Channing Frye should be able to mimic much of Kevin Love’s production

Channing Frye will shine for the Cleveland Cavaliers with Kevin Love out.

The Cleveland Cavaliers might have lost their big man in Kevin Love but, fortunately, they have another highly skilled and high basketball IQ playing behind him: Channing Frye.

Frye, a player whose stoicism will allow him to accept his role and be a star in it as his desire to play meaningful minutes has led him to play a well-rounded game this season. Whose ability to bring together what devolved into a fractured locker room can’t be statistically measured but is nonetheless what makes him invaluable as a player.

The Buffet of Goodness indeed.

One of the many great midseason additions from former general manager David Griffin’s regime.

After scoring 16 points against the Miami Heat and adding 4 rebounds and 1 block in the Cavs’ win on Wednesday night, Frye has averaged 18.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 21.0 minutes per game since Love broke his hand.

Adjusted per 36 minutes, Frye is averaging 30.9 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game.

Two games is an infinitesimal sample size and given Frye’s age (34-years-old) and track record (career-high 18.4 points per 36 minutes in his rookie season), the rate at which he’s been lighting up the scoreboard will regress towards the mean.

Still, Frye has been a standout performer in limited action, showing off his perimeter shooting while mixing it up in the post and getting a lot of those passes under the rim where Love got them. Frye’s passing from the top of the key has also been timely.

To compare, Love is averaging 23.0 points, 12.0 rebounds and 0.5 blocks per 36 minutes this season. Love has had a considerable advantage in the rebounding department, which allows the Cavs to close out defensive possessions. Frye has the advantage in all else though.

Frye is shooting 66.7 percent from the field and 54.5 percent from three-point range in his last two games. For the season, he’s shooting 52.0 percent from the field and 36.7 percent from deep.

Love has been shooting 46.3 percent from the field and 40.4 percent from long-range.

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Compare their shooting from inside in restricted area:

Frye is converting 79.3 percent of his shots around the rim and Love is converting 68.4 percent of his. Frye is scoring 1.45 points per possession on post-ups and making 75.0 percent of his attempts. Love is scoring 1.01 points per possession on the same play type, making 49.1 percent of his attempts.

Compare them from midrange:

Frye is converting 66.7 percent of his shot 10-16 feet away from the rim and 50.0 percent of his shots 16-24 feet away from the rim. Love is converting 40.0 percent of his shots 10-16 feet away from the rim and 40.7 percent of his attempts 16-24 feet away from the rim.

Related Story: Do Cavs need raw talent or locker room leaders?

So long as Frye receives rebounding help from the likes of James, Jae Crowder, Jeff Green and Tristan Thompson, the Cavs should be okay without Love for a while.

Frye won’t start every game for Love, as head coach Tyronn Lue will select his starting power forward on a game-by-game basis. However, Frye has stepped up regardless and has the best chance of mimicking Love’s production.

*Unless otherwise referenced, all stats gathered from www.basketball-reference.com