Goal #2: Show up in the postseason
The regular season is important, but for the Cavaliers, it isn’t very telling. The real Cavaliers break out after the season is over for about half the league, and that’s when Kevin Love seems to disappear.
Over the last three seasons, Love has averaged more points during the regular season than he has during the playoffs. Last season was the only time that Love had a better shooting percentage in the postseason than during the season. Averaging a double-double through the 2017 postseason, Love did show that he can overpower other players fairly easily. It wasn’t just his post game that saw improves. His shooting was scorching hot all playoffs, making 45% of his three point attempts.
While those numbers are solid and better than his previous numbers, Love still needs to do more. During the five postseason games that matter most, obviously the five Finals’ games, Love scored six points in one game and nine in another while only topping 20 twice. Postseason does include all four series, but the eruption of Kevin Love must happen in the Finals.
This upcoming season, with another LeBron James’ exodus looming over Cleveland, the Cavaliers need Love to perform this postseason or they might not get the NBA’s best player back.