Kevin Love Was Right to Call out Danny Granger and the Pacers

Kevin Love will never be confused with enforcers like Bill Laimbeer, Kevin McHale or Rick Mahorn. Those guys played a dirty brand of basketball that fit the time. Love has been a tough player who doesn't mind getting physical but usually ends up getting bruised instead of doing the bruising.

Is that about to change?

Danny Granger and the Pacers visited Minnesota earlier this week and beat the Wolves 109-99 in a game that Granger and Love had a little dust-up in the third quarter. Love felt he was getting beat up all night, and the frustration boiled over on an offensive rebound attempt. Love flung his arm across Granger's shoulder, to which Granger aggressively countered with a shove and a war of words.

Love had this to say about the Pacers:

I said all along, I don't like the Pacers...I know that none of them were going to do anything...just play ball. It's a part of the game - a hard foul, everyone is getting fouled out there.

We're not used to Kevin saying these kinds of things in the media, but it's refreshing. The Timberwolves have been getting beat up for years and have rolled over and taken it with little fight. Love was frustrated and let Granger and the Pacers know that the Timberwolves aren't going to be pushovers anymore.

I like this attitude from Love and I hope it resonates with the rest of the team. I don't condone the antics of the bad boy Pistons era, but if someone is pushing the team around, push back harder! The Wolves can continue this kind of passion throughout the season, and especially April 16th for their next meeting in Indiana, which Love added: