Kevin Love - Miami Ground Machine

[InBoobieWeTrust]

View: https://twitter.com/JasonLloydNBA/status/867952129784258560



Some strong tomfoolery is probably going on in that back room. Strippers, Drugs, maybe a Delly and Moz cameo?

 

[Rick Astley]

Delly and Moz cameo

It made me sad for real in the midst of a huge victory when I read this. Wish those guys were here.

 

[shoes22]

Kevin Love finally got sent to the podium!!

 

[buzzdog]

4 steals and a block.

There's no D in Kevin Love.

 

[Cavatt]

I really like this Kevin Love. He looks more like a Winner and a competitor.
If you can't see that he is giving his all and competes regardless of his physical limitations and pain then you are blind. Gotta appreciate his hunger for another ring and his willingness to help the team with the little things.

He is playing extremely well aswell and his physical game on the boards has been crucial so far.

He had some nice passes out of the post the other night with James out.. would love to see it more.

Hopefully he also finds his niche against the Warriors. He needs to feel like he is superior to his matchup and feel like he is needed in order to contribute fully.

He has gotten better. I thought he was at his Peak already. He is really competed this playoffs and if he rebounds like this against the Warriors they're toast

 

[RuanuLaw]

So....any chance that he is going to be just as playable against the warriors as he has been this entire playoffs? (why, or why not)

 

[BooyaCS]

So....any chance that he is going to be just as playable against the warriors as he has been this entire playoffs? (why, or why not)

Yes. He has a confidence and the team is confident in him. I also think he wants to prove to Draymond that he isn't a chump. I am going to expect something around 15-17 points and 10+ rebs a game.

 

[CosmoKramer]

Love stuffed the stat sheet tonight, ending with 15/11/3 with 4 steals and a block in only 28 minutes.

IMO a great finishing touch on Love's best playoff series in his career- in 33 minutes a game he averaged 23/12/3 on 49/53/87 shooting splits, and that doesn't mention the fact he played outstanding defense all series long.

My favorite stat from the Boston series though: Love grabbed 62 boards, almost single-handedly outrebounding LeBron (32) and TT (36) combined - two outstanding rebounders for their respective positions.

TL;DR - Our third option averaged better than a 20/10 while flirting with the 50/40/90 club and draining 23 three-pointers... while still cleaning the glass and playing phenomenal defense.

 

[Nphan]

Love defensive improvements are mind-blowing. I never though he would ever be this good. Players are actually starting to be hesitant when Love is guarding them. Same fear they have for elite defensive players in the league. I seen several Boston players missing easy shots when they see Love is the guy that's guarding them. This has to be the biggest jump on this team from any of the players.

 

[Sebastian]

He averaged just shy of 2 blocks per game in the Boston series.

We know the man can't jump for shit so that means he has really honed his timing and footwork to be precise enough to not foul the opposing player.

There is no way you get to that point without putting in some serious work on those skills.

 

[BigJ]

He has been this good on defense the whole Playoffs... no reason he cant be against GSW.. they will be in shock because i bet they have not watched us enough to have realised that "Exploit Love" is no longer a real option

 

[Dupp]

This guy is playing the best ball of his career right now. His defense has been so good i cant really believe it. I hope he plays like this in the finals.

 

[Adam]

If he can guard Zaza and spot minutes on draymond then he can be out there 35+ mins

I think making draymond try to attack love is a good way of jamming up their offence. I want him with 20 shot attempts

 

[CalBuckeyeRob]

Love defensive improvements are mind-blowing. I never though he would ever be this good. Players are actually starting to be hesitant when Love is guarding them. Same fear they have for elite defensive players in the league. I seen several Boston players missing easy shots when they see Love is the guy that's guarding them. This has to be the biggest jump on this team from any of the players.

I wonder how important that last minute stop on Curry in game 7 is to his improvements on defense this year? It is easy to become comfortable with not working hard on defense because you are so valuable on offense. But that stop last year showed himself that he has the skills to do it, he just needs to commit himself to it. And he has. GS added Durant this year, Cleveland added MechaLove who is showing the skills on offense from his Minnesota days while playing defense at a high level. Without his improvement they would have little chance in the Finals. But if this version of Kevin Love shows up against the Warriors, it should be one epic fight.

 

[RuanuLaw]

Yes. He has a confidence and the team is confident in him. I also think he wants to prove to Draymond that he isn't a chump. I am going to expect something around 15-17 points and 10+ rebs a game.

So, are we to say that pretty much the only thing that rendered Love a waste against the Warriors is because he lacked the "confidence" that he has this year?!?!