Post by jhb on Apr 20, 2021 11:44:52 GMT -5
Kevin Love
PF
6'8"
250
20
UCLA
A future double-double machine, Love comes to TMBSL after a very strong year at UCLA with fellow prospects Russell Westbrook and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute that ended in a heartbreaking blowout to Derrick Rose and Memphis in the Final 4. Love is very strong for a 20 year old and has a very high basketball IQ. For a player of his age, it's incredibly how he merges physicality and finesse in a way that most players don't master until much further along in their development. He has an array of post moves, adequate ball-handling ability, and a knack for timing and footwork to create the space to get his shot off and he has a deft touch for finishing; he shot at an incredible .595 eFG% rate at UCLA.
In addition to his work in the paint, he has a very clean jump shot and showed the ability to stretch the floor out to the three point range where he hit over 35% of his shots on two attempts a game. That ability to serve as a stretch 4 will be invaluable at the next level in creating space for his teammates to work in the paint. He has a great mid-range game is very good from the triple threat position as he has very good floor vision and passing ability for a big man. The biggest knocks on his offensive game are that he can be a bit predictable at times in the paint, going back to the well repeatedly once something starts working (though this should be easily remedied with quality coaching), and that he occasionally loses confidence in his shot and can get in trouble trying to do a bit too much off the dribble.
Love is a bit more limited defensively; while he is a hustle player, he is limited length-wise and footspeed-wise relative to the talents he'll face at the next level. He is inconsistent with his conditioning and that shines through at times on the defensive end. He is trying to hustle but sometimes his wind just isn't there to stay in the right position and keep in front of his assignment. He also shows his hustle on the boards, where that high-level basketball IQ shines through in his ability to somehow always anticipate the bounce of the ball off the rim and be in the right position to clean it up on both ends of the court.