The Cleveland Cavaliers have gained major momentum after surviving an onslaught of injuries and adjustment, picking up their groove with Larry Drew at the helm after head coach Tyronn Lue took a temporary leave due to an illness.
The return of Kevin Love has also proved of major importance — a dominant low-post player that can stretch out to the 3-point line and dominate with his versatility.
Love had had his ups and down since returning from a broken hand injury, but has shown signs of consistency through three straight 20-point games in late March, a sign the team will use him that much more in the postseason.
“Certainly, we’re gonna ride Kevin,” Drew told Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report. “Obviously we depend on LeBron a lot; he’s the head of the snake. Kevin is a guy that we really depend on now with our situation and personnel standpoint.”
While Love hasn’t matched his 2017-18 season double-double production, he’s shooting the ball as good as he’s ever done in a Cavs uniform, with a line of .455/.401/.879 — impeccable shooting numbers through 55 games this season.
LeBron James is once again expected to be the head of the snake with this newly-assembled team, but it’s Love who could prove the difference of whether the Cavs’ potential dynasty reaches a fourth straight NBA Finals or sees its end.
“Now with [Love] being the second guy, we’ll look to go through him a lot,” Drew said. “Particularly in the post, because we know what his capabilities are down there, and then he’s a big man that can step out to the three.
“It’s important that when he gets the ball, particularly down in the post, we want him to score, but we also want him to make the right play out of the post if there’s a double-team. He’s committed to that. We’re gonna ride him. We’re gonna put ourselves in a position to where we have to make sure that Kevin gets touches.”
Love is averaging only 12.4 shots per game — the lowest since becoming a Cavalier — but has attempted shot in double digits in every game since his return, a sign the team has committed to him being part of the offense once again.
