Kevin Love Not Being Utilized Enough in Cavaliers Offense
No one is sure if Kevin Love will sign a new contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers or with another NBA team at the end of the season. If he does leave, it will likely be because of his role in the Cavaliers offense.
This season Love his struggled to find a consistent niche with Cleveland. Though Love’s numbers are not bad with 17.1 points a game and 10.5 rebounds his involvement or lack thereof in the offensive scheme for the Cavaliers is bewildering.
When asked about his future, Love has been diplomatic by showing his allegiance to his team today, the Cavs, but many wonder if he will return, head west to sign with the Lakers or find another team to play for.
Love this season has been relegated to taking jump shots for the perimeter and not utilized down low on the post or at the high post.
The Cavaliers have asked Love to mimic the role of Chris Bosh when LeBron James was with Miami and the role of Ryan Anderson when Dwight Howard was with Orlando.
However, Love is far more capable of doing more in the offense than the two aforementioned players do, but due to the rigidness of the offense David Blatt is playing, Love’s game has been stifled and at times suffocated.
Charles Barkley believes Love is shooting too may 3-pointers and James and point guard Kyrie Irving are not getting him involved enough in the half court game.
On February 5, Love scored 24 points and pulled down 9 rebounds. A day later, he had all of 5 points and 8 rebounds.
In the game, he scored five points, Love took just 8 shots compared to 26 for Irving, 21 by James and 14 by J.R. Smith.
Three players took 61 shots and Love just 8 shows how much of a problem Love has in the offensive scheme. Love’s misuse on offense is also not taking advantage of his talent as a passer. He is capable of having the offense run through him on both the high and low post. His keen sense of finding an open man out wide or cutting to the hoop would help not only James and Irving but also big men such as Timofey Mozgov.
Love has to be more involved on both the elbow and block giving him the opportunity to find his rhythm playing in the offense early and getting to the foul line.
Love admits his game changes for the better when he starts inside and works to the outside. However, he did say that if his three point shot were there he would take it.
If things on the offense do not change for Love then he likely will be wearing a different color uniform next season than the yellow Cleveland one he wears today.
