Will this be the year that Kevin Love excels? Will this season be the breakout year for Kevin Love that we all imagined when the Cleveland Cavaliers traded for him?
The Cavaliers became the “Big 3” on Aug. 23, 2014.
In a highly publicized trade that involved the Cleveland Cavaliers giving up their last two No. 1 overall picks in Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett, Miami’s 2015 first rounder, the Cavs brought what they figured was the final piece to a long-elusive championship puzzle.
Kevin Love looked to be the piece that would not only put the Cavs over the top talent wise, but LeBron James felt Love had a beautiful basketball mind.
But as it happened in Miami with the Heat, the third member (also a power forward) of the “Big 3” seemed to be the player that had to dial down his touches and sacrifice for the betterment of the team.
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Love went from a 19-point, 12-rebound power forward, to a 16.2 points, 9.8 rebounds per game player who was asked to be a stretch-four in the Cavaliers starting five.
We have seen flashes of what is now known as the “Minnesota Kevin Love” in the last two seasons for the Cavs. He has had his 30-point games and has had a number of 19-rebound games for the Cavs.
Still if you look at career stats, his numbers in Minnesota are 19.2 points and 12.2 rebounds per game versus 16.2 points and 9.8 rebounds per game in Cleveland.
If you want to do a percentage comparison, Love’s production is down just 6.6% from his days in Minnesota – on a team which featured Love as its star player.
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Now that the Cavaliers have won that elusive title, the first in 52 years for a major sport in Cleveland, is it possible that players such as Love try to re-invent themselves even more and become whatever the team needs?
Many feel Kevin Love can be an 18-point, 14-rebound guy in the right scenario for the Cavs.
There is a sense around the media circles that the Cavs could trade Love this offseason. The thought in the Cavs front-office is that the trade talk is 95 percent centered around fans and over-exuberant sports journalists.
Contrary to those who think Love could be the asset to bring back more talent in a trade, it is the belief of many that Love will have his best year with the Cavs. He has seen it all, has a coach and teammates behind him and now they have a bond that only a world championship can create.
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How will Love re-invent himself?
As was seen last year, Love, when healthy, can play in the paint very well. Maybe gaining some weight back will give him back the advantage he had when he was with the Timberwolves.
If Love is asked to once again play in the post and at the elbow early, we could easily see his averages go up and help the team by being a more consistent player versus the stretch-four shooter that many thought he could be. He was still effective from beyond the arc, converting on 36.3 percent of those shots, exactly his career average.
The Cavaliers are in the midst of a youth-movement and the league as a whole is getting smaller.
We could no doubt see Love as the center again this season when the Cavaliers go small. His rebounding when he plays more near the paint seems effortless – he seems to have a handle on how to attack the glass.
The best thing about the “Big 3” is that they are heading into their third season together and with the exception of Love, they have kept their production where it has been if not better. It is time for Kevin Love to have his Cleveland breakout season.
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Will this be the perfect storm? Will we see a different Love that looks to capitalize on his skills and capabilities rather than disappearing for stretches in games?
The stars are aligned.
The Cavs are the defending NBA champions.
It could be the season that Kevin Love excels and has his breakout season.