Minnesota Love: 10 Reasons The Timberwolves' Kevin Deserves an NBA All-Star Bid
Kevin Love has accounted for most of the positive talk revolving around the Minnesota Timberwolves this season. In an otherwise dismal 11-36 year, Love has ignited the spark for the future in Minnesota.
He is already having a record-breaking season, and All-Star voters everywhere are shunning him due to the fact that he plays with the Wolves. In reality, everyone needs to realize what this man has done for the NBA this season.
In the following slides I have listed 10 reasons why Kevin Love should be selected to be apart of the Western Conference All-Star team.
I hope you enjoy and I would love some constructive feedback!
10. His Scoring Ability Is Flourishing In Minnesota
1 of 10
The scoring ability that has been displayed by Kevin Love this year is out-of-this-world.
Through 47 games this season, Love has averaged a stellar 21.6 points per game, up from 14 on the dot he put up last year.
The jump of 7.6 points per is even more impressive when you look at the fact that he is doing it while only averaging eight more minutes per game.
This might be due to Al Jefferson's departure, but current teammate Michael Beasley is a better scorer than Big Al ever was, truly showing Love's ability to put the ball in the hoop.
Additionally, Love is shooting an excellent 87.8 percent from the free throw line, which is an improvement from the 81 percent he averaged during the 2009-10 season. The 87.8 clip is second only to Kevin Durant's 88.3 percent among all forwards from the charity stripe.
He also has developed a long range shot, but that's a story for another slide.
9. His Rebounding Ability Is Unmatched
2 of 10
Love's rebounding ability is simply unmatched by anyone in the NBA.
The funny thing is, Timberwolves' fans knew how great of a board crasher he actually was last year, when he averaged 11 per game. He finished the season second in the NBA in rebounds per 48 minutes with a solid 18.4.
This season, he has continued to trademark that statement. His 15.6 rebounds per game average is two boards better than runner-up Dwight Howard. Even if you took away Love's offensive rebounds and kept everyone else's, he would still be eighth in the league in total rebounds.
There have been 22 occasions this season where Love has gotten a double-double in one half. There are only 10 players in the NBA who have more than that number—in the entire game.
Love is currently riding a streak of 33 consecutive double-doubles, and no one is even close to matching that number.
The fact of the matter is that K-Love is by far the best rebounder in the league, and no one can question that.
So why not bring the game's best to the game where the best play?
8. He Is Having a Better Year Than Blake Griffin
3 of 10
Sorry folks, but somebody needed to say it.
Much of the debate in this year's All-Star vote has to do with which lovable loser the voters should select, and if it came down to the two I would select Kevin Love over Blake Griffin.
Sure, Griffin is eating up SportsCenter headlines like Tiger Woods did during the holiday season of '09, but the fact of the matter is that Love is putting up better stats with a much worse supporting cast.
Griffin has guys like Eric Gordon, Ryan Gomes, and Baron Davis, while Love has guys like Wes Johnson, Michael Beasley, and Luke Ridnour. To me, it isn't even close.
Griffin might be averaging one point more per game than Love, but the Wolves' big man is snagging three more rebounds than the Clippers' big.
Love also has a 20.4 rebounds per 48 minutes average, compared to Griffin's 16.3. Additionally, Love, a former UCLA Bruin, is shooting more than 25 percent better at the line than the former Oklahoma Sooner is.
If you want to see high-flying dunks and a guy playing in his hometown arena, elect Blake Griffin, but if you want to elect the better player of the two, elect Kevin Love.
7. His Team Isn't That Bad...
4 of 10
In games decided by less than five points this season, the Timberwolves are 2-12. That's a statistic that has more to do with the youth of the franchise and not necessarily the talent that surrounds Love.
Imagine if the Wolves had turned all of those losses into wins. Hypothetically, the team would stand at a respectable 23-24.
Winning all of those games is obviously highly unlikely, but if Love and Co. had done it, we wouldn't even be discussing a possible All-Star bid because he would have already been selected as a starter.
For now, guys like me hope that you find it in you to vote for the righteous Love.
6. As The Centerpiece of a Team, He Has Molded Into a Franchise Player
5 of 10
In Kevin Love's first two seasons in Minnesota, he was often put on the bench in the first quarter, the reason being that he wasn't the team's franchise player.
Al Jefferson owned the title as the T'Wolves' "franchise player" for three seasons, and did well for himself. The only knocks against Big Al had to do with the fact that he didn't play much defense and that he only had one post move.
Well, after just half of a season, we have already found our new guy in Love. He has exceeded expectations already, and has everything that Jefferson had and doesn't struggle in the two areas that Big Al did.
For one, he plays defense, and much of his rebounding total can be attributed to the fact that players often miss shots when being guarded by Love.
Secondly, he has a lot of moves he can use in the post, and often will dribble outside to take a long range shot, something Jefferson could never do while in Minnesota.
Jefferson's snub from the All-Star Game three years ago was criticized, and now it is time for a Minnesota big to take the stage at the Staples Center.
5. He Has Developed Range
6 of 10
Nothing at the All-Star game will capture more people's attention than when Kevin Love swishes that first three-pointer.
This has to do with the fact that nobody really knows that he can shoot lights out from downtown.
Love has hucked up 146 treys this season, and 65 have found their way through the net. This makes for an impressive 44.5 percent clip. The 22-year old trails only the Spurs' Matt Bonner when it comes to three point percentage leaders among forwards.
Despite adding range to his game, Love has kept it cool with a 47.3 field goal percentage.
K-Love has found his groove from beyond the arc, and if elected to the All-Star Game he will impress with his skills from deep.
4. He Is Putting Up KG-Like Numbers In Minnesota
7 of 10
Kevin Love is bringing hope to the state of Minnesota, and the handful of Timberwolves' fans that still remain.
The last time the Wolves were this caught-up on one player was, well, when another guy by the name of Kevin, played for us.
Kevin Garnett was a 10-time All-Star while he played at the Target Center, and is the greatest player in the history of the franchise. However, when "The Big Ticket" played in 'Snowta, he never averaged more than 13 boards per game and averaged 20.5 points per contest.
Not to take anything away from Garnett, who is revered as a God in Minnesota, but Love's 2010-11 would be a better than average year for KG.
After all, Garnett's 20 and 11 averages for the Wolves barely touch Love's 21 and 15 of this season.
Garnett was annually selected, so why not give it to Love this year?
3. He Has 30/30 Vision
8 of 10
I'll bet all of you are wondering why I haven't mentioned the "30/30" game yet. To be honest, the game deserves a slide of its' own.
On November 13, Love and the crew took on the New York Knicks at the Target Center. Love finished the battle with 31 points and 31 rebounds.
To find the last 30 point/30 rebound prior to Love's, you have to go all the way back to 1982, where Moses Malone did the deed.
Love also owns five of this season's seven total 20/20 games.
I'm pretty sure that in of itself deserves the All-Star nod.
2. His Dominance Is Overwhelming
9 of 10
Kevin Love is dominating games, and the sad fact is that the Timberwolves should be apologizing to him.
The Target Center is averaging less than half of its' total capacity on game nights, and it takes teams like the Lakers and the Thunder to draw a crowd of 10,000 plus.
Love is doing his best KG impression in changing that. As an attendee of a handful of Wolves games, I can honestly say that he is pumping fans up in Minnesota.
In a recent article I read, NBA Featured Columnist Rich Fernandes created a formula to show the game's 20 most efficient players in the NBA today.
Love took first place in the ranking easily, and it proves that his sheer dominance is a reason he should be in LA in February for the All-Star game.
1. Who Else Is Playing Better?
10 of 10
The last reason Kevin Love should be an All-Star has to do with his peers.
Who else is playing better than the 6'10" big?
Surely it isn't Dirk Nowitzki. Dirk is averaging less than half of Love's rebounds, and is shooting worse from beyond the arc.
It can't be Zach Randolph, who has similar numbers to Blake Griffin, whom I have already stated my case against.
It isn't Al Jefferson, who definitely isn't making a bigger impact on his team than Love.
Kevin Love deserves to be an All-Star, and there is no getting around it.
It will easily be the biggest snub of the year if he is left out.
To the Western Conference All-Star team I say this: all you need is Love.
