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Cleveland Cavaliers: Kevin Love Out Indefinitely, Smith Gets Suspended; What’s Next?

By Michael Saenz

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With Kevin Love out indefinitely and J.R. Smith suspended for two games, what’s next for LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers?  

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We’re going to find an awful lot about the Cleveland Cavaliers over the next few weeks.

In particularly, David Blatt and Kyrie Irving. LeBron James has been in this situation before, just not with this team nor his current co-stars.

Nevertheless, if LeBron and the Cavs are going to achieve its goals it set out before this season, he’s going to need those unproven teammates — and coach — to carry their part of the promise.

LeBron chose Kyrie Irving over Dwyane Wade. In part, he chose Blatt over Eric Spoelstra. Now without Love, he’s going to need them to come through for him just as his cohorts did time and time again in Miami.

Without Love (dislocated shoulder), Irving is going to need to average at least 25-26 points per game. Maybe more. He’s probably going to have to facilitate more, too, in order to get more out of the rest of his supporting cast now that Love is out of the equation, for what looks like the foreseeable future.

Here is the full statement from the Cleveland Cavaliers:

"Cavaliers forward Kevin Love sustained a left shoulder dislocation during the first quarter of yesterday’s game in Boston vs. the Celtics. His shoulder was assessed, reduced in the locker room, immobilized, and he did not return to the game. X-rays and an MRI have been performed, as well as further evaluation at the Cleveland Clinic Sports Heath today by team physician Dr. Richard D. Parker and Dr. Mark Schickendantz. Evaluation and imaging have defended the extent of the injury: an acute anterior inferior glenohumeral dislocation with the corresponding ligament/labrum tearing and humeral head bone bruising. Currently, Love ins undergoing training room treatments while addition opinions are being obtained and treatment options are being explored. Love will be unavailable for the Cavaliers upcoming Conference Semifinal playoff series and an update regarding his status beyond that will be determined over the next several days."

Despite the season-long narrative, Love had been averaging 18 points and nine rebounds on 47 percent shooting from three-point rang prior to his injury in Game 4. On top of that, he was coming off (arguably) his best game as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 3 (23 points, 9 rebs, 6-10 3PT).

But that’s not the only loss the Cavaliers suffered recently. In their Game 4 series-clinching win over the Boston Celtics, Cleveland also lost J.R. Smith (by the way of stupidity) in the way of a two-game suspension.

The NBA announced Monday that Smith would be suspended two games for hitting Jae Crowder with a closed fist.

Minus two key contributors, where does that leave the Cleveland Cavaliers?

With more questions than answers. And it might be up for LeBron James to save them.

Ironically, this could very well end up being a blessing in disguise for the Cavs. Since making the transition to Cleveland, LeBron James has played quite differently than the way he played with the Miami Heat. He didn’t want to play power forward anymore. Which is a big reason why they brought in Timofey Mozgov midseason. Size.

However, some of the Heat’s best lineups (statistically) were with LeBron James at the four position. Often, during the Heat’s two-year title run, their closing lineups including LeBron playing power forward.

Just last season, the top two Heat’s five man lineups in minutes played consisted of LeBron James playing the “power forward” position with shooters on the wings (via NBA.com).

Looking at this year’s Cleveland Cavaliers lineups, LeBron James clearly hasn’t played much of the power forward position. Here are the Cavs top lineups (minutes played) during this season. LeBron playing the four-position ranked 8th, with only 68 minutes played.

While there isn’t much of a sample size for this year’s Cavs, LeBron at the power forward could prove to be just what the Cavs need in order to compensate for the loss of Love, despite what LeBron thinks of the idea.

I’m sure Blatt will have other options, because LeBron will probably lobby for anything in his power in order to avoid this, especially with a series against the Chicago Bulls in the near future. But ultimately, if the Cavs want to continue playing late in the postseason, LeBron James playing the power forward position might be their only move.

And that track record is historically good. Just ask the Miami Heat. It’s time to dust off Mike Miller and James Jones.

Next: Why we need LeBron James and the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals

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