Cavs Lose again

[wolvesfaned [enjin:12937536]]

Love is in a situation where his weaknesses are magnified and strengths not utilized.

He will still get a max contract, definitely, considering the size of contracts received by the likes of Deron Williams, Rudy Gay and Carlos Boozer. But with his weaknesses exposed, it is easy to see he just is not a lead guy on a championship squad, even if used properly.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Crazy talk. Love's the same animal that can drop 25/15/5 on any given night. Cleveland just hasn't used him the way they should be. He's in that Chris Bosh role where Love's a spot-up shooter/ball-swinger and not much more. How often do you see Love facilitate from the high post anymore? Rarely, if ever. Still a no doubt about it, max player.

Love has his faults. But the way he's used in Cleveland seems to hide what he's really great at.

I know they're winning, but that's with Love being basically a three point specialist. Nearly 50% of his attempts are 3 pointers... after standing around waiting and waiting... during this extended hot streak for the team. Love was the ultimate "garbage" man. You didn't need to set up plays for him to get buckets and boards. But the Cavs are actively keeping him away from the action. Love is a very good passer, but it's such a minor part of his game in Cleveland right now.

It's working, I guess. The Cavs are winning. But wouldn't the Cavs be better off using a better shooter as their 3 point specialist than Kevin Love? Ryan Anderson seems better for that role for a lot less money.

[thedoper]

I think for Love's cobtract it really depends on which CBA. At this CBA price Cleveland could do it. But if he opts in to his final year to hold off for the big pay day noooo way is he a Max player. This current situation that is magnifying Loves weaknesses and not utilizing his strengths is called reality. He is the 3rd best offensive player on his team, and his coach is giving him a role relative to his talent.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Crazy talk. Love's the same animal that can drop 25/15/5 on any given night. Cleveland just hasn't used him the way they should be. He's in that Chris Bosh role where Love's a spot-up shooter/ball-swinger and not much more. How often do you see Love facilitate from the high post anymore? Rarely, if ever. Still a no doubt about it, max player.

Love has his faults. But the way he's used in Cleveland seems to hide what he's really great at.

I know they're winning, but that's with Love being basically a three point specialist. Nearly 50% of his attempts are 3 pointers... after standing around waiting and waiting... during this extended hot streak for the team. Love was the ultimate "garbage" man. You didn't need to set up plays for him to get buckets and boards. But the Cavs are actively keeping him away from the action. Love is a very good passer, but it's such a minor part of his game in Cleveland right now.

It's working, I guess. The Cavs are winning. But wouldn't the Cavs be better off using a better shooter as their 3 point specialist than Kevin Love? Ryan Anderson seems better for that role for a lot less money.

The Love apologists will always be out in force to allow him to not take any responsibility. In Minnesota, they never surrounded him with enough talent. Now in Cleveland, they're using him wrong. Love-pologist Nation is completely unwilling to acknowledge that perhaps David Blatt is using him in the way he sees fit, as the 3rd option at best on a loaded team, and that that is appropriate. And Friday's game isn't going to change Blatt's mind. Given the chance to be the man with the team's two stars out for the evening, Love made only 6 of 19 shots (1 for 7 on threes), and the Cavs lost to a team currently out of the playoffs in the East.

After he leaves the Cavs and moves on to LA, I'm going to post a poll here...Name the excuse the Love-pologists will use next to explain away his ineffectiveness.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Am I a Love apologist?

Please inform me. I just wrote that he has his faults, including his shooting. I don't think there's a guy on this forum who hasn't ripped Love often. Even those "apologists." I love how unless we hate or love a player with unabashed venom or provincial rubeness... we get ripped for actually seeing good points AND bad points about a guy. It happens all the time here. It's THE primary problem in an otherwise wonderful forum. (Can't wait to see how THAT rip amid a compliment plays out.)

Love is NOT a great three point shooter... despite his reputation as one. Simple as that. He's basically an average three point shooter. (36% for his career... 35% this season. That's league average stuff.)

So, is it crazy to say that a team using him as their three point specialist may be misusing him?

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

No, I don't see you as a Love apologist, abe...they mostly exist in the media. It just bothers me that many in the media continue to make excuses for Love's lack of success with the two teams he has played on, rather than looking at the real reason. I think his days of getting a pass are numbered though...he's going to be under the microscope when the Cavs get knocked out of the playoffs.

Tonight the Wolves get the Clippers, and games against the Clippers always remind me of one thing...Love's 3-pointer to win that incredible overtime game in early 2012. Wolves fans (including me) were giddy then and feeling quite optimistic about their squad. But I don't think Love ever had another game winner. While I can remember a few missed opportunities by Love at the buzzer, that's the only Love game-winner I can remember in his entire stint with the Wolves. Considering he was "the man" for several seasons here, that is pretty amazing if you think about it.

[TRKO [enjin:12664595]]

Speaking of the Cavs, did anybody watch the game Sunday? Lebron got away with so many fouls in that game. He was also horrible at the line. Shaq bad. Good game though. Genuine animosity between the teams. Was like a playoff game.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Speaking of the Cavs, did anybody watch the game Sunday? Lebron got away with so many fouls in that game. He was also horrible at the line. Shaq bad. Good game though. Genuine animosity between the teams. Was like a playoff game.

Yeah, incredible game. It was remindful of a playoff game...great defensive intensity untypical of a regular season game. I hardly recognize James Harden on defense anymore...he's really good. And James was ridiculously bad at the line...that game was theirs to win.

[AbeVigodaLive]

No, I don't see you as a Love apologist, abe...they mostly exist in the media. It just bothers me that many in the media continue to make excuses for Love's lack of success with the two teams he has played on, rather than looking at the real reason. I think his days of getting a pass are numbered though...he's going to be under the microscope when the Cavs get knocked out of the playoffs.

Tonight the Wolves get the Clippers, and games against the Clippers always remind me of one thing...Love's 3-pointer to win that incredible overtime game in early 2012. Wolves fans (including me) were giddy then and feeling quite optimistic about their squad. But I don't think Love ever had another game winner. While I can remember a few missed opportunities by Love at the buzzer, that's the only Love game-winner I can remember in his entire stint with the Wolves. Considering he was "the man" for several seasons here, that is pretty amazing if you think about it.

Didn't he win a game with free throws another time (Pacers)?
But yes... he missed some too. The Clippers layup miss was terrible.

As for Love apologists... I see/read a lot more people who rip him regularly. And he and Blatt are the only two viable scapegoat candidates in Cleveland if there's a playoff flameout. It will be interesting to see what happens in Cleveland this summer.

All along, everybody was worried whether Love would sign long term. I don't think it's his call anymore. If James doesn't think it's a good fit... Love won't be there. Why pay that much money to force it to work? I'm curious how it will play out with PR spin and the public perception. Which PR team is better?

[mjs34]

Speaking of the Cavs, did anybody watch the game Sunday? Lebron got away with so many fouls in that game. He was also horrible at the line. Shaq bad. Good game though. Genuine animosity between the teams. Was like a playoff game.

Yeah, incredible game. It was remindful of a playoff game...great defensive intensity untypical of a regular season game. I hardly recognize James Harden on defense anymore...he's really good. And James was ridiculously bad at the line...that game was theirs to win.

I have thought the exact opposite when it comes to Harden's defense, similar to Curry's. The media buzz is that they have both improved this season, but I just see a ton of "reach ins" going uncalled. Harden has entered the Kobe, CP3 territory, where they could be called for fouls on just about every possession. It drives me crazy when they call a foul on a defender with the only contact coming from Harden (or other supposed superstar) shoving there off hand into the defenders chest.

I am teetering on giving up on the NBA for this very reason.