Cleveland Cavaliers: Kevin Love Dominates Orlando Magic
Kevin Love had a season-high 34 points against the Orlando Magic on Monday as the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated them 117-103.
One year and two weeks ago, I wrote a piece on how there were numerous rumors about Kevin Love going to the Los Angles Lakers due to his rough start and some NBA reporters thinking that he was “unhappy” in Cleveland.
Well– how a year changes everything!
Love had his best scoring output as a Cleveland Cavalier on Monday against the Orlando Magic. He had 34 points, eight rebounds and four assist. This makes his third 30-point game with the team. He has played with more confidence and toughness than he did all of last season. He is looking more like the Love of the Minnesota Timberwolves with each game.
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No, he isn’t averaging 20-plus points a game, but the consistency and impact he displayed in every game is starting to show here. With Timofey Mozgov out and Tristan Thompson taking his place, it has made it much easier for Love to score inside.
Thompson doesn’t take up as much space as Mozgov, and it keeps Love from having to worry about huge rebounding games– since Thompson is one of the best rebounders in the NBA.
It has even improved his outside game. Since the beginning of the season, LeBron James has been posting up more in the paint, which has allowed Love to float on the outside and get great looks at the basket. It couldn’t have been more apparent on Monday as he went 6-for-9 from three-point range.
Whether it was the Magic’s Tobias Harris, Andrew Nicholson, who was on fire in the second quarter, or Aaron Gordon, nobody could guard Love. He got involved in the offense early, and didn’t look back.
However, he has played better overall in losses than in wins. He is averaging 17.7 points per game, 12.5 rebounds and 2.3 assist in wins. In losses, he is averaging 20.3 points per game, 10.3 rebounds and 3.0 assist. So I think it is safe to say that Love should maintain his current involvement within the offense. He is also playing much better interior defense than he did last season.
He’s getting physical with opposing centers and forwards and is making them change their sense of direction with their shot.
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If Love can maintain his health and keep his game at this pace, he could be in for an all-star season. He will try to repeat his domination on Wednesday against the Toronto Raptors.