Kevin Love

[ATL Boy]

This guy is the real deal, he averaged a league high 15 rebounds last year, had 50 straight double doubles, and had a 30 30 game last season, and he hasn't committed to resigning with the T-Wolves, if he hit the market next year I think we go into the tax to get him we would be serious contenders with love. Thoughts?

[kobe_vs_jordan]

He's a RFA. So if he was to leave minny he would dictate where he goes. Think Hawks just need a real center so horford can play center. Would go a long way to improving the whole team

[baseline33]

he doesn't play defense...... he can go get over paid on another team thank you.

[ATL Boy]

he doesn't play defense...... he can go get over paid on another team thank you.

but he gets rebounds, right now we're a great defensive team that cannot clean up the glass, I think rebounding is a bigger concern than defense right now for the hawks, and its hard to pass up 15 boards per game.

[Skyhawk1]

Love isn't the best PF in the NBA... with that being said I don't know why he would not want to resign there... he's young and they are willing to offer him the max which is by far more than anyone else can offer. He's not an inside type of foward with ZERO playoff experience... so even though I like his game, I'd like to see him perform at a high level before he comes out and claims to be the best PF int he league. Anyway, we're not getting him. I wonder if the Magic have any interest in trading Howard there lol... it'd be fun to watch Rubio + Howard. Love + D. Williams + protected 1st for Howard or something like that.

[MaceCase]

All he's done is perform at a ridiculously high level but his team hasn't gotten anywhere so it's pretty easy to see why he's not that interested in extending just yet. The knocks on his defense are overrated and the fact his team doesn't win can't solely lay at his feet. RealGM has already made this same mistake with guys like Gasol and ZBo but all it took was transferring their exact stats to a better supporting cast for people to realize that they are more than "stat-padding, no defense playing scrubs that will never win".

[Ruhiel]

All he's done is perform at a ridiculously high level but his team hasn't gotten anywhere so it's pretty easy to see why he's not that interested in extending just yet. The knocks on his defense are overrated and the fact his team doesn't win can't solely lay at his feet. RealGM has already made this same mistake with guys like Gasol and ZBo but all it took was transferring their exact stats to a better supporting cast for people to realize that they are more than "stat-padding, no defense playing scrubs that will never win".

+1

And people need to get over with the we just need a center so Horford can defend PFs. What about the offense?


People really can't see who's the odd man out in a Kevin Love scenario?
AL Horford + Josh SMith + Marvin Williams

Here's some help:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqgD7twzrKE[/youtube]

Horford + Love + Smith.

Not happening but Love's would complement Smith and Horford beautifully.

[evildallas]

You should be scouting rookies because it will be many years before the Hawks can make a splash in free agency (Joe's deal). Actually they'd be restricted, so I guess you need to scout guys who signed last year or this year in free agency.

[baseline33]

All he's done is perform at a ridiculously high level but his team hasn't gotten anywhere so it's pretty easy to see why he's not that interested in extending just yet. The knocks on his defense are overrated and the fact his team doesn't win can't solely lay at his feet. RealGM has already made this same mistake with guys like Gasol and ZBo but all it took was transferring their exact stats to a better supporting cast for people to realize that they are more than "stat-padding, no defense playing scrubs that will never win".

trust me, once he gets max money, all the loses will solely lay at his feet

[Superiorblogman]

David Lee #2 when I see him do this on a winning team I will be in Love with his numbers not before

[Ruhiel]

But, David Lee is white. Oh! I see.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8af2Mx5_XU[/youtube]

David Lee career 3P%: 06.3% (1/16)

2 different players Bruhman.

"Luxury tax talent" sure but questioning his talent or fit on the team? Is this even debatable?

Kevin Love > Vlad Radmanovic > Marvin

[Superiorblogman]

But, David Lee is white. Oh! I see.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8af2Mx5_XU[/youtube]

David Lee career 3P%: 06.3% (1/16)

2 different players Bruhman.

"Luxury tax talent" sure but questioning his talent or fit on the team? Is this even debatable?

Kevin Love > Vlad Radmanovic > Marvin

Has nothing to do with his race and everything to do with the fact that he is nothing more than stats and the stats are not affecting win loss ratios just like Kevin Love. Jamal Crawford has always had big numbers but he is not a starter on a playoff team. I think Love is just as good as a guy like David West for a winning team though, but he is not what people think he is if you put him on a winner. Troy Murphy had crazy numbers when he played early in his career with Golden State. I am sure his 3pt numbers are more impressive than Loves and his rebounding numbers were big also. Plenty of stat stuffers exist

[Ruhiel]

Has nothing to do with his race and everything to do with the fact that he is nothing more than stats and the stats are not affecting win loss ratios just like Kevin Love.
Jamal Crawford has always had big numbers but he is not a starter on a playoff team.
------
Crawford does not contribute to defense. Love rebounds. Come on. Bigs are usually better at winning games than guards by gaining control of the ball. But Love vs Crawford is disproportionately in favor of Love.


-
I think Love is just as good as a guy like David West for a winning team though, but he is not what people think he is if you put him on a winner.
----
And what is that? A knockdown shooter, pick and pop nightmare. Trail for 3s? Extra boards? The perfect complementary player.

Is he the best iso player in the world? No. But there are other ways to affect the game. Ask Al Horford that.
His positives outweigh his negatives.


---
Troy Murphy had crazy numbers when he played early in his career with Golden State. I am sure his 3pt numbers are more impressive than Loves and his rebounding numbers were big also. Plenty of stat stuffers exist.
----

Murphy's best years came in Indiana. And he never had high PERs, WS/48 as Love.

I mean who cares how good "people are saying he is". At any rate:

Kevin Love > Troy Murphy Indiana days > Vlad.

Vlad is the only one who has the most benefit of help.

Vlad's career highs
58.3% TShooting% 16% USG (LAL) -age 27
57.1% TShooting% 19% USG (ATL) -age 31

Murphy
61.4% TShooting% 17% USG (IND)
58.3% TShooting% 19% USG (IND)

Love
59.3% TShooting% 22.9% USG
59.8% TShooting% 27.4% USG

So if Love goes onto a team, say the Hawks where his shots are reduced... What would his True Shooting % rise to?

Love is the real deal. The fact is he has better shooting %s than Vlad while being the lead dog/first option.

Can't blame him for landing in MIN instead of ATL. but obviously if Vlad Radmanovic can complement the core's drive and kick (he can stretch/space) and fast break (he can trail) ability this well then Love is lux tax worthy.

[Superiorblogman]

Can you look up Murphy's numbers with Golden State considering those are the ones I was referring to? I would Love to see what Love could do with this team, but it is quite obvious that he would only make us more of a pick and pop team. He would help anyone rebounding wise because his rebounding rates are superior to even Dwight Howard, but when we talk max player that puts you into luxury he needs to be that guy that puts you there. I don't know about Love putting us there.

[Ruhiel]

Can you look up Murphy's numbers with Golden State considering those are the ones I was referring to?

I never watched him with GSW but his Usage % had some career highs, so I guess he was alpha or beta dog there. But his True Shooting % and thus his Offensive Rating were predictably low.

He couldn't cut it like Love.

scroll past 36 minutes down to Advanced: http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... htr01.html

[parson]

Love is Zach Randolph's body with Joe Johnson's jumper.
Lee is a hustle guy with no extraordinary gift.
Murphy cannot jump and is slooooow.

Otherwise, they ARE all 3 white...

[Rip2137]

I missed this thread. Its funny how people discount Love doing something that NO OTHER player did in over 2 decades as just another guy putting up good numbers on a bad team. He is a great rebounder(best in the league) with great touch around the rim a great jumper and a developing post game and can finish with both hands. He is a top 5 PF in the league easy.

Comparing him to COINCIDENTALLY white players who don't have simular game at all is silly. If anything he is closer to Garnett offensively with more range or Randolph.

[HMFFL]

Kevin Love considers himself the best power forward in the league. I understand why some speak negative about him, but he has overachieved, and yet some people continue to criticize him for what he does on offense. People should focus their criticism on his defense, not his offense. He won't ever receive the recognition he deserve until his team wins and since he's not a high flyer (Blake Griffin).

[Rip2137]

He is a good off the ball defender as well, he just lacks the athleticism when guys go right at him on the post. The same can be said for a lot of 4's in this league though.

That "best power forward" thing was him saying you have to believe you are the best...more like every player should either think they are the best at their position or strive to best. I understand some criticism but there have been thousands of players on bas teams over the last twenty years and none did what Love did last year. I don't see how anyone can discredit that, especially now that it is clear last year wasn't a fluke.