Life + Times

All Love

03.06.2012

SPORTS

After the Minnesota Timberwolves narrowly escaped the Los Angeles Clippers 95-94 on Monday, Wolves’ All-Star power forward Kevin Love resoundingly proclaimed, “This is my time right now.” Based off the numbers he put up on Monday, it’s hard to dispute his declaration.

In this truncated season, where players are inconsistent and injuries have piled up, Love has emerged as the Timberwolves leader, expanding his game from the paint to the perimeter to become a legitimate 3-point threat. Last night, the Clippers discovered the hard way the long-range of the 3-point shootout champion. In front of a sellout crowd at the Target Center, Love scored a game-high 39 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to outpace Chris Paul and company. He opened the game with 16-first quarter points, then ended it scoring nine points on 4-of-6 shots in the fourth quarter, including six of the Wolves’ final seven. His last two came on a drive into the lane with 43.4 seconds left that gave Minnesota a 95-90 lead. And despite a costly turnover in the waning moments, the Wolves’ were able to hang on after CP3 failed to send the game into overtime when he missed the third of three free throws with 2.7 seconds left. Paul finished with 18 points and five assists.

Love’s evolution has been one to watch this season. According to Elias Sports Bureau, Love became the first player in NBA history to record 35 points, 10 rebounds and knock-down five 3-pointers in consecutive games. On Saturday, the two-time All-Star scored 42 points against the Portland Trail Blazers and last night fell a point short of becoming the first Wolves’ player to score back-to-back 40-point games. His 39 point performance was his 13th game with 30 or more points this season.

Last night, Love’s versatility and shot-making definitely set him apart from his superstar counterpart Blake Griffin (26 points, 12 rebounds), but was it enough to place him in contention for league MVP?

js1747

I don’t think he’s an MVP candidate – mostly because of the Wolves record and the fact that either LeBron or Durant (or maybe Kobe) is getting that award this year. It’s that simple.

Here are some better questions:

Should he play for Team USA this summer?
Or, is he straight up the best power forward in the NBA?

At this point I think you have to put him ahead of Blake Griffin on the power forward list. He scores more, rebounds more, is a better shooter, and just seems to have more skills. Plus, he is 2-0 against Blake this year (hitting a game winner earlier in the year) while out performing him.

Who else is there really to compete with him?
I still might go with Dirk in a playoff situation, but other than that?

It’s also crazy how fast this all happened. The dude was essentially a 12 and 10 guy his first two years in the league – now he’s a 22.5 and 14 guy in his last two years – and a three point champion!
Did anyone see this coming???

Food for thought – D. Rose, Westbrook, and Love all worked out together in L.A. during the summer of 2010 – the year they won gold at the world championships. Coincidence that they are all doing their thing in the league now?

One last question, what’s better? Love’s shampoo commercials or Griffin’s car commercials?
Anonymous

Griffin’s Kia commercials are by far better.
Anonymous

Love is definitely the biggest surprise of the year. Like the author said Love’s versatility put him ahead of Griffin for the game, but not on the power forward list. He has been playing at a high level consistently this season, but he’s still behind Gasol, Dirk, Griffin and Duncan. And don’t forget that he does play for the Timberwolves, so he has to produce more to make up for their lack of depth. Team USA, yes. MVP, no!
Anonymous

Love is definitely the biggest surprise of the year. Like the author said Love’s versatility put him ahead of Griffin for the game, but not on the power forward list. He has been playing at a high level consistently this season, but he’s still behind Gasol, Dirk, Griffin and Duncan. And don’t forget that he does play for the Timberwolves, so he has to produce more to make up for their lack of depth. Team USA, yes. MVP, no!
js1747

Gonna agree that the Kia commercials are better.
But I’m still not sold that Griffin as a player is better. And at this stage in their respective careers, I don’t think Duncan is better. Maybe Gasol and more than likely Dirk. It would be interesting to see how Love produces in the playoffs but not sure that would happen this year.

Team USA has 8 returning players – 4 open spots.
Rose and Durant got two for sure.
Then who?
Love might be a better fit with coach K and team USA than Griffin.
Maybe they put both on the squad.
http://twitter.com/_James_Barnett_ James Barnett

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