Fantasy basketball faceoff: Blake Griffin vs. Kevin Love
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Here's a look at whether you would be better off selecting Blake Griffin or Kevin Love in 2018 fantasy basketball drafts:
2017-18 Stats
| PLAYER | PTS | AST | REB | STL+BLK | FG% | 3P% | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B. Griffin | 21.4 | 5.8 | 7.4 | 0.8 | 43.3 | 34.8 | 78.4 |
| K. Love | 17.6 | 1.7 | 9.3 | 1.1 | 45.8 | 41.5 | 88.0 |
The Case for Blake Griffin
Blake Griffin remains one of the NBA's most versatile power forwards, and he's still in his prime at 29 years old. Unfortunately, he's become inefficient (43.8 percent from the field last year) while missing 92 games over the past three seasons, rendering him unreliable for fantasy owners.
However, Griffin is still a triple-double threat, finishing as one of four big men with five-plus assists per game in 2017-18. His rebounding numbers took a noticeable hit while playing beside league leader Andre Drummond, but finishing with 20 points, seven rebounds, and five assists is still outstanding production from the power forward slot.
Newly hired Detroit Pistons head coach Dwane Casey has made it clear Griffin will be the focal point offensively, and with little point-guard play outside of the erratic Reggie Jackson, a healthy, drama-free season could bring out the best version of the five-time All-Star.
Best-Case Scenario: Griffin returns to form and continues improving from beyond the arc, hitting two-plus 3-pointers per game while leading the Pistons in points and assists.
Worst-Case Scenario: Drummond clogging the middle spells disaster for Griffin, who is relied upon to do everything in a broken offense with limited spacing. Even worse, his injury troubles continue, making the Pistons' acquisition look foolish.
The Case for Kevin Love
Lebron James left the Cleveland Cavaliers, making Kevin Love a top option for the first time since his days with the Minnesota Timberwolves. That will give the five-time All-Star an opportunity to drastically increase his point and rebound totals for fantasy owners.
During his last season in Minnesota, Love averaged 26.1 points and 12.5 boards in 77 games. Those aren't realistic numbers now for the 30-year-old at this stage of his career, but 20-plus points and 10-plus rebounds per game is possible.
Love recorded his best campaign from beyond the arc in 2017-18, hitting 41.5 percent on 5.6 attempts per game. His 1.7 assists were Love's lowest since his rookie season, but with the Cavs' offense likely running through the big man, it's safe to expect an extra dime or two per game.
Best-Case Scenario: Becoming a top option again does wonders for Love, leading to elite offensive statistics. He finishes the season as the Cavaliers' leading scorer, rebounder, and 3-point shooter, while also dishing out three-plus assists per game.
Worst-Case Scenario: Love missed 22 and 23 games respectively over the past two seasons due to injuries. If those health woes continue, his fantasy owners (and the Cavaliers) could be in for a long year.
Verdict
If they stay healthy, there's a lot to like about both star forwards. Griffin will certainly be the better passer, and Love will provide efficient shooting percentages. But neither offers much on the defensive end.
Your fantasy draft decision comes down to what the two have around them in Detroit and Cleveland. Jackson and Drummond will likely take away production from Griffin, but Love doesn't face a similar problem in Cleveland. He's the safer bet of the two.