Kevin Love - Miami Ground Machine

[Cavatt]

When I saw Lopez man handle him that game we lost I was not happy and thought nuh uh this guy can't do this. I dunno. He isn't getting physical with these guys as much as just playing the Draymond role and making centers uncomfortable while holding his own on defense. He also happens to be scoring the shit or of the ball. That is great. Embiid is really the only guy to win that matchup on the streak. Can't ask for much more than that.

 

[Ozcavs89]

I just wish that love would embrace the all star status he is. Needs to just put the team on his back sometimes and help share the burden with lebron...sometimes plays within himself. There is no reason why he isnt a feared force in this league

 

[RichieRichPaul]

Disagree. In the NBA finals, Thompson's numbers fell off a cliff compared to the year prior. He went from averaging 10 and 10 in the 15-16 finals to only 5 and 5 in the 16-17 finals (complete with 2 scoreless games). I think he definitely looked worn down in that series and the numbers back it up.

The Kardashian effect

 

[FrontPageNews]

Just please stay healthy. He was great to start off last year until the knee injury and food poisoning.

 

[Jontibs]

Just please stay healthy. He was great to start off last year until the knee injury and food poisoning.

Yes and was very good in the playoffs as well, bar a couple of poor shooting nights in the finals.

This is the best he has looked on the offensive end in his Cavs career though. The numbers back it up, 19.2 on 12.9 fga @ 47/38/90 in 29 mins a game. The move to the 5 has really helped him in that regard, playing an inside/out game, getting a lot of easy points at the rim rather than so relying so heavily on his 3 ball. Importance for a confidence player like Love to get those easy points and it also feels like he has been more selective in his shot attempts. Might be the absence of a dominant scoring guard, Love can be more patient, pass the ball back out and re-position.

Maintaining this when IT and TT are back will be the challenge.

 

[Jscc]

Kevin's playing big boy ball right now.

Showing no fear or hesitation. Like he knows he's the de facto non-LeBron option on this team now and is relishing it. This Kevin Love > Minnesota Kevin Love.

 

[Cassity14]

I just wish that love would embrace the all star status he is. Needs to just put the team on his back sometimes and help share the burden with lebron...sometimes plays within himself. There is no reason why he isnt a feared force in this league

Have you not watched the last few games? He's doing exactly what you describe here.

 

[czvo]

I just wish that love would embrace the all star status he is. Needs to just put the team on his back sometimes and help share the burden with lebron...sometimes plays within himself. There is no reason why he isnt a feared force in this league

 

[buzzdog]

Some people are just oblivious.

 

[Mavaliersfan]

I'm here to give credit where credit is due, and Love has played pretty damn well during the win streak. I think it has much to do with our renewed energy and effort on defense.

I've heard some discussion on here about Lue switching up the way we defend pick and rolls. Something about how we used to freeze them and now we're trapping everything. I could be completely off base, but if someone could enlighten me as to what the difference is now on defense in terms of strategy, I would appreciate it.

 

[Derek]

I'm here to give credit where credit is due, and Love has played pretty damn well during the win streak. I think it has much to do with our renewed energy and effort on defense.

I've heard some discussion on here about Lue switching up the way we defend pick and rolls. Something about how we used to freeze them and now we're trapping everything. I could be completely off base, but if someone could enlighten me as to what the difference is now on defense in terms of strategy, I would appreciate it.

Switch 1 through 4, blitz with the 5

 

[Jscc]

Over the course of Cleveland’s win streak, the 6-10 double-double machine has managed to knock down shots at an incredibly efficient rate. In the 12 games played over that span, Love has turned in averages of 20.8 points on 51.2 percent shooting from the field (40.3 percent from beyond the arc), 10.4 rebounds, and 1.8 assists — all while knocking down 90.2 percent of his free throws.

https://cavsnation.com/cavs-news-th...ove-has-racked-a-rare-50-40-90-shooting-line/

50-40-90

 

[Stark]

Remember when all of the national guys / casuals wanted to trade this guy for 33-year old Carmelo Anthony?

Melo with a solid 5-20 shooting performance tonight in a loss to the Nets. Shooting 33% from the field and 19% from three in his last five games.

Game changer.

 

[Photon]

Kevin's playing big boy ball right now.

Showing no fear or hesitation. Like he knows he's the de facto non-LeBron option on this team now and is relishing it. This Kevin Love > Minnesota Kevin Love.

And Minnesota Love was their franchise player.
Amd exactly what you said, no fear, he did it in part last season. He is doing it all the time so far.

 

[MarkyCavs88]