Well, it depends on how comprehensive you define defense. If it's shot blocking and close outs on shooters, he's not very good. If you look at the whole picture though, including limiting free throws, creating turnovers, and limiting second chance points, he's actually very solid. He's one of the best defensive rebounders in the NBA and his lack of fouls not only keeps him in the game for offense, but it also forces other players to finish the shot as opposed to getting a free trip to the line. We're ranked 10th in defensive efficiency. A lot of it is because of Kevin Love.
The problem is that Pekovic has the redundant weaknesses defensively, which means that we give up a high FG% at and around the rim. Even when Pek has a beat on a guy driving to the hoop, his outstretched arm is never quite long enough to get a piece of the ball.
I personally think they need to get Dieng in the game sooner and nibble at some of Cunninham's minutes. When Cunningham comes in for Pek, we're even worse at protecting the rim. I think some of Dieng's rawness can be better hidden if he's out there with Love and a couple of other starters.
I think you Dieng idea is great. Dante's D is a liability the more I watch his play. Even though he seems outmatched by other 4s, my biggest issue with him ends up being that he doesn't foul hard. If you can't shut someone down make them pay. It seems he is good for 2 fouls a game that are completely out of the play. I know he is just a backup but he plays significant minutes for us. For all his praise for hustle and hard work I just don't see it in his D. Dieng as a first option next to Love would improve our D as far as I am concerned.
I hate this whole "we need a closer" discussion. Our starters are all getting paid to be closers. Some much more than others. Eveybody should be able to make a clutch shot in the 4th. The Spurs have 3 guys who can "close".
WildWolf2813 wrote:I shrug off Love to an extent because of his defense and let's be honest, this team will never be without a star PF. From Laettner to Gugliotta to KG to Big Al to Love, we've been spoiled at that position. I don't see that changing once Love is gone. We know PF's. We just don't know anything else.
I also think the team falling apart the way it did when Rubio tore his ACL despite Love playing out of his mind was a huge red flag on Love.
That doesn't make any sense.
Obviously, that's more coincidental than anything else... considering multiple regimes are responsible for those choices...
Lot's of good discussion here, too bad I couldn't have chimed back in sooner.
All good closers are superstars but not all superstars are closers. Love unfortunately is not a closer. It is possible for a team to be very good without a closer but when I suggest trading Love, I'm looking at the bigger picture. When is the last time a team without a closer won a championship?
Without a closer I see this team having basically zero chance of winning a championship even if Love can maintain his current high level of play through an entire 7 game series. This upcoming draft looks to be strong and has a few guys who have the potential to be closers. If we trade Love for a package that includes a high pick with even 5% chance of being a superstar closer we have increased our odds of winning a championship. My logic might seem strange because odds someone we draft ends up as good as Love is slim, I admit that, but in my opinion it still gives us a better chance at getting to the next level.
Rage, As for Kevin Love not being a closer, I think you are being too definitive in your statement. Love has done a lot over the past couple of years to develop one-on-one moves that allows him to get shots off against tight defenses. You simply can't be a top 5 scorer in this league by only playing off of others' missed shots and playmaking abilities.
If you watch, you will see Kevin Love often gets his points in isolation in the low post or on the wing, where he has developed a step-back jumper. He's even started to refine the Timmy Duncan 15-foot bank-shot that he made so famous.
I will acknowledge that it's tougher to be a closer without elite ball-handling skills. He's not going to have the advantage of a Lebron James or Chris Paul. But he can create his own shot. And he has hit game-winners! Just not as many as we would like.
What power forward in today's game is a better closer than Kevin Love? Dirk's the only guy you can argue is better down the stretch. Aldridge misses clutch free throws. Griffin's terrible at the FT line, doesn't have many moves. Lee doesn't get the opportunity since he's the third option down the stretch. Davis is a young pup, doesn't have any moves to rely on either. Even if you'd like to throw Duncan in the debate, shall I remind you of the point blank right hook he missed over Battier in the NBA Finals last year that would have clinched a ring or the fact he's a 69% career FT shooter?
Being a top 'closer' in the league is a tough thing to do at PF. Usually a PG/SG/SF is the closer and my best bet is because they're the better athletes/ball-handlers than a position down low. They can create for themselves and others.
Where Love's 'closing' ability comes in is under the basket after a shot goes up. Whether it's on the offensive glass or defensive glass, it's a game-changer. A missed shot on offense that results in two points because of a Love tip-in is so underrated as to what it does to the defense (also why I'd rather Love stay down low down the stretch). They just worked hard to get a missed shot and it ended up as points scored. Or on defense when a team needs to score and he snags a defensive board and limits their second chance points.
He'll never be a LeBron/Kobe/MJ type closer. A lot of it is his game; a lot of it is his position. I'm thankful to have him regardless. There's not five players I'd rather have in the NBA. (LeBron, KD, CP3, Paul George are only ones I'd rather have)
The conversation about being a closer or not has more to do with being able to consistently score in the last 5 minutes of a game when the game is on the line, than hitting a last second shot, IMHO.
WildWolf2813 wrote:I shrug off Love to an extent because of his defense and let's be honest, this team will never be without a star PF. From Laettner to Gugliotta to KG to Big Al to Love, we've been spoiled at that position. I don't see that changing once Love is gone. We know PF's. We just don't know anything else.
I also think the team falling apart the way it did when Rubio tore his ACL despite Love playing out of his mind was a huge red flag on Love.
That doesn't make any sense.
Obviously, that's more coincidental than anything else... considering multiple regimes are responsible for those choices...
That's my point though. We've always had it. I don't see why that would change.
well Kevin Love is superstar player, no doubt about that. Is he top 5 or top 10, best PF or not, i don't know and i don't care either. From my point of view i see him close to Carmelo Anthony (with Melo still having some edge), which means that he is incredible player but i am not sure if team build around him can win championship.
Also his offense has not been tested enough yet, i mean you really see what you got only in playoffs against really good team which really needs to stop him. Only player in our team who was frequently double teamed in past is PEK. Our franchise ambitions are in hands of Ricky Rubio as his development is crucial for our chances to keep Love next offseason. If Rubio doesn't develop enough and fast enough with or without Love we are screwed anyway.
