Winning is the greatest salve for any open wounds between teammates, and nowhere was this more apparent than after Cleveland’s 103-95 Game 3 win in Boston. Kevin Love scored 23 points and was 6-of-10 from beyond the arc; he even did a little hop-skip-jump after nailing a dagger three when the Celtics were trailing by only five with under 30 seconds to play and smelled blood in the water.
After the performance, the odd partnership between Love and LeBron James took another turn with LeBron saying “Except for those first couple of minutes, and rightfully so, [Kevin’s] played an unbelievable series.”
In the opening half of Game 1, Love was visibly rattled in the first playoff game of his seven-year career. He shot just 2-for-11 and missed the rim entirely on his first shot — a three-point attempt, naturally (it’s still odd seeing Cleveland turn him into a spot-up shooter). Since then, he’s played quite well, throwing elbows on the glass, sliding early on defensive rotations and doing his best to knock down what open looks come his way as LeBron and Kyrie spend the majority of their time bending the defense with penetration into the paint.
But LeBron continued to speak admirably about Love in his post-game presser, and even addressed how the media has singled Love out for criticism this year, something he saw happen during the “Big Three” era in Miami with Chris Bosh.
Via Cleveland.com, comes James’ Love comments that Cavs watchers have been waiting most of the year to hear:
“Because for a team that finally gets together, when you have a Big Three, they’ve got to find someone,” James said. “When I was in Miami, Chris Bosh was that guy at one point. So I know why, I’ve seen it before. … Kevin was the guy they tried to find and tear him down.”
[…]
“The one thing about him, he’s always stayed positive,” James said. “I’ve always believed in him. I don’t really get too involved in what everybody said. I know what type of player he is, what type of competitor he is. I know he relishes the opportunity to be a part of this franchise and be a part of the postseason.”
[…]
“With everything said through the first eight months of the season, he’s definitely used that as motivation, I believe,” James said. “I think he is a big time player, a very cerebral player. And in order for us to be the type of team that we want to be, Kevin is gotta be Kevin, which he was tonight.”
Here’s LeBron on the podium after the game:
When Love was being interviewed on the TD Garden floor following Game 3, he expressed confidence the Cavs organization has his back, and even turned his surname into a pun (take notes Reggie):
“I know that my teammates and the coaching staff has my back and the organization has my back, and I’m sending love right back to them,” Love said.
Here’s Love on the podium:
We’re glad Love and LeBron are getting a little more cozy playing with each other, but this is just the first round, and the Bulls are looking like true contenders for the Eastern Conference throne after a double OT Game 3 win in Milwaukee last night. Plus, the Hawks are still the No. 1 seed. If LeBron, Love and Irving can get past that rocky terrain on their way to the Finals, all the stories this season that painted a darker picture than the one we saw last night, will fall by the wayside.
A Finals trip — just a trip, not even a win — will alleviate some of the strain Love has endured sharing the court with LeBron, and the media glare that partnership inevitably brings. The Cavs should relish the Game 3 win, but close out the C’s during Game 4’s Sunday matinee because there’s still a long road ahead with even more obstacles than their up-and-down inaugural regular season threw at them.
(NEOMG; video via FreeDawkins)
