Apr 23, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) shoots against Boston Celtics forward Jonas Jerebko (8) during the second half in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. The Cavaliers defeated the Celtics 103-95. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers
Remember when there were debates of Kevin Love being the best power forward in the NBA?
Yeah, I do too. When Love was traded from Minnesota to Cleveland last summer, for Andrew Wiggins, it was expected of Love to struggle in his new role. The length of his struggle with The King and Uncle Drew wasn’t suppose to last as long as did, however.
To make things even worse, his season ended prematurely due to a shoulder injury suffered in the team’s first round playoff series against Boston in Game 4.
Love is still recovering from after surgically repairing his shoulder, but once he returns he’ll hopefully re-invent his game or play like he did in Minneapolis. The Cavaliers need him at his best to legitimately beat any Western Conference team in the NBA Finals.
Love’s efficient floor-spacing and rebounding ability coupled with his passing and post-game is the type of of skill-set Cleveland needed this past summer against the Warriors.
Averaging 16.4 points and 9.7 rebounds on a team with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving is 100 percent fine. The only problem is, at times, Love would seem lost and uninvolved on the offensive side of the ball.
James has already said he expects big things from Love this season, who had the second lowest usage percentage (21.7) of his career next to his 2008-09 rookie season (21.0). If Love is more of an influence this year, then the Cavs become more of a threat and easily become a 60-win team.