Kevin Love per Wojnarowski

[tarheelsxxiii]

I thought his decision to drop so much weight was a mistake. Imo, his greatest asset was hit size, when combined with his athletic ability.

[Moranis]

I thought his decision to drop so much weight was a mistake. Imo, his greatest asset was hit size, when combined with his athletic ability.

The thing is Lebron James has played very well this season.  It is the rest of his teammates that have been sub par on the whole and haven't quite figured out how to play with James yet.  There was an adjustment period in Miami as well when 3 guys all used to be the first option had to learn how to play together with two of them taking on lesser and more complimentary roles. 

[knuckleballer]

I thought his decision to drop so much weight was a mistake. Imo, his greatest asset was hit size, when combined with his athletic ability.

The thing is Lebron James has played very well this season.  It is the rest of his teammates that have been sub par on the whole and haven't quite figured out how to play with James yet.  There was an adjustment period in Miami as well when 3 guys all used to be the first option had to learn how to play together with two of them taking on lesser and more complimentary roles.

Lebron is still the best player in the league, but I don't think he looks as good this season.  His 2 point shooting % is way down. Some of that is due to his teammates, but I don't think he's able to over power everyone as easily.

[D.o.s.]

He's also unlikely to play any better than he did last season, but everyone always gets contentious when I bring up the ages where athletes peak, so...

[Smartacus]

I remember hearing once in a podcast that there is a trend in the analytics movement trying to quantify the value of assist. I.E. Did the assist create a good look that wasn't there like so many of Rondo's or did the player pass it off at the last minute for a bailout three that just happened to go in.

I believe they said that at the time (Cleveland 1st stint?) Lebron was amongst the league worst in assist value because so many of them came from his failure to create and then passing on short shot clock time.

Does anyone remember anything about this and could this be one of the reason's Love's 3 point percentage is down?

[Moranis]

He's also unlikely to play any better than he did last season, but everyone always gets contentious when I bring up the ages where athletes peak, so...

He is in his 12th year and basically never misses a game, goes deep into the playoffs, and has played a ton of international ball.  That said he is still only 30 and still should have another couple of years at near peak level.  The last two years he was just so good that I think people got spoiled.  Thus far this year, he isn't that much off from his first two seasons in Miami (when he was playing SF at a similar percentage as he is now) and given he is playing under a new coach with new teammates and isn't a PF nearly as much, I believe some of that is to be expected.  He is shooting very well from three and the line and is still passing very well.  I think his 2 point percentage will go up as he and the team get more comfortable with each other.

Love is the guy that needs to play better.  He isn't shooting well and Varejao and Thompson are both out working him on the boards.  Love needs to get more involved on both ends of the floor.