Off-peak seasons are obligatory, TrashTalk makes it a habit every summer to make you relive with emotion the best moments of the previous season. Even in 2021, moreover, despite a summer that put all our energy into PLS, but that’s another story. So we go back to our good old formula, we go back a few steps, a few months, and we remember that this 2021-22 season was crazy, from the first day to the last. Now? We go back to this completely crazy night when Kevin Love decided to make history in less than 15 minutes.
Here at TrashTalk, we really like to challenge ourselves. So, following this series of articles from last time, we decided today to do a flashback… of a flashback. Yes yes, you read that right. It’s time to remember this famous night from April 10 to 11, 2022 when we ourselves were taken back to 2014 to attend a Kevin Love bonus show. Well… you might be a little lost, so we suggest you give some context to better approach this fourth Back to the Future opus.
For the final game of the season, Cleveland will face Milwaukee, which is also playing its final game of the 2021-22 fiscal year. If the poster seems attractive, the reality is different. Not wanting to grab second place in the Eastern Conference (synonymous with a possible confrontation against the Nets), the Bucks sent their F team to Ohio. On the contrary, the Cavs are struggling to stay in the top eight, and thus offer themselves a good chance – if only they knew – to reach the Playoffs. There is no question of taking this game lightly, so the knights are very present. Obviously, we didn’t draw you a picture, but the game was already closed. After only three minutes, the Garland band was already leading 16-1, and we thought the night was going to be very long. But that didn’t count Kevin Love, hero of the day, who from the start of the game looked very fit. So much on the legs that one wonders if he didn’t steal it from his own version that ran 26/13 at Wolves.
5/6 from three points for Kevin Love in the first quarter.
I hope Ségolène makes it to the second round.
— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) April 10, 2022
In a blowout where Cleveland would eventually win 133 to 115, KeKe would put on a true masterclass. Quite simply, Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse turned into Quicken Loans Arena again for a night – we wish it would last – with Love on fire. on at the end of the first quarter, the boy had 18 points in 5/6 from the parking lot. So we can talk about a shower of shells that literally pierced the net. The fans were not mistaken and claimed that the ball would go into the incandescent hands of position 4, which did not disappoint. Shoots from Minnesota, and-one, putback… the festival is total. In the end, the five-time All-Star is done with 32 points, 10 rebounds, 0 turnovers on 10/16 shooting including 8/11 on 3-pointers (tied career record) and 4/6 on throws. You tell us that the line of statistics is sympatoche, we answer you that it is legendary. Why? Because the kid just played… 14 minutes and 44 seconds. No, no, you’re not dreaming. Released during the third quarter with a gap of almost 40 points, Mister Love did not even stay 15 minutes on the floor, and there is still time for the dirt poor Daims led by Sandro Mamukelashvili (28 points) and Thanasis Antetokounmpo (27 points), which tells you the sadness of the meeting.
Kevin Love in just 15 minutes played today:
✅ 32 PTS
✅ 10 REB
✅ 10-16 FG
✅ 8-11 3PLove is the first player in NBA history to record at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in 15 or fewer games. pic.twitter.com/kNtahYScm7
— Justin Kubatko (@jkubatko) April 10, 2022
If we were to use the word “legendary” to describe this performance, it would not be taken lightly. We can also use the words “historic” or “memorable” wisely, simply because they are unheard of in NBA history. Before Kevin Love, no one had finished a game at 30/10 by playing less than 15 minutes. Not bad right? Wait, we have something better. Before Kevin Love, no one had scored 32 points playing less than 15 minutes. The previous record for such little playing time? Earl Monroe with 25 pawns, a great show Love literally pulverized. Even though he stayed four minutes on the field without doing anything, Kevin is still the man who scored the most points in under 19 minutes, ahead of Durant – another Kevin like – who scored 30 points . Are you aware of delirium? Tell yourself that if he had played the entire game at this rate, which is 48 minutes, the kid would have scored… 102 points. So yes, we knew the kid was capable of fire after his 34-point quarter a few years ago, but that night, the level of pyromania was extremely violent.
on 33 years old and despite the criticism, Kevin Love proved this season that he still deserves to have an important role in a successful team. And if you find someone who doubts this, don’t hesitate to show them the video above. The advantage is that in addition to attending a great show, you don’t have to stay in front of your screen for a long time.
Text source: Basketball Reference / Cavs Nation / ESPN