Heat’s Kevin Love responds to charge foul critics: ‘I think it’s a really bad take’

Miami Heat veteran forward Kevin Love heard the discussion during the two-day break leading up to Game 2 on Wednesday, but he doesn’t agree with it.

After Love slid into the path of Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo early in Game 1 on Sunday in hopes of drawing a charge, Antetokounmpo came down hard on his back and left the contest because of a lower back contusion and never returned.

This came hours after Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis attempted to establish position in the paint to draw a charge on Memphis Grizzlies high-flying guard Ja Morant. The play resulted in Morant crashing to the ground and injuring his shooting hand.

In the wake of these two plays, the conversation about changing the NBA’s charge rule in hopes of reducing these types of injuries gained steam.

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban tweeted: “Move the circle further away from the basket. Taking it an extra foot away from the hoop would reduce to take charges on drives dramatically. I’ve asked. Obviously nothing has changed.”

Love heard it all and strongly disagrees.

“We were talking because yesterday there was so much, I think it was Cuban or somebody had said we have to take the charge out of the game,” Love said ahead of Game 2 of the Heat’s first-round playoff series against the Bucks on Wednesday night at Fiserv Forum. “But I say it’s like the shift in baseball. I hate that they said no more shift because you’re giving so much power to the offensive player. We already do that, we already did that with the take foul.”

Love, who ranked second in the NBA this regular season with 33 charges drawn, believes players who are willing to sacrifice their bodies in an attempt to take a charge should be rewarded if they’re in the correct position.

“If a guy is running full speed at you and you’re going to stand there and take the charge, listen, I was saying like the Sun Tzu quote: ‘Victory is reserved for those who are willing to pay its price,’” Love continued. “You’re paying the price by doing that. It’s a two-point game or four-point game, it comes down to the last two minutes and you can take a charge or there’s a charge to be had, over the course of a season you can win two games off that.

“For me, it’s one of those things where people are going to be upset about it, say they’re going to get hurt. But if guys are going for highlights or they’re going out of control toward the basket and if you’re willing to sacrifice your body to take the charge, you got to be able to reward the defensive player.”

Love has been among the league leaders in drawn charges for the last two seasons. He closed last regular season tied with Blake Griffin with an NBA-high 26 drawn charges before finishing this regular season with the second-most drawn charges in the league.

The Heat is also usually among the best teams at taking charges, viewing it as a form of rim protection with a roster that doesn’t feature an elite shot blocker. Miami finished this regular season ranked second in the NBA with 91 drawn charges and led the league last regular season with 111 drawn charges.

“It’s something that I strongly disagree with. I think it’s a really bad take,” Love emphasized when discussing those wanting to change the NBA’s charge rule. “... People get upset because they think it’s a dirty play. I fully disagree with that. You’re not undercutting anybody.

“I always think about things in terms of intent. My intention is never to do that. There are 450 players, it’s an elite fraternity. You got to plant seeds, plant trees, watch the league grow and I don’t think the large majority of guys in the league are ever going out to intentionally hurt somebody.”

PLAYING THROUGH PAIN

Heat guard Kyle Lowry does not plan on allowing his troublesome left knee to stop him from playing in playoff games.

“The organization and everybody’s been on the same page and we’re in constant communication,” Lowry, 37, said before Wednesday’s Game 2. “And if they need more from me, I’m going to give every last bit I can give. At this point, it’s about our team and helping us win.”

Lowry, who returned in mid-March after missing 15 straight games because of left knee soreness, tweaked his ailing knee in Friday’s playoff-clinching win over the Chicago Bulls. But he still played 19 minutes off the bench in Game 1 of the Heat’s first-round series on Sunday.

Lowry is listed as questionable for Game 2 on Wednesday because of left knee soreness, but the expectation is he will play.

“I feel good. I feel great,” Lowry said. “Listen, I’m a 37-year-old veteran and I’m here to help my team, and no matter what it is, to win basketball games. If they need more, I can give more. If they need less, I’ll give less. I’ll give everything I can give. And at this point in the season it’s about our team and about us winning as a group.”

INJURY REPORT

The Heat ruled out Tyler Herro (right hand fracture) and Nikola Jovic (back spasms) for Game 2.

The Bucks will be without superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (lower back contusion) and reserve guard Wesley Matthews (strained right calf) in Game 2.