Following the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 106-76 demolition of the Memphis Grizzlies Wednesday night, LeBron James announced that Kevin Love is now the “focal point” of Cleveland’s offensive attack.
Love led the way for the Cavs with a 17-point, 13-rebound double-double performance against the Grizz frontline.
LBJ and K-Love began talking about expanding the power forward’s role last summer, after the team failed to properly utilize the three-time All-Star during his first season in Ohio.
Per the Akron Beacon Journal:
“I can do more,” Love recalled telling James in late June. “I think that he knew that. Since then I think everybody is really stepped up and asked what they can do in their respective roles. From a comfort standpoint, I just feel a lot, a lot better.” […] Love had 17 points and 13 rebounds in the Cavs’ mauling of one of the West’s elite. He nearly outrebounded the Grizzlies by himself in the first quarter, 10-8, and he had a double-double by halftime. He was intense. He has shown more emotion in these last two games than he did for much of last season, when he so often was stuck just drifting around the 3-point line.
“Kevin is going to be our main focus,” James said Wednesday. “He’s going to have a hell of a season. He’s going to get back to that All-Star status. He’s the focal point of us offensively.” […] James never talked Chris Bosh up like that in four years together in Miami. Maybe Dwyane Wade, but not Bosh. Without Kyrie Irving for the foreseeable future, however, James is trusting Love.
“I know I can go out and get mine when I need it,” James said. “But I need Kev to be as aggressive as he was tonight, and when he rebounds at the level he did tonight, the shots will automatically fall for him.”
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