This season 4 time MVP LeBron James is getting to play alongside one of the best knock down shooters in the game, Kevin Love. A different kind of big man with some really interesting skills that far exceed Bosh in a number of ways, it’s not too shabby of a trade off if you ask me.
KLove brought a lot to the table alongside LeBron, that Bosh didn’t bring in Miami. Now, granted Bosh had to change his gamestyle to play with LeBron and Wade in Miami, Love has to adapt to do the same thing. Big difference to me is the fact that when Bosh came from Toronto, Bosh had a high post game. Love’s is the perimeter, which I thought would be far better for LeBron. Bosh was forced into playing more perimeter last year as he became a bearable perimeter threat at best last year, putting up a career-high 218 triples and hitting 74, for a 34%. Before 2013, Bosh was not anything close to pulling up for the deep ball, with his career high in attempts only being 74. But it’s also worth noting when Bosh was there he also was never a convincing rebounder. Now James also has a more than dominant rebounding force in the paint.
But, if we look at something else, it changes things drastically. In the 2014 Finals, Bosh couldn’t stop a 37 year old Tim Duncan, who scored 15 a game with ease, and owned several games with his rebounding and his dead spot on shooting, over Bosh repeatedly. Bottom line, Duncan owned him throughout.
There’s no question about it, The Cavs are a poor offensive team. And, their defense is heavily relying on LeBron and Kyrie Irving (and that’s not saying much) other than that, they truly don’t have other than above-average defenders. Giving up 101 oppg and a whopping 47 FG%.
Now, Kevin Love was never given credit as much of a leader in Minnesota. Now he doesn’t need to be one in Cleveland with LeBron. Love, drew the attention of entire defensive game plans in Minnesota, where he was the sole scorer and still did whatever he wanted. Now, if the Wolves had made the playoffs a few times, I guarantee most people would have considered him a top 5 player, but because of horrendous teams he was buried with he is looked at a little contrarily. Truthfully, his numbers speak for themselves, statistically he’s pretty much currently behind only LeBron and Durant as far as “wow numbers with players.”
Love is the best of the best as the new mold of next-generation stretch the court bigman. A PF and possible C dropping 30 footers at an alarming rate, 190 in 2013, 440 for his career, and Love’s assist avg cracked 4.4 in his final season with the Wolves. Love is exactly the kind of perimeter threat that teams love to have in their frontcourt. This year, though, he has been endurable with just 64 deep balls, hitting just 43 % of his shots, and getting just 13 shots a game.
James has to step up and be the unquestioning leader here now. Imagine what Love could do with James attracting most of the attention. Sharp shooters, Kyrie and Kevin are both much better 3 point shooters than Wade and Bosh ever were. And with a quick eye, and big body, Love is arguably the best outlet passing big man in the game, which should be fantastic for LeBron and Kyrie, who both can wheel downcourt in seconds.
Tristan Thompson was a 12/9 big last year and coming off the bench this year, so he is suddenly a very viable big to come off the bench who can produce points, and rebounds, taking the load off of Love as well. And he has been all season.
Problem has been, can Love adapt like Bosh did in Miami?
I believe that the issues lie deeper. I look more to Kyrie as not helping matters for Love. LeBron and Love, I think would be just fine. Love is a far better player than Chris Bosh ever was, Love is a top 8 player in the league and Bosh is around top 30 at his best.
The Cavs have to get something working right, because they could be more fun that the Heat were when they formed the Heatles. And it starts with Kyrie learning what team work actually is.