King James Gospel
Fansided

The tandem of Nance and Love may be the difference maker for Cavaliers

By Evan Dammarell

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 09: Larry Nance Jr.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 09: Larry Nance Jr. /
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CLEVELAND, OH – APRIL 1: Kevin Love #0 celebrates with LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half against the Dallas Mavericks at Quicken Loans Arena on April 1, 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 – APRIL 1: Kevin Love #0 celebrates with LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half against the Dallas Mavericks at Quicken Loans Arena on April 1, 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) /

Breaking down the duo

It obviously depends if the duo can play beyond just sixteen minutes together, though. During that sixteen minutes, though, it has looked great for the Cavaliers.

If you pair Love, Nance, Jordan Clarkson, and Rodney Hood all alongside LeBron James, you create a mind-bending unit. It has the proper mix of defense, athleticism, and most of all the ability to stretch the floor, which has proven to be lethal when paired with King James.

The other nice thing starting Love and Nance together does is it gives a spark that the Cavaliers have lacked almost all season. Nance brings constant energy and makes his teammates better. Love is the best power forward in the East and can annihilate teams on offense. With the last set of regular season games, Love and Nance can continue to grow together.

More from King James Gospel

Heading into the playoffs, the Eastern Conference race will not be able to properly handle the Love-Nance tandem at all. In the first round, the Cavs will likely face the Washington Wizards or the Miami Heat and the Love-Nance duo presents exploitable matchups

For whatever reason, the Cavs cannot win whenever they play in Miami (they last did when this author was still 17). If they start and employ more of the Love-Nance lineup, it may change recent history.

Miami right now starts James Johnson and Hassan Whiteside at the four and five, and it is perfect for both Love and Nance. If the Cavaliers force the switch on defense, Whiteside will be likely forced to defend Love and he will feast. Slow-footed, traditional big men struggle against Love’s shooting and Whiteside is no different. The Charlie Kelly on offense is Nance, as the Heat will likely have Johnson defending James and the Cavs can look to exploit the mismatches.

On defense, Love can be hidden on players like Johnson and allow Nance to matchup on Whiteside. Nance has been a stout defender for the Cavaliers, averaging 1.8 steals and 0.4 blocks in last four games. The offensive potential, along with some steady defense make the possible Heat matchup less scary.