Interesting bit of reading -- salient points quoted:
Now, this is an inherently noisy stat, for a few reasons. For one, better offenses will avoid these kinds of shots, so bad units will have more "opportunities" to hit them. That's why our chart of the top 100 players is loaded with Bulls and Bucks. It also doesn't quite capture everything bad about an offense that is inept at creating shots, because turnovers end a possession before it can get into a late-clock situation, and we decided to not factor in 24-second violation TOVs, because there's too much overlap with shots that go up, but don't hit iron.
Still, this is telling for a number of reasons. First, league-wide, average play in just halfcourt offense is 90.4 points per 100 possessions. In late-shot-clock situations, the average is 77.5 points per 100 possessions. Those 12.9 points represent a massive difference. It's roughly the difference between the best offense in the NBA (the Clippers, scoring 109.5 points per 100 possessions) and the worst (Philadelphia, at 96.7 points per 100).
The Timberwolves lose more points per possession than any other team in these situations, dropping 20.5 points per 100 possessions when they're forced late into the clock. Kevin Love hasn't managed to make a big dent, settling in right behind Rudy Gay in attempts—and efficiency.
http://regressing.deadspin.com/which-nba-players-are-best-late-in-the-shot-clock-1563759412/+kylenw
I already mentioned that part, and will disagree with that if you seriously take a look at the 4 players in the same spot as Love.
PG, Smith, Love, and Gay are all players who don't have definitive go to guys in the 4th...
I mean who else is going to take a shot in the 4th? Monroe? He'll just get double teamed, and pass it out to Jennings or Smith who have terrible 3 pt shooting.
David West? Yes he should get more touches, but Hibbert? Absolutely not. George Hill can't create space, or a shot for himself, let alone anyone else...
Gay is a terrible shooter, and still manages to take ridiculous contested shots instead of driving inside, but other than DeRozan or Lowry, who else was going to take the shots then?
My point is that besides the T-Wolves/Pacers, the two franchises don't have anyone else that can clinch the clutch shot...
Kevin Love should be making a thread too..
Its called....
Kevin Love: I can't do it alone.
And if Kevin Love is so bad as a player... then explain the bump of 11 points better offensively with him on the floor then? Hes an excellent passer, and knows how to score...
I would take Love or Melo any day...