Lue to keep Love at center for Game 2
TORONTO — Kevin Love has met an immovable object — or more accurately, two — with the obvious being the Toronto Raptors’ 7-foot, 265-pound center Jonas Valanciunas.
Cavaliers five-time AllStar Love is more comfortable playing power forward, and he emphatically reiterated that after Tuesday night’s overtime victory over the Toronto Raptors in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. But going into Game 2 this evening, Cavs coach Tyronn Lue is not giving in. He’s sticking with Love at center for floor spacing, saying Wednesday, “Whatever is best for the team is what we’re going to do.”
Love has not taken well to Lue’s plan and it seems to have affected his performance. He’s averaging 10.9 points and 9.8 rebounds in eight postseason games, shooting .319 from the field and .385 from 3-point range. His scoring is down from 17.6 points in 59 regular-season games; his shooting percentages have dropped from .458 and .415, respectively.
The seven-game firstround series against the Indiana Pacers was extremely physical, with 6-foot-8, 230-pound Thaddeus Young frustrating Love. Love also sprained his left thumb in Game 2 and could still be feeling the effects. Now Love is banging with Valanciunas.
Asked if he’d rather be at power forward, Love said, “It’s been my whole career I’ve played at the 4. 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 Tuesday night; I just couldn’t put them down.”
Love made 3-of-13 field goals against the Raptors (1-of-4 from long range) but did contribute 13 rebounds, eight after halftime. But on at least two occasions, Love passed up open shots.
Lue started Tristan Thompson at center in Game 7 against the Pacers with Love at the 4, and Love thought Lue would stick with that lineup. But Lue decided he likes Thompson’s energy coming off the bench. The Cavs had only one day off between games, and Love said he had little time to prepare.
“Not a lot. Especially after Game 7, I thought Tristan might start at the 5,” Love said Tuesday. “It was really yesterday late afternoon I found out I was going to be matched up against Valanciunas one on one.”
During the regular season, Love’s scoring average (18.2) was higher in the 48 games he started at center than in the 11 games he played at power forward (15.0). His 3-point percentage was better when he was at power forward (.443 to .409).