Love lost for Game 7 as James’ help dwindles
GETTY CLEVELAND — Kevin Love won’t be able to help LeBron James and the Cavaliers in Game 7 against the Celtics.
Love was placed in the NBA’s concussion protocol and the AllStar forward will miss Sunday’s series finale of the Eastern Conference finals, a personal blow and yet another challenge for Cleveland to overcome. The Cavaliers said Love, who inadvertently bashed heads with Celtics rookie Jayson Tatum in the first quarter of Game 6, experienced concussionlike symptoms Saturday before the team’s flight to Boston.
Moments before the Cavs sent a news release updating Love’s status, coach Tyronn Lue held a confusing teleconference during which he said the 29-year-old was still being evaluated and there was a possibility he could play.
However, like everything else in this erratic, convoluted season for Cleveland, quickly.
Now, the Cavs will be without their second-leading scorer and top rebounder as they try to win their fourth straight conference title against a younger team that is 10-0 at home in the playoffs.
Love is averaging 13.9 points things changed and 10.0 rebounds in 17 playoff starts, and he’s the No. 2 scoring option for the Cavs.
Celtics coach Brad Stevens believes the Cavaliers are dangerous even without Love.
“We’ll have to prepare our team to play well, regardless of who plays for them,” Stevens said.