Kevin Love is helping Cavs in these 2 ways, despite struggles from 3
By Dan Gilinsky
Kevin Love has shifted to a bench role this season for the Cleveland Cavaliers, which was reportedly likely to occur, heading into the year. That was the right move by Cleveland, and while he hasn’t lived up to his contract in recent seasons, largely because of injuries, and there’s been visible frustration in-game in other instances, Love has seemed to be fully bought-in this year.
I give him his credit for that, and though an extended absence for him because of COVID-19 health and safety protocols was a blow, and the threes haven’t been consistent, Love in general has aided the Cavs when he’s been in.
He missed nearly three weeks due to COVID-19 protocols, and did reportedly have a tough bout with the virus, to reiterate; on the plus side, he’s seemingly back now, and has been involved in the last five games.
On the year, and even in the games the Cavaliers were banged up and missing some key guys, which played into them having lost five straight games prior to Saturday’s win over the Orlando Magic, Love has still typically provided a lift. He hasn’t blown any doors off with 10.3 points per outing, but in 20.5 minutes on average this season, that’s been alright and his spacing element makes a difference.
He’s shot only 27.8 percent from three-point range on the season so far, which hasn’t been stellar, however, his finishing and post-ups/mid-post work at times have aided Cleveland. And in two areas, outside of the scoring sense, I believe he’s helped the squad out.
We’ll take a closer look at those two areas that Love has aided the Cavs, in particular, here.
The first has been his passing presence in rotational minutes.