Can Kevin Love carry the Cavaliers?
By Doug Patrick
How Will Love Do?
I think it’s safe to assume Kevin Love will lead the Cavs to a playoff spot next season. While it’s no guarantee, it’s definitely likely.
The forward will have an interesting collection of developing talent and old championship parts to work with, and this roster should ultimately prove to be as talented as the middle-tier teams in the East—teams like Miami, Charlotte, and Detroit.
Will Love put up 26 and 12 per game next season? Probably not. He’s 31-years-old and hasn’t been that type of player in years. He will likely put up impressive though more modest 20 and 10ish numbers.
Stats good enough to carry an Eastern team to a 6 or 7 seed and an All-Star Game but not MVP- or championship-level good.
That’s the thing about Kevin Love leading the Cavs; they’ll be just good enough. They won’t be great, but they won’t be bad. While Love helps the Cavs fulfill their wish of remaining competitive in the short term, they won’t be serious contenders any time soon.
Next: Cleveland Cavaliers: Top 30 all-time greatest players
*All stats compiled from basketballl-reference.com