The Cleveland Cavaliers have been a much more competitive team this season than people thought they would be. They started the season off 9-5 before losing four straight as injuries and the NBA’s health and safety protocols have caused some lineup adjustments on a nearly nightly basis.
Ricky Rubio is the only player that has appeared in all 18 games for the Cavaliers this season. Every other player on the team has missed at least two games this season and some, such as Collin Sexton, who is dealing with a torn meniscus in his left knee, are going to miss a lot more. No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Evan Mobley, is also going to be sidelined for a few weeks.
Without Mobley in the lineup, J.B. Bickerstaff will be relying on veteran Kevin Love even more. Love has been pretty solid for Cleveland coming off the bench this season. While his jump shot isn’t falling as much as we are used to seeing, he is still an above-average player based on PER.
Love is shooting only 37 percent from the field and 27.3 percent from 3-point range, averaging 10.5 points per game. He is pulling down 7.9 rebounds and handing out two assists per game in only 20.5 minutes per game.
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The production is much needed, but it is his impact as a veteran that is helping the Cavaliers the most. Jarrett Allen, Markkanen and Mobley are all young big men that need a veteran to lean on and Love is that guy.
In a recent interview with HoopsHype, Allen spoke about how important Love has been to the team and him specifically.
“For him, it’s been a tough role for what he’s been asked to do. He’s been an All-Star. He’s done amazing things. He’s been an NBA champion, and now, coming to this young team, asking him to sacrifice. He’s done a great job, not only for me but all the other young guys showing that sacrifice is going to help us win. And for me, we have talks on the side about what I need to do to become better, what I can help the team do to become better, and just things like that.”
Kevin Love’s experience is invaluable for a Cavaliers team that is lacking many veterans. Rubio and Ed Davis are the only other players on the roster that have more than four years of NBA experience coming into the 2021-22 season.
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The Cleveland Cavaliers have a bright future with some of their high-upside youngsters and the veterans will do whatever they can to help them realize that potential.
