Kevin Love admits playing with Cavs 'hasn't been the easiest transition'
Kevin Love says joining the Cavs "hasn't been the easiest transition" but says he's never been on a "closer" team
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2 min read
In the NBA Finals, the Golden State Warriors have exposed a lot of the flaws with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Cleveland's bench could use a few more tweaks, Kyrie Irving's defense can be exploited and LeBron James for the second straight year can't do it all by himself. But perhaps the most glaring issue with the Cavs seems to be Kevin Love's fit.
At least against the Warriors, that is.
Golden State has made it a habit of taking advantage of Love's poor pick-and-roll defense. Coupled with Cleveland winning one game without him, his fit on the Cavs is beginning to be questioned by fans and even us in the media. The Warriors are of course the best regular-season team of all-time and have been making mince meat out of their competition all season, so the Cavs' faltering against them isn't at all irregular.
But the blame game is often played out as it helps people cope and unfortunately for Love, he is bearing the brunt of the criticism. Love understands this but can't believe his flexibility is being questioned, especially since he says this Cavs team is the closest team he has ever been on.
From ESPN.com's Dave McMenamin:
"I mean, I've been asked to do different things, being here. I've been asked to be the second, third guy -- third guy most nights. It hasn't been the easiest transition in the world, but as far as being a part of a family, this unit here, I've never been on a team that's closer than this. So that's why I don't understand when I hear people say I'm a square peg in a round hole or something like that."
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"It's an easy storyline, and people are going to run with it, and that's always going to be how it is," Love said of the calls to blow the Cavs up, despite two straight trips to the Finals. "But if you ask anybody on that team, including myself, this is the closest unit, closest group I've ever been around."
It should be noted that Love isn't complaining. He is just outlining the facts and addressing the public perception of his role on the team. And like he's saying, his flexibility should not be questioned. Love did after all return from a concussion and came off the bench in Game 4, with no complaints since he understood that Richard Jefferson may be a better fit in the starting lineup against Golden State.
Also except for a game or two against the Raptors, Love has been stellar for the Cavs in the playoffs. Love had virtuoso performances like a 28-and-13 game in Cleveland's very first playoff game against the Pistons, knocking down eight 3-pointers against the Hawks in one game and closing out Toronto with a strong 20-point, 12-rebound effort.
Yet against the Warriors, Love filled the box score in Game 1 with 17 points and 13 rebounds but his defensive issues have made Cleveland a weaker team because Golden State expertly knows how to take advantage of him. And this being the second year the Cavs seemingly can't get past the Warriors, Love is looking like the weakest link in their quest for a championship.
A fact that despite his best intentions, Love seems well aware of.
