The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Kevin Love willing to sacrifice for team success
The Cavaliers have almost an overabundance of talent on their roster. Some of their players, even some former All-Stars, will likely have to take a back seat for the betterment of the team.
Power forward Kevin Love could be one of those players.
He’s a three-time All-Star who averaged 26.1 points and 12.5 rebounds last year in Minnesota. He probably won’t average any- where close to those numbers in 2014-15, and he seems fine with it.
“There are guys on championship teams that had to sacrifice,” Love said. “I’d be lying to myself if I thought I didn’t have to sacrifice. It’s going to be a message throughout the team to do what’s best for the Cleveland Cavaliers. We don’t know what that is yet, but I’m going to do whatever that is to help us win.”
The 6-foot-10, 243-pounder appears as if he would gladly trade those gaudy individual numbers for team wins. The Timberwolves averaged 26 wins in Love’s six seasons in Minnesota. They never made the playoffs.
The Cavaliers could challenge the franchise’s record of 66 victories this season.
“He can pass it. He can shoot it and he can rebound. He’s been where I want to go and where Kyrie (Irving) wants to go, for guys who haven’t been to the Finals or won
championships. He wants to teach us all. We’re all ready to learn from him.”
Cavaliers forward Kevin Love, on LeBron James
When asked if he would have any trouble taking a decreased role, he was a bit abrupt. “No,” he said. Their prosperity started when LeBron James announced he was signing with the Cavaliers on July 11.
“After signing with the Cavs in free agency over the summer, we mentioned to each other how unselfish by nature both of our games are and how that would bode well for this team,” Love said. “It had a snowball effect with this team.
“It’s always been appealing to play with a player like LeBron. He’s always a threat every night on both ends of the floor. He can pass it. He can shoot it and he can rebound. He’s been where I want to go and where Kyrie (Irving) wants to go, for guys who haven’t been to the Finals or won championships. He wants to teach us all. We’re all ready to learn from him.”
Details of the deal with the Timberwolves leaked. But because the Cavaliers had to wait 30 days after signing rookie Andrew Wiggins before they could trade him, it was put on hold.
“We were in legal purgatory for about 30 days,” Love said.
The Cavaliers sent Wiggins, forward Anthony Bennett and a first-round pick to the Timberwolves for Love on Aug. 23. He said it took him a while for it to hit home.
“I’m very hungry,” Love said. “I’m looking forward to learning from the guys who have been there and done this before, LeBron included.”
Love said James is the Cavaliers’ leader.
“We are all looking for him to make plays,” he said. “He’s a great player. We know what he’s capable of. We all have to step up.”
It’s not a matter of not having enough good players. The key might be how they mesh as a team.
“We know we are talented,” Love said. “We have to get on the same page. We plan on doing that.
“It’s a different culture for me.”
Love said he has no problems with high aspirations.
“I know a lot of people want to say championship or bust,” he said. “That’s going to be a good mentality to have. We want the pressure on us. We want people to look at us as one of the best teams. It’s a whole different culture than what I’m accustomed to, but I’m looking forward to help building this team.”
There could be a problem with so many players who are used to being alpha dogs on their teams.
“I heard Kyrie say that (Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski) wants you to check your ego at the door,” Love said. “But he also wants you to bring your ego in order to use it for what’s best for the team. Kyrie is unselfish by nature because he’s a point guard, but he can also put the ball in the hole when that’s what is asked of him.
“I was asked to carry a lot of the weight on the offensive end of the floor in Minnesota. LeBron has been a 25-pointsa-game scorer throughout his career. We have alpha dogs here.”