On Monday the Cavs won their eleventh game in a row by beating the Sixers, 97-84, but the offensive troubles plaguing Kevin Love continued. Love finished just 1-of-7 from the floor for a season-low five points in 33 minutes. LeBron James thinks Kevin’s confidence shooting the ball “is a little down,” but Love disagrees.
Besides an injury plagued 2012-13 season, when Love only appeared in 18 games, he hasn’t never shot as poorly as he has through his first 50 games with the Cavs this season. Love’s only connecting on 42.4 percent of his overall attempts from the field, and just 33 percent from beyond the arc.
During Cleveland’s recent 11-game winning streak, his shooting has dropped even further, with Love hitting just 36.4 percent from the field overall and a dreary 28.6 percent from three-point range.
Love’s seven shots on Monday night all game in the first quarter; after that, he appeared timid and unwilling to pull the trigger, which lends some credence to LeBron’s diagnosis.
LeBron tried to explain why Love is struggling with his shot to Chris Haynes of the Northeast Ohio Media Group (by way of Ball Don’t Lie):
“I think Kev had some shots that he passed up on,” James said. “Maybe he just felt like he wasn’t in a good rhythm, but I know I hit him for a few shots after the first quarter where he had some good looks and he decided to swing, which is OK because it kept the ball moving.
“I think for Kevin, I think his confidence maybe just shooting the ball is a little down. But for me as a player, I got him good looks. I want him to shot the ball and shoot it with confidence.”
Love disagreed, saying, “I’m getting good looks, but not for a lack of confidence.
“I’m just doing what’s being asked of me right now and playing where I’m being asked to play,” Love continued. “We’ve won 11 games in a row so I’m going to continue. That’s just how it is right now.”
Love recently had to withstand jeers from his former fans in Minnesota after teasing PR video neglected to mention the former Timberwolves All-Star.
Despite the disconnect between LeBron and Love, we wouldn’t call this a beef, just a difference of opinion. For his part, Love doesn’t really care that he’s had a hard time finding the bottom of the cup — so long as the Cavs keep winning.
“I think it will continue to evolve, but if we continue to win and I’m not necessarily being asked to score the ball or shoot a volume of shots, that’s fine by me,” Love said. “I’m going to continue to keep working and getting extra shots up, getting in the weight room so if my number is called and there’s some sort of continuity and flow, that I’ll be able to be assertive and be as efficient as I can.”
James preached sacrifice, too, mirroring Love’s own comments:
“I’ll go 0-for-0 from the field to win. I’ll get rebounds, I’ll get assists, I’ll take charges, I’ll get steals,” said LeBron. “I don’t need to shoot the ball at all because I’m about winning and that’s all that matters.”
Winning is a natural panacea, but if the Cavs fall off a cliff like they did during LeBron’s extended absence earlier in the season, we’re guessing Love’s shooting ills will take on a more prominent role.
Cleveland didn’t give up No. 1 overall draft pick Andrew Wiggins this summer for a power forward who could rebound and play some defense, though the latter issue has also been a cause for concern. The Cavs traded for Love to get the All-NBA player who fits the quintessential mold of the NBA’s stretch four. Right now, he’s not that same player, and if the Cavs do fall back into a losing streak, you can be sure Love’s failure to fit into the Cavs offense will likely be one of the primary culprits.
Will Love ever find his niche in the Cavs offense?
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