Age catches up with us all at one level or one other, and Kevin Love is not any completely different.
In 14 video games, Love is averaging 6.4 factors, 4.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists on 36.9 p.c capturing and 36.7 p.c from three-point vary.
The 36-year-old has had a tough and inconsistent begin to his seventeenth NBA season. His athleticism is generally gone, however the championship veteran is a great, artful veteran who makes use of his measurement properly. Sadly, this led to some video games the place he confirmed his worth offensively. Within the video games he has performed to this point, he’s averaging 2.5 makes an attempt on two-pointers and three.5 on three-pointers. In video games the place his perimeter shot is not falling, Love’s offense is replaceable and doubtlessly value utilizing different workforce choices.
His protection most nights is even worse. Throughout the season, he averaged 0.9 steals and 0.1 blocks. These numbers weren’t significantly better in his earlier seasons with the Miami Warmth, however he was way more cell and capable of go to most massive males for a number of possessions and maintain up fairly properly. Now he is virtually scored on each possession and may’t defend anybody’s post-up makes an attempt.
Love is enjoying 11.8 minutes per sport and has solely performed in a single sport during the last eight the place he performed no less than quarter-hour. It appears extra possible that Warmth first-round choose Kel’el Ware will earn these minutes because the season progresses. Ware dominated the G-League, averaging 18.5 factors, 10 rebounds and a pair of.5 assists on 55.2 p.c capturing and 33.3 p.c from three-point vary. Higher but, Ware averages 3.5 blocks per sport.
Bryan Townes is a contributor to Miami Warmth On SI. He could be reached at [email protected] or on X @bryantownesjr11. Observe our protection on Fb.
