Kevin Love needs time.
Just like the rest of his Cavaliers teammates need time to jell, he needs time to understand his functions and role within the team’s offense. And he knows this. He admitted as much following Cleveland’s 92-90 loss to the Spurs, per Northeast Ohio Media Group’s Chris Fedor:
It appears Miami’s Chris Bosh is a prophet because Kevin Love is having a tough time adjusting to his new role and too often the Cavs are simply forgetting about one of the premier talents in the league.
“I’m just trying to find myself in this offense,” Love said as he soaked his feet in ice after the game as he usually does. “It’s just one of those things. We’re 10 games in. I think everyone knew coming in that we would have to sacrifice. At some point we are going to need some low-post scoring and outside shooting.”
…
“I haven’t really said much. I’m just trying to be a part of this team as best I can to help us win,” he said. “As far as getting into a rhythm it has been tough.”
If only we could all struggle like Kevin Love, the still double-double machine who, by his standards, is actually struggling.
Through 10 games, Love is tallying just 16.7 points, his lowest average since he was a sophomore in 2009-10. He’s also shooting just 38.9 percent from the floor, his worst mark since that 18-game debacle in 2012-13, and 35.7 percent from three, his lowest success rate since 2012-13 as well. Even Love’s assists numbers are down from last year (2.6). So, too, is his usage rage. Nearly 29 percent of the Timberwolves’ offensive plays ran through him last season; only 20.5 percent of the Cavs’ plays go through him now.
All of which is to be expected. The Cavaliers run an offense prided on positionless basketball. Love is also playing the Chris Bosh role alongside Kyrie Irving and LeBron James. The ball isn’t in his hands as much. He’s no longer a semi-self-sufficient scorer who dabbles in spot-up mastery. The latter is slowly, surely, becoming his identity now. Almost 75 percent of his shots are coming off assists, up from last year’s 65.5 percent, per NBA.com. That’s a difference, and though seemingly small, it’s still noteworthy.
Like Bosh, Love will have to make adjustments. He’s learning how to be the No. 3 option by default. He’s adjusting to his role within a system that hasn’t generated enough ball movement just yet.
He’s still coming to terms with his new digs—the ones he’s called his own for just 10 freaking games.
“I came here to win,” he said, per Fedora. “We’re going to figure it out. We’re going to be OK.”
Indeed, the Cavs are going to be OK. They already have a top-five offense, and the synergy is going to come. The superstars will mesh. The offense will click.
Love, like the Cavs themselves, will be fine.
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com.
