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NBA Player Power Rankings: The Top 5 Undergoes Changes

By Maxwell Ogden

Dec 10, 2016; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) reacts during the second half against the Golden State Warriors at FedExForum. Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Golden State Warriors 110-89. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 10, 2016; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) reacts during the second half against the Golden State Warriors at FedExForum. Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Golden State Warriors 110-89. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 13, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) reacts in the first quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) reacts in the first quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

19. Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers

Position: Power Forward
Age: 28 (9/7/1988)
Experience: 9th Season
2016-17 Slash Line: .464/.411/.864
2016-17 Season Averages: 32.1 MPG, 22.0 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 2.5 ORPG, 1.7 APG, 1.1 SPG, 2.6 3PM

Kyrie Irving deserves the hype he’s receiving as the future of the Cleveland Cavaliers. What’s been lost during the Cavaliers’ exceptional start to the season, however, is just how brilliant Kevin Love has looked in his third season in Cleveland.

Don’t look now, but Love has improved his quality of play to the point of having the best net rating and defensive rating of any player on the Cavaliers (Minimum: 250 minutes).

Cleveland has a net rating of +11.0 when Love is on the floor—the best mark of any player on the Cavaliers (Minimum: 250 minutes). Cleveland also has a net rating of -0.5 when Love is on the bench.

That Cavaliers are 11.5 points per 100 possessions better with Love on the floor than they are without him, which is second on the team to just LeBron James.

Love began this past week by posting 28 points and 15 rebounds on 11-of-18 shooting in a 114-84 blowout of the Miami Heat. He then had 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting in a 116-105 win over the Charlotte Hornets, and 29 points and 13 rebounds in a 103-86 blowout of the Memphis Grizzlies.

Love’s tenure with the Cavaliers hasn’t been as individually prolific as many expected it to be, but he’s coming into his own in 2016-17.