Big games from Love and Smith help lead Cavaliers past Bucks; three takeaways

1. All you need is Love

You wouldn’t even know that 48 hours ago, Kevin Love was at the Cleveland Clinic getting fluids after an undisclosed illness.

“Whatever they gave me I might go back, check myself in tonight,” Love joked with reporters after the game.

Love had an absolutely monster night at center, taking full advantage of a front line in Milwaukee that isn’t used to having to defend the post-up on switches.

When all was said and done, it was the best game of the year for Love, who scored a team-high 32 points and grabbed a team-high 16 boards. He shot 9-of-14 from the field, and also assisted on three baskets. Tonight was the second time that Love has recorded at least 30 points and grabbed 15 rebounds as a Cavalier.

“I just wanted to establish myself early in the paint, maybe get some easy buckets, because I kind of felt myself drifting a little bit the last few games,” Love said. “But I thought we did a good job of being aggressive, and we all played in the paint and got into the bonus early.”

What makes this even more impressive is the fact that it was the first time in Love’s career that he has reached 30 points without attempting a three-pointer, per Joe Gabriele.

Ultimately, the big difference for Love tonight was his physicality, something that he knows he needs to improve on, especially without Tristan Thompson.

“Just being physical, that’s something that I need to bring to the table when Tristan’s out. Just because at the 5 as far as that position goes, we’re lacking a guy like Tristan who is so physical, and on the offensive glass. It’s easier said than done trying to pick up for him, but I’ve got to try to.”

“I think he did a good job of posting up, posting up with purpose, not bailing guys out because they were small,” head coach Tyronn Lue said. “And he also got to the free throw line, got some offensive rebounds, he was able to get fouled. But I just thought he was really aggressive on the block and on the post-ups, which we need him to do.”

Lue on what he thought Love did well, including posting up pic.twitter.com/uFR7iTDLQP

— Ashley Bastock (@AshleyBastock42) November 8, 2017

Pages: 1 2 3 4