SB Nation Minnesota - Kevin Love 2011 NBA All-Star: Love Discusses Honor In Recent Interviewhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48959/mn-fave.png2011-02-10T12:38:21-06:00http://minnesota.sbnation.com/rss/stream/17321602011-02-10T12:38:21-06:002011-02-10T12:38:21-06:00Kevin Love All-Star: Love Says Selection As Reserve 'Huge For Me'
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<p><span class="caps">NBA</span> Commissioner David Stern selected <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canishoopus.com/">Timberwolves</a> forward <span>Kevin Love</span> as a reserve for the 2011 <span class="caps">NBA</span> All-Star Game to replace injured <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/">Rockets</a> center <span>Yao Ming</span> last week after the coaches overlooked him in their voting, which has Love understandably thrilled. In <a href="http://sportsradiointerviews.com/2011/02/10/nba-kevin-love-all-star-game/" target="blank">a recent interview</a>, he told <span class="caps">ESPN</span> Radio’s Scott Van Pelt and Ryen Russillo Stern’s choice is “huge for me” and he “felt tremendously honored” to appear on the All-Star team.</p>
<p>Further, Love says, the Wolves’ marketing campaign—which featured an advertisement for a cologne called “Numb#rs,” highlighting his incredible statistical achievements—helped his cause. “I think that did well for me,” he said, while adding “it’s my play this season that really turned peoples’ eyes.” Ben Golliver, who covers the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blazersedge.com/">Portland Trail Blazers</a> for SB Nation’s <a href="http://www.blazersedge.com/" target="blank">Blazersedge blog</a> and edits <a href="http://seattle.sbnation.com/" target="blank">SB Nation Seattle</a>, wrote more about the “Numb#rs” campaign in <a href="http://blogs.hoopshype.com/blogs/golliver/2011/02/02/love-aldridge-jockeying-for-a-spot-in-la/" target="blank">this blog post at HoopsHype</a>.</p>
<p>Love leads the league in rebounding at 15.6 per game, and also tallied the league’s first 30-point, 30-rebound outing since 1982, when Moses Malone scored 38 points and grabbed 32 rebounds against the Seattle SuperSonics. Love is Minnesota’s first All-Star since <span>Kevin Garnett</span> in the 2006/07 season.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-timberwolves/2011/2/10/1986533/kevin-love-nba-all-star-game-selection-reserve-hugeEvan Dunlap2011-02-04T18:52:41-06:002011-02-04T18:52:41-06:00Kevin Love Named 2011 NBA All-Star Game Reserve To Replace Yao Ming
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<p><span>Kevin Love</span>, <span class="caps">NBA</span> All-Star has a pretty nice ring to it, right?</p>
<p>Love was pretty disappointed yesterday when he found out that he wasn’t named a reserve on the 2011 <span class="caps">NBA</span> All-Star Game roster, but <span class="caps">NBA</span> Commissioner David Stern righted the coaches’ wrong Friday night by deciding Love would replace <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/">Houston Rockets</a> center <span>Yao Ming</span> who can’t participate due to injury.</p>
<p>“I’ve been better,” Love said yesterday <a href="http://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-timberwolves/2011/2/4/1974879/2011-nba-all-star-game-kevin-love-snubbed-reaction" target="new">when asked for reaction to his being snubbed</a>, “but I wasn’t very surprised . . . I truly and firmly believe in my heart that, solely on play alone, I should have been in there,” he said.</p>
<p>Thankfully he’ll be there, it just took more time than it should have to make it official.</p>
<p>Love, whose All-Star campaign included a campaign centered around a new <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2011/1/28/1961144/kevin-love-all-star-video" target="new">cologne called <span class="caps">NUMB</span>#RS</a>, was originally snubbed despite averaging 21.1 points and 15.5 rebounds while shooting an oustanding 44 percent from beyond the arc for an otherwise dismal Wolves team this season.</p>
<p>The All-Star game will be held February 20 in Los Angeles, California. West coach <span>Gregg Popovich</span> of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/">San Antonio Spurs</a> will determine who replaces Yao in the starting lineup.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-timberwolves/2011/2/4/1975799/kevin-love-all-star-game-2011-replacement-yao-mingScott Schroeder2011-02-04T11:58:36-06:002011-02-04T11:58:36-06:002011 NBA All-Star Game: Kevin Love Reacts To Being Snubbed
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<p>I know you're upset. We all think that Kevin Love should have made the All-Star game as a reserve for the Western Conference. He probably has better than numbers than anyone who made the game, and yet, he was left off the roster for some reason. But of all the people who have reacted to Love being left off the roster, the least angry is probably Love himself, according to <a href="http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/115244789.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUo8cyaiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUoD3aPc:_27EQU">Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune</a>.</p>
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<p>"I've been better," he said, "but I wasn't very surprised . . . I truly and firmly believe in my heart that, solely on play alone, I should have been in there," he said.</p>
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<p>I guess it didn't make much sense for him to come out and rail against the system. After all, he still has a chance to make the roster as Yao Ming's replacement. But as we mentioned earlier, insiders think that honor might go to Steve Nash, who could definitely occupy Ming's spot in the post if you ask me (not sure how to portray sarcasm on this thing). As for Love, he is going to use the snub the best way he know how, to get better.</p>
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<p>"The good thing is, it'll put a chip on my shoulder and make me work harder," he said. "It's not going to hurt how I play or how I approach things. It's only going to make me work harder, to make myself better, to make our team better. It's only going to make me more hungry."</p>
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<p>I think that is a much more constructive response then coming out as outraged as those of us in the blogosphere have been. I'm sure that behind closed doors, he's pretty mad about the whole thing. But it's good for his image to be so composed in front of the media. Hopefully, the league fixes this injustice with Ming's replacement, but based on what I've seen, I'm not expecting that to happen.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-timberwolves/2011/2/4/1974879/2011-nba-all-star-game-kevin-love-snubbed-reactionJordan Ruby2011-02-03T19:56:50-06:002011-02-03T19:56:50-06:00Think Kevin Love Will Get Yao's Spot In The All-Star Game? Not So Fast
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<p>You would think that with the West losing Houston's <span>Yao Ming</span> from their roster with an injury, the tendency would be to replace him with another big man.</p>
<p>Of course, we shouldn't actually expect a league where 21 and 15 aren't All-Star numbers to make any sort of sense, should we?</p>
<p>According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports (<a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/statuses/33312407816249344">via Twitter</a>),</p>
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<p class="bbpTweet">Phoenix's Steve Nash is a strong favorite to replace the injured Yao Ming on the Western Conference roster, sources told Y! Sports<span class="timestamp"><a title="Thu Feb 03 23:54:31 +0000 2011" href="http://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/statuses/33312407816249344">less than a minute ago</a> via web</span><span class="metadata"><span class="author"><a href="http://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA"><img src="http://a1.twimg.com/profile_images/612805511/butler_gym_normal.jpg"></a><b><a href="http://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA">Adrian Wojnarowski</a></b><br>WojYahooNBA</span></span></p>
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<p>Un-freaking-believable. Seriously, I'm having trouble finding family-friendly words to describe how ridiculous the snubbing of <span>Kevin Love</span> is. It's just stupid beyond words.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-timberwolves/2011/2/3/1973725/think-kevin-love-will-get-yaos-spot-in-the-all-star-game-not-so-fastChristopher Gates2011-02-03T19:12:17-06:002011-02-03T19:12:17-06:00Kevin Love Should Have Been A 2011 NBA All-Star Reserve According To TNT Voters
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<p>So the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canishoopus.com/">Minnesota Timberwolves</a> won’t have an <span class="caps">NBA</span> All-Star (not even a reserve!) this season despite <span>Kevin Love</span> doing everything he possibly could have done this season to become an <span class="caps">NBA</span> All-Star.</p>
<p>Of course, this won’t be any consolation to the Love fans in Minnesota — and beyond — but <span class="caps">TNT</span> had a poll on their pre-game show that allowed fans to text in their votes as to which players were the biggest snubs when it came to the NBA’s announcement of All-Star reserves tonight.</p>
<p><img src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/fan_shot_images/176113/aldridge-snub.jpg"></p>
<p>Fans could vote for either Love, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/">Golden State Warriors</a> G <span>Monta Ellis</span>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blazersedge.com/">Portland Trail Blazers</a> PF LaMarcus Aldridge, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.grizzlybearblues.com/">Memphis Grizzlies</a> PF <span>Zach Randolph</span> or <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/">Phoenix Suns</a> PG <span>Steve Nash</span> by texting into the program.</p>
<p>This should come as no surprise, but Love was the overwhelming favorite with 43.6 percent of the vote.</p>
<p>Aldridge finished second in the fan voting with 22.3 percent, Ellis was in third with 16.5 percent, Nash was in fourth with 15.0 percent and Zach Randolph was last with just 2.5 percent of the vote.</p>
<p><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/536326/snub-votes.jpg"></p>
<p>Does this prove Kevin Love was snubbed when it comes to 2011 <span class="caps">NBA</span> All-Star reserves?</p>
<p>Yes, basically.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-timberwolves/2011/2/3/1973682/kevin-love-all-star-reserve-snub-tntScott Schroeder2011-02-03T18:42:55-06:002011-02-03T18:42:55-06:002011 NBA All-Star Game: Kevin Love The Biggest Snub As Reserves Are Announced
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<p><span>Kevin Love</span> seemed to be a near-lock for the 2011 <span class="caps">NBA</span> All-Star Game this year, but the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canishoopus.com/">Minnesota Timberwolves</a> power forward was snubbed when the <span class="caps">NBA</span> announced its reserves tonight on <span class="caps">TNT</span>.</p>
<p>Love, whose campaign included a <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2011/1/28/1961144/kevin-love-all-star-video" target="new">neat campaign centered around a new cologne called <span class="caps">NUMB</span>#RS</a>, was snubbed despite averaging 21.1 points and 15.5 rebounds while shooting an oustanding 44 percent from beyond the arc for an otherwise dismal Wolves team this season.</p>
<p>SB Nation’s Tom Ziller pointed out that <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2011/2/3/1973564/kevin-love-nba-all-star-reserves" target="new">Love was the biggest snub</a> over at the .com, while quoting Charles Barkley from the <span class="caps">TNT</span> broadcast.</p>
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<p><span class="caps">TNT</span> analyst and former high-rebound power forward Charles Barkley stumped vociferously for Love during the cable network’s announcement of the picks, at one point saying that there are so many bad teams in the <span class="caps">NBA</span> because coaches “don’t know what the hell they’re doing.” He then went on to talk about the size of Kim Kardashian’s ass.</p>
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<p>While the last sentence doesn’t necessarily apply to this conversation, it’s quite amazing that Love wasn’t selected despite posting 34 straight (and continuing!) double-doubles.</p>
<p>Lucky for Love, and fans of smart decisions and how they relate to the 2011 <span class="caps">NBA</span> All-Star Game, <span class="caps">NBA</span> Commissioner David Stern could still choose Love as a replacement for the injured <span>Yao Ming</span>.</p>
<p>I suggest that the Timberwolves marketing department fills Commissioner Stern’s <span class="caps">NBA</span> offices with Love’s perfume until he agrees to do the right thing.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-timberwolves/2011/2/3/1973638/kevin-love-snub-2011-nba-all-star-game-reserve-announcementScott Schroeder2011-02-03T13:01:46-06:002011-02-03T13:01:46-06:00NBA All-Star Reserves Will Be Announced Tonight; Will Kevin Love Make It?
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<p>The NBA will announce the reserves for the All-Star game tonight. Here are the details about where you can watch the drama unfold.</p>
<p><b>Where</b>?: On your television, TNT more specifically.</p>
<p><b>When?</b>: 6 p.m. local time, during TNT's pregame show. Since they have a whole hour to kill, you can expect them to wait until the last possible minute to make the announcements, but at least we get to listen to Charles Barkley</p>
<p><b>And what's going to happen again?</b>: The NBA will select the seven players who will make up the Western Conference team's bench during the All-Star game later this month. They will also choose a player to fill in for Yao Ming, who was voted in by fans as a starter, but will miss the game with injury.</p>
<p><b>Is there going to be food served?</b>: I don't know really, I just assumed you'd be watching it at your place.</p>
<p><b>Why do I care?</b>: Because Kevin Love of the Timberwolves is a very strong candidate to get one of the eight spots.</p>
<p><b>Does he actually have a good chance?</b>: I'd certainly hope so. He's averaging over 20 points a game while leading the league in rebounding.</p>
<p><b>If his numbers are that good, why wouldn't he make it?</b>: Well, some voters take team record into account. They feel like if a guy is truly all-star level, then he can elevate any group of players and make them successful.</p>
<p><b>Of course they have a losing record, have those voters seen his supporting cast?</b>: I guess not.</p>
<p><b>But ... <i>Darko Miicic</i>!?!?</b>: Preaching to the choir, buddy.</p>
<p><b>So do you think he will make it?</b>: Yes, I do. You can ignore numbers to a certain extent on a losing team. But Love's numbers are just too insane to throw out the window. And he really benefits from the extra roster spot opened up by Yao Ming's injury. I don't think the voters can look past him this year. But don't hold me accountable if he doesn't make it, these popularity contests are weird things.</p>
<p><b>So we're done here?</b>: Yup, enjoy the show.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-timberwolves/2011/2/3/1972927/nba-all-star-reserves-announcement-tnt-pre-game-showJordan Ruby2011-02-02T13:57:45-06:002011-02-02T13:57:45-06:00SB Nation Los Angeles Thinks Kevin Love Will Make The NBA All-Star Team
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<p>Chalk on one vote for <span>Kevin Love</span> for the All-Star game from the folks at <a target="_blank" href="http://losangeles.sbnation.com/los-angeles-clippers/2011/2/2/1969716/nba-all-star-selections-snubs-blake-griffin-lamar-odom-eric-gordon-lamarcus-aldridge">SB Nation Los Angeles</a>. They really don't see any way that the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canishoopus.com/">Timberwolves</a>' forward gets left off of the squad. . .and, even though I'm biased, I can't say that I blame them.</p>
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<p>Back to the forwards, if we give one wild card spot to them, we're likely left with Love, Griffin and Duncan making the team, either as reserves or as Yao's replacement. Why do those three get in? Well, Love is having a season for the ages from a statistical standpoint. <b>Players are rarely chosen from losing teams, but players are NEVER left off the roster when they're averaging 21.6 points and 15.6 rebounds</b>. Love has to make it.</p>
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<p>Love is having an amazing season. . .unfortunately for him, since he's toiling for a team that's quickly becoming one of the NBA's running jokes, people seem to be hesitant to recognize it.</p>
<p>Here's hoping that the folks from SB Nation Los Angeles are correct in their assessment.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-timberwolves/2011/2/2/1970881/sb-nation-los-angeles-kevin-love-nba-all-star-teamChristopher Gates