LeBron James, Kyrie Irving Need To Step Up As Cleveland Cavaliers Expected To Miss Kevin Love For The Rest Of The 2015 NBA Playoffs
The worst-case scenario is happening for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Kevin Love, one of the team’s “Big Three”, will miss four to six weeks according to a latest injury report. The new development is worse than that the initial diagnosis that the star forward will only miss about 10 days or some if not all of the games in the second round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs.
Howard Beck of the Bleacher Report is reporting the latest on Love’s injury stating via Twitter that the star forward’s shoulder injury may need surgery.
Source: Kevin Love's labrum tore away from the bone, and will need 4-6 weeks, minimum, to heal. If it doesn't, surgery a possibility.
— Howard Beck (@HowardBeck) April 28, 2015The 2015 NBA Finals is scheduled to start on June 3. If Love misses the maximum six weeks as reported and if the Cavaliers make it all the way to the championship series, he might not be healthy enough to suit up in any of the games.
The Love injury is just one of the many and the biggest blow for the Cavaliers’ title run this season. Starting shooting guard J.R. Smith is set to miss the team’s next two games—against the Chicago Bulls or the Milwaukee Bucks—in the second round of the East playoffs.
Without Love, the other two stars in the Cavs’ line-up, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving are expected to take more of the scoring load for the team. Love was appearing in his first-ever postseason series in his career. In the sweep versus the Boston Celtics in the first round, he played well in the first three games before getting injured in the first quarter of Game 4 of the best-of-seven series. Through Games 1 to 3, Love averaged 18.3 points and 9.0 rebounds.
Love was involved in a loose ball play with Celtics big man Kelly Olynyk, who appeared to lock and pull Love’s arm in the play, that caused the injury to the shoulder. After the incident, Love accused Olynyk of trying to hurt him intentionally and that it was a “bush league” play.
Despite worse stats relative to his stint with former team Minnesota Timberwolves, Love is highly valued in the Cavaliers’ offensive scheme owing to his ability to stretch the floor from the power forward position.
To contact author of this article, email j.quizon@IBTimes.com.au.
