We expected to give this one to Al Jefferson. We really did. Alas, Big Al has fallen off a bit from last season, a decline that coincided with Kevin Love's marked improvement from last year. The former UCLA standout's greatest strength continues to be on the glass—his 4.2 offensive rebounds a game is second in the league. The foundation of his exceptional rebounding ability is twofold: Not only does the 6'9" bruiser have a clairvoyant knack for the ball (he reads the ball off the rim better than anyone in the game), he is absolutely relentless in clawing his way to the right spot. Meanwhile, on the offensive end, Love has extended his scoring arsenal thanks to an improved jumper, averaging 15.1 points a game—four more than he did a season ago. Love is shooting 42 percent from three-point land—which leads the team—and 80 percent from the charity stripe. He dishes 2.4 assists per game (third on the team). Not a bad stat line for a second-year 22-year-old with a little bit of baby fat still showing. And don't expect his productivity to wane anytime soon. The two-pronged foundation of his game—sheer grittiness and a fundamentally sound approach on the court—are attributes that will endure.