Can Kevin Love carry the Cavaliers?

Does Minnesota Love still Exist?

Of course, a successful revamped offense around Love assumes that he performs like he did in Minnesota.

Maybe he will, maybe he won’t. Who knows?

He hasn’t been “the guy” in four years. In those years, both the NBA and Love have changed drastically.

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Since being traded in 2014, Love has lost 30 pounds. He told GQ that he felt “too skinny.” Though he ran well and was in great shape, his new physique undermined his ability to play inside and outside.

The Timberwolves’ Kevin Love had a booty to bump with and make space for his shot. The Cavaliers’ Kevin Love is thinner and better at running the floor for open looks.

For a team where he will be the premier player, Love needs to create shots for himself. A bigger body is a tool that makes this task easier and makes Love more confident in the post.

There’s no doubt Love’s higher energy in his new body is a plus. He also claims to have “put the weight back on—well the good weight” in the form of muscle which surely aided in his ability to snatch rebounds. But some additional mass on top of this new strength will likely be key in rekindling the forward’s dominance on the elbow.

In an NBA that favors small ball more than it did four years ago, Love’s lesser size may not prove that big of a problem. What would’ve been small forwards then may be pushed up the roster and be forced to guard him now?

Remember when C.J. Miles and the Raptors had few answers for him in the Eastern Semifinals?