For the past two games, Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson have been missing in action for the Cleveland Cavaliers
The Toronto Raptors were placed on a meme with Barney as their logo instead of a Raptor through the first two games of their Eastern Conference Finals series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, but during the last two games, in which both have resulted in wins for Toronto, this is a “Resurrected Raptors” team and they are playing with confidence.
Since the Raptors have gained confidence, after a dominant Game 3 victory, both Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson should be on milk cartons – for their absence in both Games 3 and 4.
What’s their problem?
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Kevin Love sat out the entire 4th quarter for the second consecutive game on Monday night. In defense, apparently he injured his knee in the waning seconds of the third quarter of Game 4, but even before that happened he was non-existent.
In the 1st half half, Toronto seemed content with leaving Love alone in the corner of his choice, letting him miss shot after shot after shot. Both Love and Kyrie Irving had a bad Game 3 (shooting a combined 4-28), but Irving played better in Game 4 (finishing with 26 points).
Kevin Love…not so much.
Some are questioning whether Love is in a shooting slump similar to what Kyle Lowry went through earlier this postseason, or if he’s actually injured. Perhaps the real Kevin Love has finally arrived; he was dropping dimes and bricking shots.
Cavs’ coach Tyronn Lue made the call to play Channing Frye over Love during the 4th quarter and the case could be made that it was the right call regardless of how much Love is paid; Frye was playing better.
"“To try to put Kevin back in with four minutes to go in the fourth quarter in a hostile game, hostile environment, it’s not fair to him,” Lue said. “Channing gave us a great lift off the bench, and we just rolled with it.”"
Cory Joseph and Tristan Thompson put their “brotherly love” on suspension for this Eastern Conference Finals matchup, and apparently Thompson has suspended his game for the matchup as well.
At one point during last night’s game, I asked myself, “Where is Tristan Thompson?” He was on the bench as well; Bismack Biyombo is playing better than Thompson right now, and is making himself look like the $80 million dollar man instead.
There are a few reports that believe Lue played Lebron way too much, but playing 46 minutes when you’ve cruised through the first two rounds of play isn’t a lot, I suppose.
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Also, Kyle Lowry played just as many minutes, logging 44 last night. The fact of the matter is both Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson need to play better for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“Where on earth is Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson?” Somewhere with Carmen SanDiego.