Cleveland Cavaliers: 5 Takeaways From Game 3 vs. Warriors

3. No Kevin Love, No Problem

Thanks to an inadvertent elbow to the back of the head from Harrison Barnes in Game 2, Kevin Love was ruled out of Game 3.

With Love sidelined, the Cavaliers turned to Richard Jefferson. On the surface, this doesn’t sound like the obvious choice, but there is more than meets the eye in this scenario.

After scoring 12 points and grabbing five rebounds in Game 2, Jefferson had another solid game, scoring nine points to go along with eight rebounds in 33 minutes of action.

Sure, I realize those numbers don’t jump off the stat sheet, but Jefferson brings other intangibles to the mix when he’s on the floor.

For starters, he moves well without the basketball. Secondly, he is able to defend pick-and-roll situations in which the Cavaliers are forced to switch — an area that Love does not excel in.

Last but not least, Jefferson is capable of knocking down an occasional three-point shot, as his 42 percent conversion rate from distance during the postseason would indicate.

Based on the outcome of this contest, it is obvious that Jefferson is a better defender than Love.

However, if Love is able to go in Game 4, do the Cavaliers ride with the guy who helped get them to this point, or do they continue to go with Jefferson, who is the better defender of the two players?

Needless to say, Tyronn Lue will have an interesting decision to make over the next 36 hours.

Next: No. 2