Kevin Love has been a source of criticism – not just this past week, but ever since he joined the Cleveland Cavaliers. He’s been written off as a square peg in a round hole who hinders the team and doesn’t do enough to help them win.
Love hears it, and he doesn’t get it – nor does he know how to stop it.
“Why do you think?” Love told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin when asked why he always seems to be the first one people blame when things go awry. “You’re part of it. I’m not saying you’re who does it, but you are there with the people that do.
“I don’t know how to answer it, because I have a couple bad games last series [against Toronto], tough games, and have to come back and do whatever I needed to do to help the team. Still, it’s just never enough.”
Love agreed to come off the bench in Game 4, and he said that he doesn’t pay much mind to the people who will inevitably say that there should be major changes after the season if the Cavs fail to win it all.
“It’s an easy storyline, and people are going to run with it, and that’s always going to be how it is,” Love said. “But if you ask anybody on that team, including myself, this is the closest unit, closest group I’ve ever been around.
“I mean, I’ve been asked to do different things, being here. I’ve been asked to be the second, third guy — third guy most nights. It hasn’t been the easiest transition in the world, but as far as being a part of a family, this unit here, I’ve never been on a team that’s closer than this. So that’s why I don’t understand when I hear people say I’m a square peg in a round hole or something like that.”
Love knows the score. The Cavaliers parted wih a lot to bring him to Cleveland, and many would say he has failed to live up to the high expectations that came with the trade. It’s not even worth responding to criticisms like this one that Love is soft for missing Game 3 – it wasn’t his choice, and it’s fairly clear that he would have played if it were up to him. The fact is, Love has had a tough time fitting in at times, and he’s been mysteriously absent during certain parts of the Cavs’ playoff run. People aren’t wrong to wonder if there could be a significant facelift if the avs can’t come back. In fact, changes are reportedly likely, and Love could well be a part of those changes.
