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Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 bold predictions for Kevin Love next season

By Nathan Beighle

CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 21: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers warms up before Game Four of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics at Quicken Loans Arena on May 21, 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 21: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers warms up before Game Four of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics at Quicken Loans Arena on May 21, 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – APRIL 29: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers leaves the court after a 105-101 win in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Indiana Pacers during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on April 29, 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – APRIL 29: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers leaves the court after a 105-101 win in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Indiana Pacers during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on April 29, 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Prediction No. 2: Love leads Cleveland to the postseason

The general NBA media is disrespecting the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Bleacher Report ranked the Cavs No. 21 in the NBA while ESPN ranked them No. 23. Yes, they lost LeBron James, but they’re still going to be a competent playoff team that should be better than at least the Charlotte Hornets and Detroit Pistons.

The Cavs have at least three competent playmakers if Rodney Hood returns.

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The Hornets have one top-tier playmaker while the Pistons have an injury-prone Griffin to rely upon. Who else do they have that would make them reasonably better than Cleveland behind Sexton, Hood and Love?

With Kevin Love playing peak Kevin Love basketball, they are better. But, he will have to be a threat all season long and not take any games off or string together several bad shooting nights.

The injury bug that’s struck Love over the last few seasons could also be a reason the Cavs miss the postseason.

While over the last two seasons the Cavaliers were good enough for Love to miss over 20 games and still make the postseason, they won’t be this season.

Love will lead them though. I’m confident that Love can return to his Minnesota form, average 24 points, and play 70+ games. In five of Love’s 10 seasons, he’s been able to play 70+ games, and that will be the reason why or why not Cleveland makes the postseason.

He’s elite, and while James was on the court with Love, we didn’t notice it, he will put fans back on notice this season. He’s slimmed down, able to run the court and can thrive playing with a dynamic, attack-first point guard like Collin Sexton.

Now, this one is bold, but it’s still the boldest claim yet.