Love wants to lead in playoffs

LeBron’s teams have won 21 first-round games in a row

A team with LeBron James on it hasn’t lost a first-round playoff game since he was playing with the Miami Heat in 2012.

James’ teams have won 21 consecutive first-round games — the last 12 with the Cavaliers going back to a sweep of the Celtics in 2015. He and the Cavaliers will try to extend that streak on April 15 when the Indiana Pacers visit

Quicken Loans Arena for a 3:30 p.m. tipoff in the first game of their Eastern Conference quarterfinals series with the Cavs.

The biggest difference between the Cavaliers teams that have been to the last three NBA Finals, sweeping their first-round matchups along the way, and the one facing the Pacers is as obvious as if the Humungotron no longer hung over center court; no Kyrie Irving.

Kevin Love, who for three seasons was always considered the third part of “The Big Three” — even though he is the

tallest compared to James and Irving — is looking to take over Irving’s leadership role.

“A number of us are just going to have to pick it up on the offensive end, whether it be Bron or myself and everybody really so in that regard just showing leadership,” Love said after practice on

April 13. “We only have four guys left from that (2016) championship team (Love, James, Tristan Thompson and J.R. Smith), but we have a lot of savvy veteran guys who have a ton of experience.

“We’re going to have to bring those other guys along, but there’s nothing better than just throwing yourself into it.”

Indiana beat the Cavaliers three times in four regular season meetings in 2017-18. The 21 straight first-round

playoff victories by a James Gang team probably trumps that, but the Pacers are legitimate. They finished the season 48-34 — six games better than a year ago. They were 21-20 on the road this season after winning only 13 road games last season.

The Cavaliers — with Irving — swept Indiana in the first round last year, but all games were close. The total margin of victory for the Cavaliers was 16 points, and while the fourth-seeded Cavs

are expected to eliminate Indiana again, even if it takes more than four games, the fifth-seeded Pacers are confident they can pull an upset.

The Cavaliers are healthier than they’ve been all season. The only question mark is 3-point specialist Kyle Korver. Korver has been battling a sore foot but has made improvement and will play against the Pacers, Coach Tyronn Lue said. Lue won’t say whether Korver will start or play off the bench.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE In past playoff games, Kevin Love has been the third cog in the “Big Three,” behind LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. Irving is gone and more will be expected of Love this postseason.