Love returns to a full practice

Nearly six months after his 2014-15 season ended in excruciating pain, Cavaliers forward Kevin Love is finally back to running up and down the court, taking contact and practicing fiveon-five.

Love was tired but also happy and relieved after a morning practice on Oct. 10 at Cleveland Clinic Courts in Independence.

All was going well for Love and the Cavs in the first round of the playoffs last season until midway through the first quarter of Game 4 when Kelly Olynyk of the Boston Celtics grabbed Love’s left arm and yanked so hard Love’s shoulder was pulled from its socket.

Afterward, Love vowed to return for the playoffs. But that was before further tests revealed a torn labrum and other damage. He underwent surgery on April 30 and was reduced to being a cheerleader while the Cavs remained in the playoffs. They were eliminated by the Golden State Warriors in Game 6 of the Finals.

“I was pretty anxious,” Love said on Oct. 10 when practice ended. “It’s been about six months now. As far as progressing from one-onone to three-on-three, I was ready to get back out there in the five-on-five.

“As time goes, I’ll get more and more accustomed to being out there playing. Today was the first step.”

The Cavaliers will still be cautious. Coach David Blatt said Love will not play in the preseason game Oct. 12 against the Memphis Grizzlies at Schottenstein Center in Columbus or against the Milwaukee

Bucks the next night in Quicken Loans Arena.

The goal is to have Love ready for the season opener Oct. 27 against the Bulls in Chicago. Guards Kyrie Irving (fractured knee) and Iman Shumpert (wrist) aren’t projected to return until January, but having Love for the full

season is a bonus. Love said he hopes to get a few minutes in the preseason game against the Indiana Pacers on Oct. 15 at The Q.

“Kevin looked good,” Blatt said. “I’m not surprised because he’s really, really worked hard to get into shape.

“We have gone through a

progression with him to get back into five-on-five play. It was great to see him on the floor playing. It obviously raises the level of practice. It makes everybody good to see him out there.”

LeBron James can be counted among the teammates happy to see Love progressing

as well as he has. Love has put in extra work shooting lefthanded to stretch his shoulder and get the oil flowing smoothly again.

“He looked well. He looked healthy,” James said. “It was great to have him out there for our team. It was great to have another body out there, espe-

cially someone that’s going to mean so much to our team.”

Love started and played in 75 games for the Cavaliers last season. He averaged 16.4 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists while averaging 33.8 minutes a game. He was fifth in the league with 7.9 defensive rebounds a game.

Love