The Cleveland Cavaliers were two games away from being NBA champions last season, and they got to that point without Kevin Love in the lineup. His shoulder got separated in the first round against the Boston Celtics, and the Cavaliers sorely missed his rebounding and shooting.
Cleveland is going through some chemistry issues right now, and Love could be the answer to those problems. Obviously, Kyrie Irving and LeBron James both want to dominate the ball, but we all know who will win that power struggle. Love could be a great mediator between those two if he puts his mind to it, though, and he’s capable of making things interesting during the playoffs.
The Cavaliers probably won’t be truly challenged until the Eastern Conference Finals, and even then the team they play won’t have their level of talent.
Love has been struggling with his shot recently, but he turned it around during Wednesday’s 120-111 win against the Sacramento Kings. And head coach Tyronn Lue has put the onus on himself to get Kevin into more efficient places on the court.
“That’s on me,” Lue said to ESPN. “I’ve got to get Kevin in better positions, better spots to be more of a factor and that’s on me. He’s not really struggling. The way we’ve been trying to implement different things offensively, he’s kind of gotten lost in the shuffle. That’s on me to make sure he plays better.”
Love’s role on the Cavaliers is so intriguing. He is a player who loves post touches within a slow offense, while James obviously prefers to push the pace. Playing fast could prove deadly against the Golden State Warriors, though, and so the Cavaliers must learn to operate at both speeds.
Love’s involvement will be crucial for Cleveland in the playoffs, and it seems like Wednesday night’s game was a step in the right direction. He will be key to their chances in the postseason, and James must learn how to involve Kevin while also staying concentrated himself. The Cavs wouldn’t trade rosters with any other team in the East, but Love will be the difference for better or worse once Cleveland gets back to the Finals.
