Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Kevin Love vs. Nikola Mirotic
This match-up may surprise some people, but it shouldn’t. Mirotic was the most encouraging part of the Bulls’ 2014-15 season. While Mirotic is not quite at the level of Love, he has the upside to be much better than Kevin Love in the future.
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After playing sparingly to start the season, Nikola Mirotic erupted in the second half of the year. Taking advantage of a depleted Bulls’ roster in March, Mirotic ended up becoming Chicago’s closer. He went on to average more fourth-quarter points than any other player in the NBA for most of the month.
Kevin Love on the other hand, was transitioning from being the man in Minnesota to one of LeBron’s minions in Cleveland. Though there were some personality struggles early on, Love and James would eventually work out their differences. However, Love’s stats would end up suffering before the season was over.
Here is a closer look at how both players’ stats compared through the regular season:
Love – PPG (16.4) RPG (9.7) MIN (33.8)
Mirotic – PPG (10.2) RPG (4.9) MIN (20.2)
Love filled up the box score more, but he also played thirteen minutes more per game. With longer periods of playing time, Mirotic proved that he was a force to be reckoned with. Per 36 minutes, Nikola Mirotic averaged 18.1 ppg, 8.8 rpg, and 1.7 blocks. Per 100 possessions, Mirotic spikes up to 26.1 ppg, 12.6 rpg, and 1.7 blocks.
These numbers aren’t just impressive, they could be the difference in beating Cleveland in the playoffs. There are not any conclusive numbers to show concerning a playoff match-up between these two, as Kevin Love was injured and former Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau barely played Mirotic in the series.
In conclusion, Nikola Mirotic is the biggest wild card in the Bulls-Cavs rivalry, but Kevin Love is the more established player. New Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg will have to trust Mirotic more than Thibodeau did in order for Mirotic to surpass Love indefinitely. I like the odds, but as of now, Love remains the favorite.
Next: Mozgov vs. Gasol