Kevin Love vs. Anthony Davis: Who Would You Take?

While the big-man game in the NBA has seemingly regressed these past few years, there are still a handful of quality guys, with gifted height, who are among the best players in the league. A few players stand out when you think of power-forwards that are superstars or stars in the making. Two guys that are some obvious picks on anyone’s list are Kevin Love and Anthony Davis. Both are relatively young and have shown they can have tremendous impact in the NBA. Neither one has had any big-time winning success yet, and it is just bound to come with the talent, skill, and work ethic they are packaged with. Both players are having phenomenal seasons this year and it is safe to say that they are exceeding their previously set expectations. The big questions: who is better and who will be better in a few years from now..Kevin Love or Anthony Davis?

Rebounding

by Andrew D. Bernstein (Getty Images)

Saying ‘Love crashes the board’ is an understatement. He will give you 110 percent effort when it comes to rebounding the ball. He has been doing it his whole career. He lost weight and still crashes the board as if he was 30 pounds heavier. Nikola Pekovic has emerged as a great rebounder, but Love still manages to grab as much as he has in the past. There is no stopping Love when it comes to grabbing the board. He might be the best rebounder we have in the league today, or at least in the top three. He ranks second in the league right now with 13.2 per game. His 48 double-doubles this season have him ranked among the top of the league. Davis is a good rebounder, too. He is one of the lankiest players in the league. As crazy as it sounds, he should be grabbing more rebounds. He is too talented and long to not be ranked as one of the best five rebounders today. He has to work on his timing and gain some muscle for much-needed strength. He will average about 12 rebounds per game in seasons to come. He has all the talent and the body frame to be the best rebounder in the league, one day. As for now, the edge goes to Kevin Love.

Defense

by Layne Murdoch (Getty Images)

It is safe to say defense is not Love’s strong aspect. He has trouble staying in front of his man and is not athletic enough to keep up with most of his power-forward counterparts. He is strong and can hold his own in the post, but lacks the IQ on the defensive end to make a critical difference. He is averaging .4 blocks per game this season. Some guards in the league average more than that. This part of Love’s game is holding him back from being one of the top-five best players in the league. More interest on the defensive side of the floor would be nice. There is no excuse; Love has to improve and this will depend on his work ethic. Davis, on the other hand, is on pace to break some defensive records. He has had constant games with 5+ blocks. He has the perfect timing when it comes to knowing when his opponent will shoot and has the patience to follow through with them. He is the perfect rim-protector. His speed on that side of the ball also helps him when he has to defend shooting big-men and even some wing players. He is averaging three blocks and almost two steals per game this season. As mentioned before, he needs to put on some weight if he wants to become a defender at a superstar level. His opponents usually have a good 30-50 pounds on him. During the course of a 48-minute game, he has to cover their post-up game for a good amount time. This will result in fatigue and potentially injury, if his body constantly gets beat down by bigger opponents. Regardless, 146 blocks already on the season will put him in the run for Defensive Player of the Year. His stats speak for themselves. Anthony Davis is the better defender and will be one of the best defenders of all-time by the end of his career.

Offense

If we base our player rankings just on offense, Love would be top-five on most people’s lists. He does it all. He has the range of a shooting guard and the post game of a power-forward. He is also one of the best passing big men the league has to offer. He gets his teammates involved often when his shot is not falling. Like most good shooters, he has a habit of taking bad shots at times; his shot selection can be bad. This results in occasionally bad shooting nights. He is averaging 26.6 points per game, which gives him the fourth spot in the league; only LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Carmelo Anthony score more than Love. A better shot selection will only help him get even higher. Davis is a good offensive player in his own right. His ability is actually underrated on that side of the floor. He is averaging 20 points per game this season on 52 percent shooting from the field and 77 percent shooting from the free-throw line. He has taken the role of the team’s leading scorer this season with Eric Gordon regressing and Jrue Holiday and Ryan Anderson injured. Davis will become a better offensive player once he polishes up that side of his game. Most big-men who are defensive monsters do not focus too much on the offensive side of the game. Davis, on the other hand, is too skilled to not impact his team offensively. He will mature his game and become even better. As for now, Kevin Love is the better offensive player.

by Crystal LoGiudice (USA TODAY Sports)

The leadership nod will go to Love, as he has been in the league longer and has called out his team to play harder on different occasions. Davis is too young to become a vital leader, but he will get there soon. Neither player has been in the playoffs, so we cannot compare their big-time performances, yet. Regardless, both players are some of the most talented we have in the league today and will be for many, many years to come. In a few years from now, this comparison will progress and become even closer. Davis is a couple of weeks away from turning 21, while Love is 25. You can start a franchise with both players, but you need the right players around them to ultimately win. Love might actually be on a different team next season; then we will see him having a better shot at making it into the postseason. Davis still has a few years left until he can make the Pelicans a legitimate playoff team, but he will get there when he hits his prime. In a few years from now, Davis might be the better player. Defense wins championships, and he is all about that with a good hint of an offensive game. If Love can improve his defensive play and become a two-way player, he will be even more feared than he is now. It is no secret: Love and Davis will not only be some of the best-power forwards in the league for the next several years, but also . . . some of the best players overall.