Kevin Love is having a quiet postseason this year, averaging only 13.8 points per game, which is the lowest mark of his playoff career. While Love is still a great rebounder that helps his team in other ways, he hasn't been very active on the offensive end. Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue has taken the blame for him, as he hasn't utilized him enough so far in the post-season.
Fortunately for the Cavaliers, they didn't need Love to have big performances, as they've won every playoff game this year. However, there is no doubt that Lue will make changes to his gameplan since the Cavaliers will match up against a much tougher opponent in the conference finals.
Kevin Love's versatility and size make him a mismatch for many opposing teams, and he could be an X-factor in the series.
Kevin Love has been great
Despite his low scoring numbers, Tyronn Lue said that Kevin Love has been great. The big man has been a valuable piece of the Cavaliers and even though it doesn't reflect in the box score, it's a fact that Kevin Love has done a great job for his team. It is important to note that the cause of his low scoring average is not inefficiency, but rather his small role on offense, as Love has averaged under ten field goal attempts per game in the playoffs. He shoots 43 percent from the field and 40.5 percent from long range, which isn't bad at all.
"Some of it’s my fault because we haven’t really featured him a lot because of the matchups we had against other teams.
But he’s been great, his whole mindset is winning, and that’s what it’s all about in the playoffs. In this next series, we have some matchups he can definitely take advantage of,” coach Tyronn Lue commented. Love will undoubtedly have a bigger role in the upcoming games, as the Cleveland Cavaliers will face either the Boston Celtics or the Washington Wizards.
Love was amazing in the regular season
Considering that he was the third option on the team, Kevin Love's scoring average of 19 points per game during the regular season was very good. Besides scoring, Love was one of the best rebounders in the league with 11 rebounds per game.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are still waiting for their opponent in the Conference Finals, and this opponent will be harder than the two teams they faced earlier this post-season.
Coach Tyronn Lue has plenty of time to figure out how to increase Kevin Love's touches. If he can do the same thing with Love that he did in the regular season, the Cavaliers could easily reach another NBA finals.
