Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 takeaways from Game 7 vs. Pacers

2. Love wasn’t in the air in Game 7

After averaging just 11 points on 32.4 percent shooting from the field through the first six games, many were hoping for Kevin Love to have a breakout performance in Game 7, finally rediscovering his strengths and becoming the sidekick that LeBron has needed throughout these playoffs.

Needless to say, that storyline never came to fruition, as Love struggled once again, this time from the power forward slot, with 14 points on 5-of-13 shooting and only six rebounds in 32 minutes.

While he did come up with four big 3-pointers throughout the game, the Cavaliers need Love to become a bona fide second option on the offensive end. They don’t have many consistent scoring options outside of LeBron James, but Love is supposed to be one of them.

If he struggled against the likes of Myles Turner and Thaddeus Young, how is he supposed to find his rhythm against Serge Ibaka and Jonas Valanciunas, who both play a physical brand of defense that’s been known to give Love fits in the past?

Somehow, Love has to become a lock for 20 points and 10 rebounds a night in this upcoming series, as Toronto’s well-rounded attack led by two All-Stars may prove too much for James to overcome by himself.