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Cleveland Cavaliers: Kevin Love’s return is the last piece of the puzzle

By Brandon Maraldo

CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 28: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates after scoring during the first half against the Detroit Pistons at Quicken Loans Arena on January 28, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 28: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates after scoring during the first half against the Detroit Pistons at Quicken Loans Arena on January 28, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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We haven’t learned too much about the Kevin Love-less Cleveland Cavaliers, but what we have seen hasn’t been very promising.

But, good things are coming for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Kevin Love is expected to be back in 2-3 weeks according to Cleveland.com writer Terry Pluto.

Getting Love back will give the Cavaliers a much clearer picture of where the team is at. They do not have an obvious number two scorer next to LeBron James without Love on the court. Love was clearly that guy for the Cavaliers until Isaiah Thomas returned to the team in January.

From the start of the season through Dec. 31, Love was playing some of his basketball of his Cavaliers career. He was averaging 20.2 points and pulling down 10.2 rebounds per game in that span. He was also efficient with his scoring, taking just under 14 shots per game and making 47.1 percent of his shots.

But, things went off the rails for Love when Thomas returned to the Cavaliers. Love’s production took a dip. He went on to average just 13.7 points and secured only 8.3 rebounds per game until his hand injury set him out for an extended period of time.

Having Love out there will also help the whole offense as a whole. The speculation on the potential ability of James, Nance, and Love together is getting quite a bit of people excited.

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Love has an unbelievable spot up game allowing him to space the floor for the LeBron and Nance pick and roll. Just how good is Love though on spot up shots? He is in the 93 percentile in spot-up shooting in the NBA.

Another big problem for the Cavaliers that has been there for most of the season is their defense. The Cavaliers defensive rating this season is towards the bottom of the league.

This season they are giving up 109.7 points per 100 possessions, only the Kings and Suns are currently giving up more. Love isn’t going to help the defense, but making shots and not allowing teams to get out and run on the Cavaliers will be significant help for a lacking defense.

Also, his rebounding will help limit teams to one shot.

But there was a time during the 19-game stretch were the Cavaliers were toward the top of the league in defensive rating, from Nov. 11 until Dec. 17, they ranked number 11 in defensive rating, while that was a different Cavaliers team, a lot of the core pieces are still here and they added guys like Larry Nance and Rodney Hood who are better defenders than they previously had.

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Getting Love back will help take pressure off LeBron James and help stabilize the offense for the Cavaliers. They have 16 games left until the playoffs start to continue to gel and prepare for the playoff run.