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NBA Player Power Rankings: Kevin Durant Surpassing LeBron?

By Maxwell Ogden

Dec 17, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) is defended by Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) in the third quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) is defended by Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) in the third quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 30, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) reacts from the bench in the fourth quarter against the San Antonio Spurs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 30, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) reacts from the bench in the fourth quarter against the San Antonio Spurs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

Honorable Mention: Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers

Last Rank: N/A

Position: Power Forward

Age: 27

Slash Line: .423/.369/.798

Season Averages: 32.7 MPG, 16.0 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 2.2 ORPG, 2.4 APG, 1.0 SPG, 2.1 3PM

If anything is to be taken from the firing of head coach David Blatt, it’s that the Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t enjoy playing under him. Only time will tell how Tyronn Lue fares, but he appears to be a popular enough figure in the locker room to have signed a multi-year contract.

Under Lue’s brief watch and leadership, no player has benefited more than embattled power forward Kevin Love.

Over the past five games, Love is averaging 20.4 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.4 blocks, 1.2 steals, and 3.0 3-point field goals made. He’s doing so on a slash line of .474/.455/.938, which is a massive improvement over his season marks.

If Love can maintain anything close to his current pace, the Cavaliers will emerge as true championship contenders and he will crack the Top 20.

Love has been in the Top 20 at certain points of the season, but it’s his increased effort on the defensive end that has him back in the Honorable Mention slot. He has seven blocks in his past five games after recording eight in his previous 16 appearances.

Blocks aren’t exactly a prime indication of how well a player is performing defensively, but Love is improving his effort and efficiency on both ends, and that can only help Cleveland in the long-term.

Next: Slipping to No. 20