’s ratings, Love is the most efficient player in the league. Who wouldn’t want to be atop this Top 10:

1. Love
2. Pau Gasol.
3. LeBron James
4. Amar’e Stoudemire
5. Blake Griffin
6. Dwight Howard
7. Dirk Nowitzki
8. Chris Paul
9. Kevin Durant
10. Dwyane Wade

http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/113543099.html

I was looking at his stats earlier today and noticed that. I don't know if he just moved to the top spot in efficiency, but there he is.

Study this page for a bit: http://www.nba.com/playerfile/kevin_lov ... stats.html

Whether we know it or not, we have a legit superstar on our hands.
I'll admit that last year and even the first few games this year I was one of Kevin's harshest critics, but only due to his propensity to get down on himself and let his effort fade when things weren't going his way. I was pissed at him because I knew he could be better. That said, never in a million years did I ever think he would be THIS good.

His 3 point shooting has become downright elite. He only shot 28% from 3 in October and 35% from 3 in November, but since December 1, in 22 games, he has shot 43/83 from 3, good for 52%. Obviously, I don't expect him to be a career 52% 3 point shooter, but nobody is.

As his numbers have improved, so has his all-around effort. He is still no defensive juggernaut, but he is much less of a liability than he used to be. He's #19 in the NBA in minutes per game at 36.9, and he has earned every minute, while his conditioning has improved vastly.

He has also become much more adept at scoring in the post or getting to the line. He is downright crafty down there now. He may never be a legit go to guy that we can just give the ball to and expect a bucket, but at this point I really wouldn't be surprised if he surprised us in that sense too.

The way his numbers have improved not only over the course of this season but over the course of his career is pretty incredible. It is virtually impossible for him to continue improving at this rate, but even if this is his ceiling, he is a legit superstar, and we are lucky to be able to watch him night in and night out. Obviously, we all take this for granted now, which is saying a lot. He is something special, and he's still only 22. It's to the point that we can't keep him out of the game for long without noticing his absence.

Anyways, end of rant. I just wanted to spout some serious love for the guy, he has earned it.

[CoffeeJanitor]

I've always thought Love could be an amazing player, but yeah, I'd agree that his attitude and has pissed me off until this year.

Can you imagine how he would be performing this year if he hadn't played on team USA?

[Klomp]

Just 181 games into his NBA career, Kevin Love is already 3rd in Timberwolves' franchise history in offensive rebounds (696). He trails only Sam Mitchell (992) and Kevin Garnett (2,571).