FanPost

Data analysis shows Kevin Love is realy F-ing good (passing edition)

Apparently there was a line of thought going around that asserted Carmello Anthony was actually a super secret great passer, but apparently disguised himself as a ball hog in order to protect the ones he loved from, assumedly, the Green Goblin. Deadspin posted this article which looked into the claim. Deadspin listed the top 50 nba players by usage and then arranged them by assist opportunities (which basically means how many assists you would have had if your team mates made all the awesome shot attempts you created for them. It does not count free throws) per 40 minutes of play.

Sopoiler alert! Carmello actually isn't that great of a passer, which isn't very interesting, but what is interesting is the rest of the list. Unsurprisingly, the top of the list is populated by guards but the very first front court player (PF/C) is our very own Kevin Love with 9.5 assist opportunities per 40. Infact, there are only two non-guard players above him, Gordon Hayward (11.5) and LaBron James (13.1). I don't even think we should count LaBron since he is a genetically engineered basketball playing cyborg. The take away is that of all the high usage human players, Kevin Love is the 2nd best passing non-guard. I think that's pretty impressive.

other neat article stats: Wolves convert his assist opportunities at a mediocre 48%. Brook Lopez had the worst (by far) rate at 37%. Boozer and Cousins tied for highest with 60%. Oh and Blake Griffin was way down the list with 6.6 right above Mello (6.5).