5 Cavs who have surpassed expectations this season
Kevin Love
Kevin Love has probably been the most improved player for the Cleveland Cavaliers this season. He’s averaging 19.8 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.4 blocks per game after switching from the power forward spot to center, despite the physical advantages other big men have on the interior be it because of their strength, athleticism of height.
At 6-foot-10 and 250 pounds, Love is no small fry.
However, with players like the 6-foot-11, 270 pound DeMarcus Cousins and the 6-foot-11, 265 pound DeAndre Jordan playing the center position, their physical advantages give Love what’s possibly the hardest cover outside of Jose Calderon having to guard quick and explosive guards and Jae Crowder guarding the best forwards the league has to offer.
All the same, Love is averaging the highest point per game average he’s has since coming to Cleveland, a result of significant improvements in his efficiency. Love is shooting 47.8 percent from the field, 40.8 percent from three-point range and 87.5 percent from the free-throw line this season, all career-highs. How? In addition to Love being more physical in the post and using his size to be a physical force instead of fading away all the time, he’s no longer rushing his three-point attempts as if he hasn’t touched a basketball since James Naismith invented the game.
This has led to Love shooting 50.0 percent on post-ups this season while he only made 39.5 percent of his post-up attempts last season. After shooting 12.5 percent on his pull-up attempts last season, he’s making 53.3 percent of his pull-up threes this season.
Love often has his work cut out for him when guarding pick-and-rolls whether they’re blitzing, dropping back and ICE-ing the ball-handler or just switching and because of the physical advantages his man often has, he’s struggled in pick-and-roll defense. He’s allowing opponents’ pick-and-roll ball-handlers to shoot 61.5 percent from the field and score 1.21 points per possession this season after only allowing them to shoot 46.5 percent from the field and score 1.07 points per possession last season. Opponents shoot 45.3 percent against Love in the post this season after only making 40.3 percent of their post-up attempts last season.
Nonetheless, despite how much work has cut out for him, he’s keeping his head down and making his force felt on the boards and scoreboard often, notching 20 double-doubles so far this season (6th in the league). His team-first attitude has been overlooked far too long in the Land but he’s paid his dues and, with a more forceful and physical game, he’s hopefully regained the league’s respect.
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