Cavaliers face Decision, Part II
No knock on Kevin CLEVELAND Love …
Richard Jefferson knew exactly where a particularly keen NBA reporter was headed during a question-and-answer session Thursday, and it was exactly the path the veteran Cleveland Cavaliers forward wanted to avoid. So he tried gracious diplomacy. “Kevin is a big part of our team,” Jefferson responded. “A big reason why we’re here.” That’s true on face value. But Wednesday night, when the Cavaliers crushed the Golden State Warriors by 30 points in Game 3 to pump new life into the NBA Finals, the All-Star forward was MIA — sidelined by the concussion he suffered in Game 2 — and his team was OMG without him.
Jefferson came off the bench to provide the type of defensive intensity that Love lacks, which, with the ripple effect of LeBron James switching to the No. 4 spot to check Draymond Green, help put the clamps on the high-powered Golden State sharpshooters.
Hey, it worked. The Cavaliers are not dead after all.
It also provided a fresh starting lineup controversy to juice the NBA Finals.
Does Love, who could be medically cleared from concussion protocol in time to return for Game 4 on Friday, step right back into the starting role?
The Cavs’ chances of storming back to take this series hinge on rookie coach Tyronn Lue’s big decision.
Jefferson, who posted nine points and eight rebounds in Game 3, insists it is unfair to pin the deflating performances in the first two losses of the series on Love, when ineffectiveness was contagious on the Warriors home court. They were team losses.
Lue is also of the belief that the Cavs, back in their element and fueled by the raucous crowd at The Q, were primed for a big statement in Game 3 regardless of whether Love played. They are 8-0 in home playoff games this year, with an average margin of victory of 20 points.
Then again, it’s foolish to dismiss the distinct momentum shift and matchup edge gained by the shake-up caused by the chance circumstance of Love taking a blow to the head.
It’s just that at this point you won’t find a single Cavs player even hinting of throwing Love under the bus. And nor should they.
That’s one thing to respect about this resilient team. It is seemingly tight, even without the symbolism of gifts dished out by the resident superstar, James, who gave his teammates personalized medieval-era shields before the playoffs and gold-plated headphones while in California.
Someone asked Game 3 hero Kyrie Irving what he’d do if he coached his team.
He paused before answering, maybe for dramatic impact.
“That’s not my job,” Irving confirmed. “That’s Coach Lue’s job. If it were up to me, Kevin would’ve played in Game 3.”
Love practiced Thursday with no apparent issues, Lue said. Concussion protocol required another evaluation after 24 hours, meaning he could be cleared well before the Game 4 tip-off.
Will Lue stick with the hot formula that worked in Game 3 or follow NBA tradition and put the established starter right back in the lineup?
“I haven’t thought about it yet,” Lue said when asked directly Thursday.
Yeah, right. How could it not be on his brain?
When asked the same question Wednesday night, he said, “Do I have to tell you?” No, he doesn’t. “I’m not going to tell you,” Lue said.
If I’m Lue, I’m sticking with what worked in Game 3’s do-ordie mission. Lue can ease Love back into the flow by bringing him off the bench and try seizing the type of early momentum again that doomed the defending champs on Wednesday.
Then again, starting Love — who had five points in 21 minutes before he was injured in Game 2 — and having a quick hook if he’s not up to snuff is another option.
But for the rest of the series, assuming Love returns and there are no other significant injuries, Lue has to make a conscious decision — for better or for worse.