Cleveland Cavaliers: Kevin Love must steal the show in Game 3
If the Cleveland Cavaliers are going to win in Indiana, they’re going to need a huge game from all-star forward Kevin Love.
The Cleveland Cavaliers sole win in their first-round series thus far was only possible because of a 46-point outing from LeBron James. Assuming he doesn’t replicate that in Game 3, someone else must step up, and his name is Kevin Love.
Kevin Love, throughout the first two games of the first round, has yet to have a single scoring game that has hit his season average. Love, who averaged 17.6 points per game on the season, was the Cavs main second threat, but he’s certainly not played the part of LeBron’s right-hand man.
That said, Game 3 must be a redemption game for Love.
Love has played over 30 minutes in both Game 1 and 2, but one of the other similarities was the fact he’s yet to shoot over 40% from the field. Love was relied upon during the regular season to get buckets in the post and because of his aggression, Love ended the season with a career-high effective field goal percentage.
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Love’s ability to splash from deep and bully down low has made him a dynamic force, but he’s really done neither this postseason. Myles Turner has been the primary defender on Love, and Thaddeus Young has also received considerable time on him. Both players can handle him in the post and contain him from deep.
Love has managed to hit five threes in the two games. However, within the arc, Love has made just three shots. Three shots within the three-point line form your starting center is not ideal. On top of that, he’s shot just as many two-pointers as he has three-pointers.
That tells me one thing: Kevin Love must be more aggressive.
What will that mean for Love though?
Does Love being aggressive mean asking for the ball in the post or launching from deep more often?
The answer is both.
Love needs to open the court with his three-point game. He also needs to keep defenders honest, something Love has done well all season and something that certainly benefitted LeBron James on the offensive end in Game 2.
Love needs to be more involved offensively. However, Love can’t blame anyone but himself. He must get involved, and if he’s playing poorly, then he must crash the glass. Love is too good to not be on the opponent’s gameplan.
Also, with Cleveland only averaging 90 points per game in their two postseason games, his firepower is very much needed against a stingy Pacers defense.
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If Kevin Love is aggressive and the Cavs can find out how to mask his defensive issues (issues that most big men have), then the Cavs will be successful. However, if Love has another performance like either Game 1 or Game 2, they might in for a rough night in their first game in Indianapolis.