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Kevin Love Voted Player Of The Week For First Time As A Cav

By Quenton S. Albertie

Nov 1, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) reacts to a three point basket in the second half against the Houston Rockets at Quicken Loans Arena. Cleveland won 128-120. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) reacts to a three point basket in the second half against the Houston Rockets at Quicken Loans Arena. Cleveland won 128-120. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kevin Love, a leader of a New Age in basketball, has been named Player of the Week.

Kevin Love was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the Cleveland Cavaliers for the first time since joining the team back in 2014. As many remember, when Love joined the Cleveland Cavaliers, he was fresh off of his third All-Star season. Averaging a career-high 26.1 points on 37.6 percent shooting from three-point range (6.6 attempts) and 12.5 rebounds per game, Love is a one of a kind player. His ability to stretch the floor at an elite rate but remain a dominant presence inside hasn’t been duplicated thus far.

This season, Love is averaging 22.3 points on 43.9 percent shooting from three-point range (5.7 attempts) and 10.7 rebounds per game. He’s shown that he’s much more comfortable and not searching for a role or way to impact the game anymore. He doesn’t hesitate to shoot and consistently puts the ball on the floor to attack the rim, to boot.

Defensively, Love is playing some of his best defense by constantly being in the best position to minimize his lack of athleticism on the perimeter and showing an improved base, strength and effort in the post. He’s had quite a few games where he’s shown value as a rim-protector, a newfound wrinkle to his New Age game.

Love won Player of the Week after the Cleveland Cavaliers went 3-0 last week. He averaged 30.7 points on 65.5 percent shooting from three-point range (9.7 attempts) and 9.7 rebounds per game. Perhaps at the pinnacle of his Cavalier bliss, Love is returning to All-Star form in front of the Cleveland faithful. Even with all the spotlight on him and cameras waiting for him to fail and fall in the face of adversity.

Against the Portland Trail Blazers, Love score 34 points in the first quarter. His 34 points were the second-most in NBA history for a quarter period, second to only Klay Thompson’s NBA-record of 37 points. What makes it more impressive is Love actually had a chance to pass Thompson’s record. Love also had eight rebounds in this game, with four on the offensive end.

Against the Dallas Mavericks, Love hit 7 threes in only three quarters of action. While the Mavericks surrender the worst three-point percentage of any team in the league, Love also had 10 rebounds in the contest. His 27 points (in 28 minutes) were the highest on the team, making it the second game in a row where he finished as the Cleveland Cavaliers leading scorer.

Against the Philadelphia 76ers, Love scored 25 points and had 11 rebounds in 28 minutes. He did so with a gash over his right eye, exhibiting a toughness that’s not usually associated with the power forward.

Between Love’s unique skillset, LeBron James‘ ability to dominate every facet of game and Kyrie Irving‘s offensive prowess, the Cavs truly have what may be an All-Time great starting lineup. Tristan Thompson‘s mobility, intelligence and rebounding prowess fit perfectly within the team’s starting lineup and J.R. Smith, regardless his shooting slump, is a player you don’t want to leave open from three.

The difference between this Love and the player he was in his first two years is astounding. Winning a Player of the Week award, more or less, is an emblem of Love’s resurgence in Cleveland.

Related Story: Cleveland Cavaliers Make History Against Portland

Did you get a chance to see Kevin Love’s best individual week with the Cleveland Cavaliers? Is he back in All-Star form or is this just a ‘flash in the pan’ performance? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section or Twitter @KJG_NBA.