Great teams always have to endure stints of sharp criticism, especially when you’re a perceived super team that has only one goal and expectation. Kevin Love has been the proverbial butt of most criticism when it comes to the Cleveland Cavaliers as he’s had to continually adjust to a lesser role.
Despite making it to two consecutive NBA Finals, the Cavs are now under their heaviest scrutiny, currently down 3-1 to the Warriors in trouble of having their season ended in Game 5 in Golden State on Monday. Love admits the transition with the Cavs hasn’t been easy, but emphasizes the kind of gratifying experience he’s had with this team.
“I mean, I’ve been asked to do different things, being here. I’ve been asked to be the second, third guy — third guy most nights. It hasn’t been the easiest transition in the world, but as far as being a part of a family, this unit here, I’ve never been on a team that’s closer than this. So that’s why I don’t understand when I hear people say I’m a square peg in a round hole or something like that.”
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“It’s an easy storyline, and people are going to run with it, and that’s always going to be how it is,” Love said of the calls to blow the Cavs up, despite two straight trips to the Finals. “But if you ask anybody on that team, including myself, this is the closest unit, closest group I’ve ever been around.”
From the sound of it, Love is focusing more on being part of a close-knit unit than his moments of struggle adjusting to his role. Love has come up big for Cleveland many times throughout these playoffs, but against the Warriors his deficiencies always seem to be magnified, which makes the discussion about his future in Cleveland relevant again.
No matter how you spin it, Love is an important contributing member of this team. He’s still the third best player on this team. Despite anything else, he loves being part of this team. Who wouldn’t enjoy dominating the East and making consecutive trips to the Finals? In that sense, Love’s transition couldn’t have been all that difficult, but ensuring that he’s one of the consistent focal points of the Cavs remains a challenge.
