Kevin Love is the Cleveland Cavaliers’ best player, and in the coming years, he’ll likely still be their most important player, too.
You know this by now; the Cleveland Cavaliers were at a major disadvantage for the vast majority of the 2018-19 season with Kevin Love mostly sidelined, as he only appeared in 20 of a possible 75 games at this juncture.
Most of those games were due to reported toe surgery, but with Love healthier post-All-Star break, Cleveland has played better.
A 7-10 record on the surface doesn’t seem like anything to write home about under normal circumstances, but when you factor in that the Cleveland Cavaliers are only 19-53 on the year, that’s a pretty considerable uptick in record.
Part of that was a favorable stretch of games shortly following the All-Star break, but a key part of Cleveland’s better play in the last 17 games overall has been a healthier Love being on the floor for big minutes, as we’ve discussed for the last few weeks here at KJG.
Love’s presence has opened up the floor for Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson (when he’s on the floor with Love) to drive with clearer lanes, Cedi Osman has gotten more in-rhythm three-point shots, to go with others, and Larry Nance Jr. has gotten more opportunities for rolls to the rim.
No player on Cleveland’s roster has close to the same impact on his teammates as Love has when he’s relatively healthy.
While the progression of Sexton, who’s been on an incredible scoring tear since the All-Star break, with averages of 20.7 points per game on 60.0 percent true shooting (per NBA.com), and Osman, who’s averaged 14.2 points per game on 55.9 percent true shooting in his 15 last games, has been really encouraging, Cleveland still needs Love on the floor to consistently maximize the play of those two.