RealGM

Last night while checking around Real GM wiretap news had a blurb where Kevin McHale stated that Keven Love is so far advanced for a 20 year old it's ridiculous. He is developing quickly and seems to have an over-all game. Timberwolves dont even run plays for dude....Beasley looks more productive right now but next year or the after Love is going to own.

If I remember right he was more so comparing himself to Love not other current 20 year olds in the NBA. He then went on to say that when he was 20 he was a sophomore at the U of M. I don't think he intended the comparison to be to a player like Beasley just more telling the media that K-Love is young and doing very well for his age. Mchale has been very supportive of his players when he talk to the media. He definitely has earned the respect of his player.

He also was referring to Love's rebounding, which is amazing. I don't think he was talking about his overall game.

Who's starting over Love in the rookie game?

I have it at:

Rose
Mayo
Beasley
Love
Lopez

Oden, Fernandez, Westbrook, Gasol

Some may say Oden over love definitely, but why? The only answer is because the media brainwashes you to think so, or because you think Oden's "Potential" puts him head and shoulders above Love?

OR, you could reply back to me with a smart ass answer(Like Casey will) such as "Because Oden just IS better."

Oden could be better, but right now, nobody is landslidingly(I made that word up) better.

Love is outplaying Oden in every category statistically(And EFF) except FG% and blocks...and if the best argument because his team is winning, then that's the weakest **** to come through like Sasha Vujacic trying to lay it up against LeBron a few days ago.

You could say Oden has been better defensively and that's why he is "Better than Love".

I'm guessing(And if i'm wrong, i'll whole heartedly apologize) that these are the people that Greg Oden has guarded:

Greg Oden averages 3.7 fouls per game, so remember that Pryzbilla gets some of the share of defense too.

Okafor - 24/11/3blocks
http://www.nba.com/games/20090117/PORCHA/boxscore.html

Lopez - 17/6/2
http://www.nba.com/games/20090115/PORNJN/boxscore.html

Dalembert - 4/9/3blocks
http://www.nba.com/games/20090114/PORPHI/boxscore.html

Gooden - 22/9 (Oden went off in this game too, bravo)
http://www.nba.com/games/20090112/PORCHI/boxscore.html

Biedrins - 10/6 (Good job on Beans, this is well below his average)
http://www.nba.com/games/20090110/GSWPOR/boxscore.html

Brown - 9/4 (Like Kwame can do ****)
http://www.nba.com/games/20090107/DETPOR/boxscore.html

Okur - 27/12 (I brought up this game just in case someone wants to bring up Millsaps game on Love)
http://www.nba.com/games/20081211/PORUTA/boxscore.html

Chandler - 9/4 (Nice game, but Chandler has regressed, but it is a good job and I'm not taking anything away from Oden)
http://www.nba.com/games/20090102/NOHPOR/boxscore.html

Bynum - 4/10 (Another defensive effort looking at the box score)
http://www.nba.com/games/20090104/PORLAL/boxscore.html

--------------

Love games:

Millsap - 28/15 (YIKES)
http://www.nba.com/games/20090120/MINUTA/boxscore.html

Stoudemire - 19/7
http://www.nba.com/games/20090116/MINPHX/boxscore.html

Haslem - 17/10
http://www.nba.com/playerfile/kevin_lov ... stats.html

Villanueva - 7/5
http://www.nba.com/games/20090110/MILMIN/boxscore.html

Love has had too many inconsistent minutes to determine anything (13 minute games?? Seriously?)
Oden has gotten inconsistent minutes also, so don't look too much into the statlines for either player.

Just some fun facts

Greg Oden has had 14 double digit rebounding games, Kevin has had 15.
Oden has had 15 double digit scoring games, Love has had 14.


Oden could foul out according to his stats per 36 minutes (5.9 fouls per 36) I'M NOT SAYING HE WILL FOUL OUT

Oden game logs - http://www.nba.com/playerfile/greg_oden ... stats.html
Love game logs - http://www.nba.com/playerfile/kevin_lov ... stats.html

Someone please prove me wrong, I want to believe Oden should start over Love, and don't waste my time with a piss poor one liner, because i've actually put the effort to find out these stats and fun facts, so if your best answer is "Because his team is winning", well...that is true(Sad because he's not really the main reason), but it doesn't mean he is individually better than Love RIGHT NOW.

There's always the argument that Oden starts on a playoff team while Love is the third man off the bench for a Lottery team.

Oden defense is great but hes a center not a pf
Rose/Mayo/Beasley/Love/Oden damn that could win this year

Don't get me wrong, I love Love and want him in that rookie game... but unfortunately Oden probably does deserve to be there more than he does. If for no other reason than Oden has a way awesome'er beard than Love, dude seriously needs to go back to the Abe Lincoln style beard. Love does have a decent beard an all though, just doesn't hold a candle to someone who can rock a presidential beard, i'm voting MVP of rookie game on beard alone for Oden.

as far as potential goes; Oden can become some type of Hakeem/Ewing hybrid that dominates for 10 years, while Love would be something close to an Unseld type in terms of rebounding/hussle/passing, but probably won't end up with the career achievments(MVP/RotY/FinalsMVP) I know i'd much rather watch Hakeem than Unseld, i dunno about you

Personally, I don't see "defensive centers" as being terribly impactful any longer. There are too many athletic players who will throw it down on a big center, whereas years ago they ran away. Nobody shies away from D centers any more.

Oden will be another Mutombo-type cuz he can't shoot like Ewing.
10 rpg,,,
2 blk,,,
12 ppg

Kluv will be better because a lot of what he does won't show up on a stat sheet.
,,,"Things such as quick or long outlet passes that get the break started. Or strong screens that Love uses to hold his position a little longer, creating more space for his teammate with the ball. Or occupying space inside to clear room for a driver."[sic]

Brook Lopez will be better than Oden.

miltk wrote:Personally, I don't see "defensive centers" as being terribly impactful any longer. There are too many athletic players who will throw it down on a big center, whereas years ago they ran away. Nobody shies away from D centers any more.

What? It's always going to be harder to get easy shots against taller and more athletic players. That's never going to change. Ever.

there's gonna be a lot of bricks in this game, Love could get 20 rebounds if he starts

Call me crazy, but over the course of there careers, Oden will have more spectacular plays(and be on sportscenter more) but Love will have a far more productive career. I value basketball skills and heart, Love has them, Oden doesn't.

miltk wrote:Personally, I don't see "defensive centers" as being terribly impactful any longer. There are too many athletic players who will throw it down on a big center, whereas years ago they ran away. Nobody shies away from D centers any more.

Oden will be another Mutombo-type cuz he can't shoot like Ewing.
10 rpg,,,
2 blk,,,
12 ppg

Kluv will be better because a lot of what he does won't show up on a stat sheet.
,,,"Things such as quick or long outlet passes that get the break started. Or strong screens that Love uses to hold his position a little longer, creating more space for his teammate with the ball. Or occupying space inside to clear room for a driver."[sic]

Brook Lopez will be better than Oden.

Oden has way more offensive potential then Kevin Love and Mutumbo. Compare him with a player like Dwight Howard who averages 20 ppg mostly off of dunks and free throws. Oden should be able to do the same thing in his prime, perhaps more.

kingly222 wrote:Call me crazy, but over the course of there careers, Oden will have more spectacular plays(and be on sportscenter more) but Love will have a far more productive career. I value basketball skills and heart, Love has them, Oden doesn't.

Oden doesn't have heart? Where do you people get this stuff?

Worm Guts wrote:

miltk wrote:Personally, I don't see "defensive centers" as being terribly impactful any longer. There are too many athletic players who will throw it down on a big center, whereas years ago they ran away. Nobody shies away from D centers any more.

What? It's always going to be harder to get easy shots against taller and more athletic players. That's never going to change. Ever.

I'm talking about the CENTER position, worm.

I think D is more important at the pf, sg, and sf positions. I'll take great D there than at the 5.

miltk wrote:

Worm Guts wrote:

miltk wrote:Personally, I don't see "defensive centers" as being terribly impactful any longer. There are too many athletic players who will throw it down on a big center, whereas years ago they ran away. Nobody shies away from D centers any more.

What? It's always going to be harder to get easy shots against taller and more athletic players. That's never going to change. Ever.

I'm talking about the CENTER position, worm.

I think D is more important at the pf, sg, and sf positions. I'll take great D there than at the 5.

I think every basketball expert would disagree with you. The center position always has been, and probably always will be the most important position on the floor. They shoot most of their shots close to the basket, which of course are high percentage shots. On defense, they play close to the basket, so they have the ability to affect more shots then any other player on the floor.

Oden got more all-star votes than Al Jefferson :/

What can I/we expect to see Kevin Love doing on offense in the future? So far I've mainly seen him get layups and dunks around the basket. Not many hook shots/jumpers and not many perimeter/post moves.
I don't really watch college basketball so I didn't see what his game was in college. Videos I've seen are more of the same, layups from good positioning and passing meh.

I expect him to take his man out to half court and launch away:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjDNZEtF ... re=related

and then:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZpljX-j ... re=related

You guys get ragged on for the trade, but Love is damn good. Tonight for example, the Bulls have absolutely no answer for him on the glass and he just plays smart basketball. He could easily avg 18/13 throughout the prime of his career.

If I were you, I'd trade big Al and let love be the PF of the future. Beast in the post, but he is a Zach Randolph clone without the attitude. He has a lot of trade value too, and you'll win more in the long run w/ Love IMO, just need to a get a shot blocker in there to team up with him.