Minnesota Sports Forum

Before I get to the point of this thread, let me make one thing perfectly clear: Kevin Love had a spectacular game. Without his other-worldly 45-19-6 line, we didn't have a chance of beating the Clippers last night. Especially on a night where our starting point guard goes scoreless.

I also didn't hear his post game comments, but if he indeed did indirectly call out Kevin Martin, I'm surprised that hasn't been talked about much on this board. I'm disappointed that Love would do this, and see it as another reason he is just not a leader. There are only two times when it is okay to call out a teammate publicly...when he clearly isn't trying, or if he is displaying a team-hurting terrible attitude. And Martin doesn't fit into either category. Don't you think he already feels bad enough about costing the team a win with a sloppy turnover? But what the hell good does it do to call him out in a post game interview? Does Love think this is going to cause Martin to play better? No, calling out a teammate publicly for a mistake does nothing but create locker room cancer. It's immature and bush league...and it is shows why Love is just not a leader. A marvelous player, yes, without a doubt. But not a leader.

I'm trying to think of another big producing current NBA player who would do something like that, and the guy that keeps popping into my head is Demarcus Cousins. They are both enormously productive players, but fall way short in the leadership area. The only Timberwolf I can remember making indirect snarky comments about his teammates was Christian Laettner. Yes, Martin's turnover cost us a win, and I'm sure he feels terrible about it. But similarly Love's missed 2-footer cost us the last Clipper game at Staples. Can you imagine Kevin Martin calling out Love for that game costing miss? No, because Martin has more class than that.

I'm guessing many of us on this board have played a lot of sports, and if you have, you have probably played with different types of star players. Winning teams often have a star who picks players up after a bad game or a bad mistake, which eventually makes that player better. LeBron James comes to mind. I have never heard him call out a teammate. Losing teams have the star player who thinks he can do no wrong, but is quick to rip a teammate for a mistake. I hate to say it, but Love's postgame comment puts him in this category.

Love's mouth has gotten him in trouble before. He's still young, so I'd like to chalk it up to immaturity, but I'm concerned that he just doesn't understand what it takes to be a good teammate and a winner.

Yikes. I didn't read/hear anything. But it would be pretty callous, unwarranted, et al if he called out Martin by name.

Do we have a link?

It seemed like Love was showing better leadership when the season started. I woudn't chalk it up to being immature,I think that's just how he is. He had 4 turnovers himself but obviously had a huge game.

I don't think Love's attitude is on the lines of a Boogie Cousins! (speaking of SAC, DWill averaging 6 pts the last 3 games).

I didn't have a problem with it, but I can understand if you did. I thought that it was Kevin Love answering questions honestly after a bad loss; a game that he no doubt did everything he could to win. The media caught him when his emotions were still high. Is that an acceptable excuse? Sure, if you've ever done something irrational and can relate, which I have so that's why I'm not questioning Love's leadership.

Also, you don't think Love was pissed about not getting a touch the last two possessions at the end of the quarter/OT? Ricky went away from him both times when he was at his sweet spot. Superstar can't get a touch? I can also understand why he'd be upset from this too, which carried into the post-game attitude.

Also not fair at all to compare Love to Cousins. In no way is Love the locker room cancer that Cousins has shown to be. Not letting teammates handshake at the end of games, getting benched for altercations and such. Neither can be said about Love. One, indirect comment after a tough loss in which almost everyone is pissed at Martin for coughing up the game? Ehh. It's not fantastic that he said what he said, but certainly not a locker room killer.

As for the missed tip-in in the first Wolves/Clippers game, if Martin had said anything about that, he'd be foolish. That missed tip was a missed basketball play. Love got himself into position to do the right thing. He just didn't get it to go. What Martin did was inexcusable for an NBA player. You know you're going to get fouled. Protect the basketball even if that means wrapping both arms over the ball. Instead he had a loose dribble and exposed the basketball while going further towards the Clippers goal. That's a mental error, and none of them are okay. 6 TOs from Martin last night and all of them were terrible. Remember the save under our basket that gave LAC two points because Martin essentially started the break with an outlet? What the hell was that.

I think Love's just so hungry to win that he shows his emotions more than some would like. It's passion that I see, even when he may make a mistake post-game.

"We just blew it. Blew the game. I don't know how else to say it. We blew the game,"

That's the only quote I've seen from Love about the game.

AbeVigodaLive wrote:"We just blew it. Blew the game. I don't know how else to say it. We blew the game,"

That's the only quote I've seen from Love about the game.

Take a look at Lip's comment in the game thread, Abe. He says Love was clearly calling Martin out without using his name.

longstrangetrip wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:"We just blew it. Blew the game. I don't know how else to say it. We blew the game,"

That's the only quote I've seen from Love about the game.

Take a look at Lip's comment in the game thread, Abe. He says Love was clearly calling Martin out without using his name.

I have to go search for the clip? That's work!

Camden wrote:I didn't have a problem with it, but I can understand if you did. I thought that it was Kevin Love answering questions honestly after a bad loss; a game that he no doubt did everything he could to win. The media caught him when his emotions were still high. Is that an acceptable excuse? Sure, if you've ever done something irrational and can relate, which I have so that's why I'm not questioning Love's leadership.

Also, you don't think Love was pissed about not getting a touch the last two possessions at the end of the quarter/OT? Ricky went away from him both times when he was at his sweet spot. Superstar can't get a touch? I can also understand why he'd be upset from this too, which carried into the post-game attitude.

Also not fair at all to compare Love to Cousins. In no way is Love the locker room cancer that Cousins has shown to be. Not letting teammates handshake at the end of games, getting benched for altercations and such. Neither can be said about Love. One, indirect comment after a tough loss in which almost everyone is pissed at Martin for coughing up the game? Ehh. It's not fantastic that he said what he said, but certainly not a locker room killer.

As for the missed tip-in in the first Wolves/Clippers game, if Martin had said anything about that, he'd be foolish. That missed tip was a missed basketball play. Love got himself into position to do the right thing. He just didn't get it to go. What Martin did was inexcusable for an NBA player. You know you're going to get fouled. Protect the basketball even if that means wrapping both arms over the ball. Instead he had a loose dribble and exposed the basketball while going further towards the Clippers goal. That's a mental error, and none of them are okay. 6 TOs from Martin last night and all of them were terrible. Remember the save under our basket that gave LAC two points because Martin essentially started the break with an outlet? What the hell was that.

I think Love's just so hungry to win that he shows his emotions more than some would like. It's passion that I see, even when he may make a mistake post-game.

You're right that the media caught him when his emotions were high, cam, and he answered honestly. But that's the problem. The media wants stuff like this because it's more readable...they get bored with the same old clichéd quotes. But leaders aren't there to entertain the media...they're there to make their teammates better. And while generally honesty is the best policy, in this case it's not. I'm sure there are lots of times LeBron James is pissed as hell at teammates because they don't play at the same level he does, but he knows how to keep his mouth shut, and doesn't say anything that is going to embarrass his teammate. Things like this don't bring us together as a team, and don't make us better.

The media won't be satisfied until Love is on the Lakers. And since we'll be a .500 team/possbile 7th or 8th seed, they'll be in his face the whole season pushing for nuggets like this.

Checked that other thread.

STILL can't see anything that Love said that was that out of line.