Reasonable people can disagree on the value of Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Kevin Love. While he puts up obscene numbers and deserves his spots on All-Star and All-NBA teams, there's some question as to whether or not he can be the clear-cut first option on a championship contender. For all his abilities, Love doesn't always seem like the kind of player who can create good shots by himself.
Again, these are legitimate arguments to be had. What most people don't argue is whether or not Love is a good, unique player whom most teams would trade for in an instant. Don't tell that to Utah Jazz big man Derrick Favors, though, because he made some odd comments about Love's abilities in advance of their Wednesday night home game against the Timberwolves. From Wolves radio play-by-play announcer Alan Horton on Twitter (via PBT):
#Jazz Favors on Love "just like any other stretch 4 in the league...probably a better rebounder but pretty much like every other stretch 4."
— Alan Horton (@WolvesRadio) January 2, 2013
It's not really necessary to poke holes in Favors's argument, because it is very clearly wrong. Love isn't just probably a better rebounder than most stretch-fours — he is arguably the best rebounder in the NBA. On top of that, Love mixes outside shooting and inside dominance in a way that most stretch fours don't — he's only really included in that group because he can shoot in addition to doing everything a traditional power forward does.
Again, there are reasons to be dubious of Love's status as a top-shelf superstar. But it's particularly odd for an opponent to make such an incorrect claim about a player, especially when the comment could serve as bulletin board material in a matchup of two teams looking to lock down a spot in the Western Conference playoffs.
The Wolves and Jazz tip off at 7 p.m. Mountain time on Wednesday night. We'll have to see if Love exposes Favors's argument tonight, or if we'll just have to rely on several seasons' worth of data to do so.
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