The prognosis for Kevin Love is about as bad as could be expected. First, the team said he’d likely miss the Conference Semifinals, but that turned out to be optimistic. GM David Griffin then said yesterday that he’d probably be out for the rest of the post-season. Now, after undergoing successful surgery at a New York City medical facility Wednesday, doctors say the timetable for his return is four to six months.
Cavs announce surgery, 4-6 month rehab for Kevin Love.
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) April 30, 2015
Love sustained the injury to his left arm after getting tangled up with Kelly Olynyk early in the first quarter of Game 4 at TD Garden Sunday. Love called the incident a “bush-league play,” and Olynyk ended up with a one-game suspension. The doctors who evaluated Love the past few days knew he had a dislocated shoulder and a torn labrum but wouldn’t know the full extent of the recovery time until after surgery.
The Cleveland Cavaliers went on to win that game and sweep the Boston Celtics in their opening round series. They’ll await the winner of the Bulls-Bucks series, which Chicago leads 3-2. Game 6 is Thursday in Milwaukee.
This was Love’s first playoff appearance since he came into the league seven years ago. He’s had a tumultuous season with the Cavs in terms of trying to find his groove on the court, as well as weathering the relentless media scrutiny that has accompanied him. He was just starting to come alive before the injury, averaging 18.4 points, nine rebounds, and three assists while shooting better than 47 percent from behind the arc during the first three games of the series.
The Cavs will also be without J.R. Smith for the first two games of the second round, who was suspended for a cheap shot on Jae Crowder later on in Game 4 Sunday. Cleveland’s championship aspirations have never been more uncertain, and they’ll have to lean heavily on LeBron James and Kyrie Irving the rest of the way.
