Real look at Love and Cavs predicament

[86MaxwellSmart]

I don't understand why more NBA players aren't like Tristan Thompson....All it takes is Hard Work/Boxing out/Positioning to be a great Rebounder...NOT Shooting/Dribbling/Passing Skills....Hell, Mark Blount was putting up tremendous rebounding numbers for us--UNTIL he got his fat contract....Dennis Rodman had no business being in the league, until he understood how to get rebounds....if Kelly Olynynk would just work on rebounding--He'd be the best in the league.
 

[Endless Paradise]

Yes if you remember Blatt was actually playing Love off the bench for some period of time which shows he can see it too, Love can and would probably win a title in Cleveland but it will be a minor role and for someone his age and his talent I don't think he wants.

When has Love come off the bench in Cleveland?  He started all 75 games he played this season.

Also, is Love's role really "minor"?  He's a third option, sure, but he's still putting up 16/10 in 33 minutes.  He's essentially Chris Bosh, who played an extraordinarily important role in Miami.

Seriously, this.

[rondohondo]

I don't understand why more NBA players aren't like Tristan Thompson....All it takes is Hard Work/Boxing out/Positioning to be a great Rebounder...NOT Shooting/Dribbling/Passing Skills....Hell, Mark Blount was putting up tremendous rebounding numbers for us--UNTIL he got his fat contract....Dennis Rodman had no business being in the league, until he understood how to get rebounds....if Kelly Olynynk would just work on rebounding--He'd be the best in the league.
 

sully could do it if he was in shape, but Thompson is longer and more athletic .

[celticsclay]

I am as interested in this topic as anyone, but I really don't get why we are starting a new thread about it every other day (literally). This should all be in merged into one thread. There was a lot of great talk about this in the thread from yesterday. (and the one from about 4 days ago). It is getting a bit silly.

[Rondo9]

Yeah, I think it's time to merge these topics into a megathread.

[D.o.s.]

I don't understand why more NBA players aren't like Tristan Thompson....All it takes is Hard Work/Boxing out/Positioning to be a great Rebounder...NOT Shooting/Dribbling/Passing Skills....Hell, Mark Blount was putting up tremendous rebounding numbers for us--UNTIL he got his fat contract....Dennis Rodman had no business being in the league, until he understood how to get rebounds....if Kelly Olynynk would just work on rebounding--He'd be the best in the league.
 

Rebounding is just as intuitive as shooting or passing. You can be taught how to do it acceptably, but you either have 'it' or you don't.

[Celts Fan 508]

I don't understand why more NBA players aren't like Tristan Thompson....All it takes is Hard Work/Boxing out/Positioning to be a great Rebounder...NOT Shooting/Dribbling/Passing Skills....Hell, Mark Blount was putting up tremendous rebounding numbers for us--UNTIL he got his fat contract....Dennis Rodman had no business being in the league, until he understood how to get rebounds....if Kelly Olynynk would just work on rebounding--He'd be the best in the league.
 

Rebounding is just as intuitive as shooting or passing. You can be taught how to do it acceptably, but you either have 'it' or you don't.

I disagree, I tell my players all the time that rebounding is about effort and who wants it more. 

[Roy H.]

I don't understand why more NBA players aren't like Tristan Thompson....All it takes is Hard Work/Boxing out/Positioning to be a great Rebounder...NOT Shooting/Dribbling/Passing Skills....Hell, Mark Blount was putting up tremendous rebounding numbers for us--UNTIL he got his fat contract....Dennis Rodman had no business being in the league, until he understood how to get rebounds....if Kelly Olynynk would just work on rebounding--He'd be the best in the league.
 

Rebounding is just as intuitive as shooting or passing. You can be taught how to do it acceptably, but you either have 'it' or you don't.

I disagree, I tell my players all the time that rebounding is about effort and who wants it more.

I think that it depends upon what level you're talking about.

In the NBA, rebounding is a talent that takes more than effort, I think.  I takes anticipation, positioning, and knowing where the ball is likely to end up after it misses.  That's what separates the elite rebounders (Russell, Rodman, etc.) from the good ones. 

Hustle plays a part, for sure.  Poor rebounders usually don't give a lot of effort.  However, I think it takes more than just hard work to become truly excellent on the boards.

[LGC88]

I don't understand why more NBA players aren't like Tristan Thompson....All it takes is Hard Work/Boxing out/Positioning to be a great Rebounder...NOT Shooting/Dribbling/Passing Skills....Hell, Mark Blount was putting up tremendous rebounding numbers for us--UNTIL he got his fat contract....Dennis Rodman had no business being in the league, until he understood how to get rebounds....if Kelly Olynynk would just work on rebounding--He'd be the best in the league.
 

Rebounding is just as intuitive as shooting or passing. You can be taught how to do it acceptably, but you either have 'it' or you don't.

I disagree, I tell my players all the time that rebounding is about effort and who wants it more.

I think that it depends upon what level you're talking about.

In the NBA, rebounding is a talent that takes more than effort, I think.  I takes anticipation, positioning, and knowing where the ball is likely to end up after it misses.  That's what separates the elite rebounders (Russell, Rodman, etc.) from the good ones. 

Hustle plays a part, for sure.  Poor rebounders usually don't give a lot of effort.  However, I think it takes more than just hard work to become truly excellent on the boards.

It's like a sense for the rebound. Those who have it take a split second less than the others to realize where the ball will go and if you combine this with good reflex, big body and great footwork and you have the recipe for the best rebounders in nba. Of course if you don't really want it, none of that matters, you end up a poor rebounder.

[colincb]

Thompson has shot 51% from 0-3 feet away from the basket as a big.  That's brutally awful. Another sub-10% shooter 10 feet out over 4 seasons.   That's brutally awful. 63% shooter from the line. That's merely very bad. He is what he is offensively and not likely to get much better. Defensively his numbers aren't great and his rebounding% was 46th in the league. He may be getting the max in Cleveland for the fit and because of LBJ, but he's not worth it.

It's amazing to me that the Cavs are tied in this series and it says a lot about GS and LBJ more than anything else. Put Irving and Love on the floor and isn't this pretty much a 5-6 game series for the Cavs?

[Celtics4ever]

It's amazing to me that the Cavs are tied in this series and it says a lot about GS and LBJ more than anything else. Put Irving and Love on the floor and isn't this pretty much a 5-6 game series for the Cavs?

Trouble with your claims, is that those two are terrible on D?   I think Golden State would have better offense with those two.   Curry has struggled with the other guys on him but torched Irving in game one.   Love can't guard anyone.   It cuts both ways.

The Cavs need to control the tempo to win.   They need a defensive low scoring game to win.   If the Warriors are scoring over 100, the tempo favors their speed.

[Rosco917]

IMO Love is going to hold onto Labron's coat tails as long as he can. He will re-sign in Cleveland, as long as he can get the max. Kevin Love doesn't want to be the number one guy, he realizes he's not the type to lead a team anywhere. That's why he signed with the Cavs. He knew he would be the 3rd option on offense, and he was ok with that. As long as the Cavs will sign him to a max deal, he can have the perfect excuse to average 17-18 pp. and grab 9 rebounds or so, and play soft Defense. He's not the main option, he mostly free from pressure. 

Love was extraordinary in Minn. he was a great scorer, and a great rebounder, I just don't think he's a great competitor. When you mention competitors you think of Bird, Jordan, Magic, Lebron, Duncan, Dr J. these guys would do anything to win, as we have seen.

I don't see Kevin Love as be a fiery, hungry, competitor. If he comes to the C's, if Cleveland decides to skip over him, he will definitely need a second star lined up next to him.

 

[D.o.s.]

I don't understand why more NBA players aren't like Tristan Thompson....All it takes is Hard Work/Boxing out/Positioning to be a great Rebounder...NOT Shooting/Dribbling/Passing Skills....Hell, Mark Blount was putting up tremendous rebounding numbers for us--UNTIL he got his fat contract....Dennis Rodman had no business being in the league, until he understood how to get rebounds....if Kelly Olynynk would just work on rebounding--He'd be the best in the league.
 

Rebounding is just as intuitive as shooting or passing. You can be taught how to do it acceptably, but you either have 'it' or you don't.

I disagree, I tell my players all the time that rebounding is about effort and who wants it more.

Sure but what other option do you have? "Sorry kid, you suck at it. That's just the way it is" isn't good coaching (even if it's true).

On a very basic level, anything that involves trajectories and physical adjustments/anticipations in regard to that is going to be subject to individual variables that are beyond tangible control of the participant. This is, actually, exactly what differentiates the people who are able to become professional athletes from the plebs.

[tazzmaniac]

Yes if you remember Blatt was actually playing Love off the bench for some period of time which shows he can see it too, Love can and would probably win a title in Cleveland but it will be a minor role and for someone his age and his talent I don't think he wants.

When has Love come off the bench in Cleveland?  He started all 75 games he played this season.

Also, is Love's role really "minor"?  He's a third option, sure, but he's still putting up 16/10 in 33 minutes.  He's essentially Chris Bosh, who played an extraordinarily important role in Miami.

Bosh was able to offset his lesser role on offense with his defensive contributions.  Love can't do that.  Bosh would be a much better fit for Cleveland. 

[celticsclay]

who says no on a bosh for love swap? (assuming bosh was cleared to play with no future risk) Love is a lot younger...