With Draymond Green out, Kevin Love should start Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
Starting Richard Jefferson in Game 4, after Kevin Love was out Game 3 due to a concussion, was the right decision for the Cleveland Cavaliers. It helped against the Golden State Warriors in Game 3 and was helpful in Game 4.
Now, the Cavs are down 3-1 and Draymond Green is suspended. Everything has changed. Everything should be on the table.
That starts with putting Love back in the starting lineup.
With Green at the 4, the Cavs and Tyronn Lue had a tough decision to make. Love can’t guard Green on the perimeter. Green can drive past him with relative ease while also being able to post him up.
On defense, Green is strong enough to guard Love down low while being able to close out on him at the 3 point line. His lower body strength and quick hands, make things tough on the Love.
With Green on the floor, the Cavs have no way to use Love to their benefit.
Now, with Draymond out for punching LeBron James‘ private area the Cavs can go back to Love.
The Warriors are likely to go with Andre Iguodala in their starting lineup. They could also run out a very small lineup with Shaun Livingston.
Either way, Love can take advantage of starting against that group. Love in the post can bang with any of their non-center starters. If the Warriors try to put Andrew Bogut on Love, he can just pull him outside and hit from deep, while opening up the middle.
The Cavs have to find a way to control the game. Being down 3-1, the Cavs have to live and die with their guys. With Jefferson in, the Cavs tried to counter the Warriors strengths. Starting Love, with Green out, is the Cavs way to playing off their own strengths.
Bring Jefferson off the bench also can allow the Cavs not to get tired as they did in Game 4. Late in the game, LeBron and Kyrie Irving played terrible isolation basketball. It seemed like that was due to tired legs and minds. With Jefferson starting, the Cavs have no backup small forward to spell LBJ even for a few minutes.
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Starting Love allows RJ to take LBJ’s place more often and keeps him fresh. As LeBron goes, so goes Kyrie. As LeBron and Kyrie go, so go the Cavs.
Starting Kevin Love in Game 5 could help the Cavs go on to Game 6 back in Cleveland, where a win sets up a do or die Game 7.
Kevin Love may not be long for Cleveland. He has his problems defensively, may not fit perfectly and is a problem against the Warriors full squad team. In Game 5, with Green out, Love should be a focal point of early offense and keep the other Big 3 members fresh.
Do you think Kevin Love should start Game 5?