For those that have seen him play, is he closer to Nick Collison or Elton Brand?
I wouldn't go as far as calling him Elton Brand, but he's that type of mold. His defense is not nearly at Brand's level. He's a big boy, about 6'8+ and 250lbs, and works hard inside. He'll make it to the NBA no doubt, but he's not as athletic as Brand. He can knock down the mid-range jumper, and bangs downlow. He's got good hands for a bigman, has good awareness for the outlet, and really works hard. He can pass the ball well, but I'm just not sure how well he'll translate to the NBA. He should be great in college, he's physically stronger than most bigmen he'll go up against and his athleticism won't matter when he can work them out of the way.
I'd say he's somewhere between Collison and Brand. We'll have to see how he develops defensively, whether he can move his feet quick enough and hold his ground against the big boys when he gets to the NBA. I'll think of a comparison and get back to you soon. There are some decent tapes of him on youtube if you search for Kevin Love.
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"Stanley's idea of a balanced meal is a Big Mac in each hand" -- then Orlando Magic GM Pat Williams on overweight Magic first round draft choice Stanley Roberts
For those that have seen him play, is he closer to Nick Collison or Elton Brand?
i think he's probaby more sean may than the other two you mentioned, i think as far as feel for the game goes he's better than brand but he will need to get in better shape and show progression over the next 2 or 3 years as opposed to leveling off.
I like the Sean May comparison. Love is a better rebounder and much stronger physically at the same stage, a better passer as well. His ability to outlet defies common logic. May is probably better with his back to the basket.
I like the Sean May comparison. Love is a better rebounder and much stronger physically at the same stage, a better passer as well. His ability to outlet defies common logic. May is probably better with his back to the basket.
dont' mean to hijack this thread but i think Kyle Singler will be the big star from this class, if he gets a little more size to him he could be a poor mans Dirk Nowitzki and maybe more.
Living in the Portland area and having seen many of his games, he is much closer to Elton Brand than he is to Nick Collison. Elton Brand is the prime comparison, and I think many of you are overlooking his defense and athletic ability. He has played against the nations best in AAU games and he has held his own. In fact, I think his defense is one of his best attributes, however that could all change when he gets to the NCAA and plays against much more athletic players. I think he is a much more overall, solid prospect than Spencer Hawes of Washington. Its going to be a real treat to watch him at the college level. The sad thing though is that watching him play and having seen him in person you can tell the national notoriety is getting head super inflated, it also doesn't help when you have an ego stroking father like he does.
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The sad thing though is that watching him play and having seen him in person you can tell the national notoriety is getting head super inflated, it also doesn't help when you have an ego stroking father like he does.
I've talked to Kevin Love a few times, and I agree. While he's a great prospect, he has one of the biggest egos in the '07 class. That's not a problem if it helps his game, the problem is he comes off as a smartass, but he's only in HS. Really, he's done little on the grand scale of things.
His defense in HS is fine, but his foot speed and athletic ability will effect his ability in the NBA. There is no way he has Brand's athletic ability or his defensive skills, and I doubt he ever will. He's good on the offensive end, but he needs work on the defensive aspects of his game. He's never going to be the shot blocker that Brand is.
__________________
Charles Barkley: "I think it would have been an insult if they put Bird on me. He was the worst defensive player ever."
"Stanley's idea of a balanced meal is a Big Mac in each hand" -- then Orlando Magic GM Pat Williams on overweight Magic first round draft choice Stanley Roberts
Yep, Brand has put in major work on his body. While Love has freakish natural strength, he hasn't put the time in to get in great shape yet. He is a bit of a pudge, doesn't run the court well, and is quite grounded. Brand is anything but grounded at this point in his career, and this is why the May comparison works a little better.
Sean May is going to be a very good NBA player, because of his hands and he is athletic. Love is going to look like a sloth on the pro level. The knee braces don't help. I doubt he will do much on the pro level.
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Sean May is going to be a very good NBA player, because of his hands and he is athletic. Love is going to look like a sloth on the pro level. The knee braces don't help. I doubt he will do much on the pro level.
i like May but how is he more athletic than Love, when you're dominating the aau ckt at that level you're an elite player. as for the knee problems that is a tired response.
At the HS level, he sure as hell wasn't more athletic than Love. The difference wasn't even that great once May lost 30 pounds and revamped his body type. So quickly people forget...
At the HS level, he sure as hell wasn't more athletic than Love. The difference wasn't even that great once May lost 30 pounds and revamped his body type. So quickly people forget...
Love's body type is only going to get worse on the pro level. Unfortunately he didn't go play for Roy Williams, he went to play for Ben Howland. On the NBA level, I just don't like him. He's not going to be Elton Brand.
__________________ Favorite NBA players: Deron Williams, Carmelo Anthony, Ben Gordon, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Josh Smith, Dwight Howard, Chauncey Billups, Brandon Roy, Rudy Gay, Roy Hibbert, Jerryd Bayless, Greg Oden, Kevin Martin, Joe Johnson
I agree with you on him not being Elton Brand, like I stated previously. Brand is a shot blocker - Love will never be a shot blocker. I think it is way too early to say Love won't continue to develop, but agree that his NBA potential is somewhat limited. I will say that Love's frame and body strength will always be special, even in the NBA. He doesn't have the NBA potential that other elite prospects in the 07 class do, but he could definitely have a decent career if he does put the work in on his body. The feel for the game is unreal, he's tall enough, and he could develop his body substantially. He's definitely a better NBA prospect than Sean May was headed into his freshman year.
I've seen him play personally, and I disagree with the claim that his NBA potential is limited. In terms of lateral quickness, he's limited. His footspeed will never be anything better than average...but athletically, that's all you can really knock on him. He's extremely strong, and is much more explosive than I thought...get's good air, and is rather quick off of the ground.
Personally I think he's a mix between May and Brand. He's at least the athlete Sean May is, but has a skill set more comparable to Elton. I really like him as a prospect. Put him on a team with wings that like to run and watch out...his outlet passes are the best I've ever seen.
Love has a ways to go to be considered the athlete Sean May is. May runs the floor very well and actually outran some PG's in the pre-draft camp workouts. People look at him and see a pudgeball, but he's a very good athlete as a big man. He probably can't jump over a telephone book, but he has good quickness and great speed at his size. Sean was always a very good rebounder as well, and was a career 10 rebounds per game player. We will see of Love manages that feat.
However, I would say the Love comparision for May is the best one available.
Kevin Love
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