The Cavs Will Continue To Start Kevin Love At Center Even Though He’s More Comfortable At Forward


Getty Image

The Cleveland Cavaliers somehow escaped Game 1 in Toronto with a 113-112 overtime win over the Raptors despite never leading in regulation.

While the Cavs won, there were questions after the game as to whether they would make some lineup adjustments, because Toronto center Jonas Valanciunas asserted himself on the inside whenever Tristan Thompson wasn’t in the game. Kevin Love has been starting at center all postseason, but unlike in the regular season, he was unable to take advantage of being quicker and better on the perimeter while Valanciunas cleaned up inside.

Despite Valanciunas’ 21 points and 21 rebounds in Game 1, Tyronn Lue will continue to start Love at center. The hope is that Love, who has struggled all postseason, will find his rhythm on offense and stretch Valanciunas out, forcing him out of the paint and into an uncomfortable territory for him.

As Lue told reporters on Wednesday, via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, that’s what’s he thinks is best for the Cavs.

“Whatever is good for the team is what we’re going to do,” Lue said. “I think it spreads the floor out for us. (Jonas) Valanciunas is going to go to help and try to block shots. Kevin is going to have open shots all night, so, whatever is best for the team is what we’re going to do.”

There’s certainly merit to the concept and it worked in their regular season meetings, but Valanciunas has been playing at a high level recently while Love has struggled significantly. Should Game 2 follow a similar script, Lue may be faced with more questions and might finally consider making a switch to put Love at the 4 and Thompson at center, a move Love says he would embrace.

Love was asked after the game if he was more comfortable playing power forward.

“It’s been my whole career I’ve played at the 4,” he answered. “I would say absolutely. Ty sees something different and I think offensively, once I get myself going, we could use that to our advantage. As of right now I need to find some easy buckets. They were right there tonight I just couldn’t put them down.”


Love understands what Lue is hoping for, which is to get him going by getting him open looks on the perimeter courtesy of being guarded by Valanciunas. Love, meanwhile, seems to think a move to power forward might give him the comfort he’s looking for that can help him get into that rhythm better.

In any case, Cleveland desperately needs Love to find a way to be an above-average offensive player again, because their offense without him knocking down shots is heavily reliant on streaky at best shooters knocking down shots, which is what led to their wildly erratic first round series against the Pacers.

×