Ford: Kevin Love improving athleticism

PeeDee · Post #1 » by **PeeDee** » Fri May 16, 2008 10:13 pm

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft200 ... tch-080516

Abunassar has spent the past three weeks with Love and the results are really impressive. Love has lost 13 pounds since UCLA was bounced from the Final Four and he's starting to show muscle definition. He really is getting up and down the floor -- he went through a one-hour, fast-paced workout and finished with plenty of gas left in the tank.

Love is clearly in much better shape than he was at UCLA and it dramatically improves his game. He's more explosive getting off the floor. He moves better laterally. And he isn't sacrificing the trademark strength that made him one of the toughest big men in college basketball.

His workout video:
http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/vid ... Id=2459788

Tor · Post #2 » by **Tor** » Sat May 17, 2008 2:52 am

Well he does look a little more explosive with his leap in that video...but I still don't think he'd be a good fit for our team, and I'm not even convinced he'll be anything more than an average role player at best. Classic big man who dominated in college, but doesn't have the body or athleticism to take on the NBA. Sean May, anyone?

It also depends on which team he ends up with. For instance, I could see him flourishing in a place like Chicago. But for the Wolves...let's not draft someone who will keep Big Al out of his natural position at PF.

Frozen316 · Post #3 » by **Frozen316** » Sat May 17, 2008 6:45 am

Sean May per 36 stats: 3 Offensive Rebounds - 10 Total Rebounds 0.8 Steal 1.0 Block 17.9 points

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... yse01.html

4ho5ive · Post #4 » by **4ho5ive** » Sat May 17, 2008 8:19 am

im not a huge fan of "per"

andyhop · Post #5 » by **andyhop** » Sat May 17, 2008 11:59 am

My problem with him is why wasn't he committed enough to get in shape whilst he was in college?

Yeah he is going to do it for the draft but is he actually going to keep the weight off and stay in shape after that or will he revert to his old self.

Tor · Post #6 » by **Tor** » Sat May 17, 2008 2:49 pm

4ho5ive wrote:im not a huge fan of "per"

Yeah I'll have to agree with you on that one. It's basically the "poor man's" stat.

Post #7 » by **revprodeji** » Sat May 17, 2008 3:52 pm

Lets look at his weak spots

prefuse73 · Post #8 » by **prefuse73** » Sat May 17, 2008 4:47 pm

I am going to agree with rev on this one. Love seems to be the type of guy that is intelligent and will work hard to improve and add something to his game every offseason. This is what we call intangibles everybody and love is overflowing with it. Complete opposite of Jordan who just wants to be an atheltic 7 footer and call it a day.

If he measures out to be 6-10 in shoes and we fall to 4 or below, I would really have to consider Love along with Lopez and Randolph. If Love can project to be at least similar to Lopez on D (hopefully better), than I would go with Love. Our Front court would be very similar to the Jazz with Jefferson operating down low like boozer....except with more moves and overall ability and Love could occupy the Okur role of jump shooting big man (who can hit the three) but Love also has sick moves in the post unlike Okur. Big Al would dominate with Love helping him out. We would just need to make sure they keep working on D.

Love - POB? - Dorsey or Hardin
Jefferson - Love - POB
Gomes - Brewer
Brewer - McCants
Foye - Telfair

Post #9 » by **TheFranchise21** » Sat May 17, 2008 5:01 pm

I would only take Love if the following players are off the board:

1. Rose
2. Beasley
3. Mayo
4. Lopez
5. Randolph
6. Gallinari

So if we fell to the #7 spot (is that possible?), then I would take Love.

deeney0 · Post #10 » by **deeney0** » Sat May 17, 2008 5:21 pm

No, 7 is not possible.

theGreatRC · Post #11 » by **theGreatRC** » Sat May 17, 2008 5:32 pm

deeney0 wrote:No, 7 is not possible.

Knowing we're the Wolves, 7 is possible.

collin_k41 · Post #12 » by **collin_k41** » Sat May 17, 2008 8:13 pm

I agree mostly with what's being said here. I DON'T think he'll only be an average role player though. He is simply phenomenal at everything but athleticism. He's got great footwork in the post, a nice jumpshot, awesome passing skills, he has the competitive fire and understands the game of basketball like few others.

Like a rev said his height is a big determining factor. If he is closer to 6'10" then i think his height paired with his abilities will make up for his lack of athleticism.

He also seems like one of those guys that can help a team win. Kind of the opposite of the feelings i get when thinking about melo or beasley. I really think they're good players but they really don't help their team win. Love is exceptional at everything besides athleticism but he is just one of those guys that will flat out help you win games.

big3_8_19_21 · Post #13 » by **big3_8_19_21** » Sat May 17, 2008 10:02 pm

how often to players end up TALLER than their listed height? It's either 6'8" or 6'9"

the_bruce · Post #14 » by **the_bruce** » Sat May 17, 2008 10:39 pm

Love could very well do what cookie did over last summer and get in great shape. My only problem is that Al + Love surely can't run the court very well, but I don't think that matters so much due to his absurd passing ability.

He's smart and obviously loves the game, and I'm fine with him being in my 2nd group of Randolph + Lopez.

deeney0 · Post #15 » by **deeney0** » Sat May 17, 2008 10:57 pm

big3_8_19_21 wrote:how often to players end up TALLER than their listed height? It's either 6'8" or 6'9"

KG

horaceworthy · Post #16 » by **horaceworthy** » Sun May 18, 2008 12:05 am

big3_8_19_21 wrote:how often to players end up TALLER than their listed height? It's either 6'8" or 6'9"

Last year there were several players that did. Noah, Aaron Gray and Carl Landry all measured taller than listed, and Al Horford was a guy that, like Love, was listed at 6'10" but expected to measure shorter, but measured at 6'10".

It isn't something that happens for the majority of prospects, but it seems like there's a handful or so of guys every year that measure taller than expected/listed.

Tekkenlaw · Post #17 » by **Tekkenlaw** » Sun May 18, 2008 12:28 am

I'd take Kevin Love over Brook Lopez.

andyhop · Post #18 » by **andyhop** » Sun May 18, 2008 2:10 am

revprodeji wrote:
We are talking about a freshman Pac 10 big man that dominated. That does not happen often. As DX notes Love had no problem getting his shot off against Hardin and Lopez. You put Love in the 4 spot next to Al and you have a sexy frontcourt.

He shot 42% in 3 games against Stanford and the Lopez's,and had 1 good shooting game against Cal and Hardin and 2 poor shooting games including 1 in which Hardin didn't play.Against Memphis Dorsey shut him down and killed him on the boards.

I don't see that he is a difference maker in the NBA,where there are plenty of guys as good and a lot better than the Lopez's and Dorsey.

Post #19 » by **TheFranchise21** » Sun May 18, 2008 3:49 am

I'd rather take the guy who was FIT throughout college (Lopez). Love is a good prospect but he's not a #2 guy. I think in this draft, we have to come out with a #1 or #2 guy. Love is clearly a #3 or worse guy. I hate to say this about a guy so young, but Love doesn't seem to have much potential to get better. He's a polished player because he's so limited athletically. He's going to be too slow to guard NBA PFs, and too short for Cs. And I'm sorry but that video hardly has any footage that shows his improved athleticism. I like Kevin Love, I just think there are at least six guys worth taking before him.

GopherIt! · Post #20 » by **GopherIt!** » Sun May 18, 2008 3:53 am

Love - POB? - Dorsey or Hardin
Jefferson - Love - POB
Gomes - Brewer
Brewer - McCants
Foye - Telfair

Holy, horrible front court defense Batman.