The Cavaliers are missing Kevin Love so badly right now

Kevin Love is such a crucial player for the Cleveland Cavaliers, but he’s currently sidelined.

Kevin Love suffered a right calf strain during the preseason and recently reaggravated it in the Cleveland Cavaliers‘ win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Dec. 27. He is expected to be re-evaluated in now-two-to-three weeks, per a then-Cavs team status update.

With Kevin out for a while yet, Cleveland will be missing out on one of their best players that is crucial to their offense.

The effects of this have been multiplied with the Cavs currently out of key players in their rotation like Dylan Windler (fractured left hand) and Kevin Porter Jr.

And on top of these players missing time, Darius Garland missed Cleveland’s Monday game at the Orlando Magic, and will be out on Wednesday’s matchup at Orlando due to a right shoulder injury. Per a Cavs team announcement, Garland’s shoulder sprain could sideline him “up to one week,” so we’ll see.

Dante Exum suffered a right calf strain in that Monday game, and is reportedly expected to miss one-to-two months, also, and you can view more on the injury front here. Per that Cavs team announcement, Exum is “expected to miss approximately 6-8 weeks of basketball activity,” for further context.

With this many players missing time, the Cavs could use Love’s ability to space the floor. Without players like Porter or Garland, at least on Wednesday with Darius, to create offense, Collin Sexton and others need spacing now more than ever.

The Cavs are missing Love so badly right now.

It also helps to have someone like Love who can create offense himself, and provide a solid pick-and-roll threat paired with our guards. This could be the biggest problem with Love out.

The offense’s ability to find quality shots will likely be more difficult without Kevin’s abilities in an offense that runs its fair share of pick-and-rolls, and Love’s capability to hit pick-and-pops could aid the settled offense.

Kevin is a unique player for many reasons, which makes it hard for the Cavs to replace him. Larry Nance Jr. has been starting in place of him at the 4. Nance is quite fine at what he does, but he’s not Kevin, and Nance’s attempt to replace Love’s shooting has not worked out yet.

Nance is currently shooting 29.2 percent from three-point range on the season and has shot three-of-17 from deep since taking over the starting power forward position (a four-game span).

Love is also someone who has experienced everything and serves as a vital piece of the offense down the stretch. This is so big for the Cavs because in their current state, many young players take up huge minutes in the rotation.

This allows them to get experience and develop against the best. You’ve seen this with players like Sexton, Garland and Isaac Okoro this season, who all start and play down the stretch. Okoro seemingly being back from missing Cleveland’s past five games due to a left foot sprain, and having been placed in the NBA’s COVID-19 health and safety protocol, is a plus, too, for reference.

Anyhow, when players like Windler and Porter come back it’s something you will continue to see for the foreseeable future.

Love, who had 17.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists per outing last season, and hit 37.4 percent of a career-high 7.0 three-point attempts per contest, provides a balance next to all the younger players and counteracts the inexperience of the group down the stretch.

Kevin Love has had a long injury history in his career, but you have to be hopeful that this minor injury is the only setback for him this season.

He’s valuable to this roster and will be missed even more with injuries adding up for the Cleveland Cavaliers.