Ranking the Cavs’ top 5 players so far this season
By Will Holtz
Ranking the Cavs’ top 5 players so far this season: #5 – Kevin Love
The 33-year-old big man has put a smile on my face this season. Kevin Love looks like he wants to be playing basketball in Cleveland, which is saying a lot considering he was all but gone before the season started.
So far, Kevin Love has played in 15 games and has started in none of them. However, he looks extremely comfortable in his new role. More importantly, he looks happy. Love is averaging 11.3 points per game and 7.6 rebounds off the bench in 20.1 minutes per contest. These numbers aren’t amazing, but this is in large part due to a slow start to the season.
Since missing eight games due to the COVID-19 protocol, Love has come back to the court with a sense of purpose. Over his last eight games active, Love has averaged 12.3 points per game on 46.4 percent from the field and 43.2 percent from three. He’s also grabbed 7.9 rebounds per game in just 19.7 minutes. His efficiency should not be overlooked. This is incredible production considering the small amount of minutes he plays.
But, the numbers don’t tell the whole story. If you watch the games, you can see the impact Love has on his teammates while in the huddles. You can tell why having a savvy veteran presence is so important. You can tell why having a member of the 2016 NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers on the roster is so crucial to the growth of the young players, especially Darius Garland, too.
Love’s place on the roster bares more than just basketball production. He is an integral piece to the locker room. So while having having Love on the court is important, having him in the locker room and in the huddles is even more crucial.