TRUE/FALSE: Kevin Love will have the same drop-off statistically as Chris Bosh had after joining with LeBron James. Bosh Year Before LeBron: 24.0 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 2.4 apg, 0.6 spg, 1.0 bpg, .518 fg%, .364 3p%, 2.4 to, .182 ws/48, 9.6 ws, 17.7 trb%, 25.0 per, 28.7 USG% Love Year Before LeBron: 26.1 ppg, 12.5 rpg, 4.4 apg, 0.8 spg, 0.5 bpg, .457 fg%, .376 3p%, 2.5 to, .245 ws/48, 14.3 ws, 18.7 trb%, 26.9 per, 28.8 USG% Bosh First Year With LeBron: 18.7 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.9 spg, 0.8 spg, 0.6 bpg, .502 fg%, .240 3p%, 1.8 to, .177 ws/48, 10.3 ws, 13.6 trb%, 19.4 per, 23.5 USG% Love First Year With LeBron: ? Everyone is combining the numbers of Kyrie, Love, and LeBron James seperately. What they are failing to account for is the potential hit each player will take to their stats. These players teamed up not for the sake of their own individual stats, rather for the sole purpose of winning. This motive may sound similar as it was the same motive that drove the Big 3 in Miami. In the 2009-2010 season, Bosh was considered one of the best big men in the league. Quite similar to Kevin Love now. Chris Bosh was THE GUY on a bad team. Once again just like Love. If you notice a few key stats between Love and Bosh. Each player in the season before joining LeBron James had about a 17-18% total rebounding percentage, the percent of balls missed that a player rebounds. The year after joining the Heat where Bosh was forced to spread the floor and expand his range while playing along one of the biggest stat stuffers in the league, his trb% dropped to 13.6%. Can we not all agree that Kevin Love will play a very similar role for the Cavs that Bosh played for the Heat. Thus, he will be forced to spread the floor for a driving Kyrie and LBJ and will often be used in a pick and pop. Seems very likely that we see a rebounding drop from Love. Im not saying that he wont still average a double-double as he is a better rebounder than Bosh ever was, but dont expect 12+ a game from him. In addition, take a look at their USG%, the percent of plays in which he was a part of. Prior to joining LBJ, both players held a USG% of 28%. In his first year with the Heat, Boshs USG% dropped from 28% to 23% and has gradually declined since. As a result, Bosh did not receive the same number of touches he was accustomed to and his numbers across the board fell. Kyrie and LeBron had a USG% of 28% and 31% last season respectively. It is impossible for Kevin Love to maintain such a high USG% and each of these players numbers will decrease as a result of less touches and less plays ran for them. To continue on with their USG%, take a look at Boshs fg% and 3p%.In his last year with Toronto, Bosh had a .518 fg% and .364 3p%. In his first year with the Heat, Bosh had a .502 fg% and .240 3p%. With the Heat, Chris Bosh was forced to spread the floor and was thus forced to take many shots out of his comfort zone. The difference here between Bosh and Love is that Love already was one of the 5 or 6 players in the league who shot over 500 shots from deep and thus will not be put out of his comfort zone. However, Love also will not be putting the same number of shots as with the Timberwolves, he was the only guy. Now, Love is arguably the third option and will receive shots of one. The 2010-2011 Miami Heat lost in the NBA Finals and lacked chemistry much of the year. Why, because LeBron had a USG% of 32% the year before, Wade 34%, and Bosh 28%. Each player was the guy on their team who had the offense run through them. As a result, much of the year, the Heat could not master how exactly to use each players skill sets to the best of their abilities. The 2014-2015 Cleveland Cavaliers will have the same problem. Except, now instead of an all-time top shooting guard who was even considered among the best passers in the league by some, now you have a young scoring driven point guard who many consider as a terrible passer. For those of you thinking Love could drop 20-15-5, Kyrie could drop 20-4-10 and LeBron could drop 25-8-10. Please think again and learn to understand the significant drop-offs each player will face as a result of playing alongside one another. Thank You for your time. - Blake
Posted on: Sat, 09 Aug 2014 17:00:01 +0000
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