Kevin Love continues to struggle offensively
TORONTO — Cleveland Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said he wanted to get Kevin Love going offensively in Game 4. He promised a heavy dose of Love.
Lue was true to his word. Love took eight shots in the first quarter, making two and missing five of six three-point attempts.
Then things changed. Love took just six shots the rest of the game, didn’t play in the fourth quarter and finished with 10 points on 4-of-14 shooting in Cleveland’s 105-99 loss to the Toronto Raptors Monday in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals.
“I had a lot of great shots. Just didn’t knock them down. As simple as that,” Love said. “I have a lot of confidence in shooting the ball.”
Love also tweaked his knee when he tripped over a referee in the third quarter.
“I’ll be fine. Probably sore tomorrow. Just got to play,” Love said. “Nothing that will prevent me from playing.”
In the Cavaliers’ two losses in Toronto, Love is 5-for-23, and that is a bigger concern as the series goes back to Cleveland for Game 5 on Wednesday (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Cavaliers coach Ty Lue downplayed Love’s offensive production.
“It’s no concern,” Lue said.
But after shooting 44.3% on three-pointers and averaging a double-double in points-rebounds in the first two rounds against Detroit and Atlanta, Love is shooting 35.9% on threes and averaging 11.5 points and five rebounds against Toronto. When Love is in a slump, the rest of his game suffers.
Love sat on the bench in the fourth quarter as Lue went with Channing Frye, who had 12 points and was a part of Cleveland’s comeback from an 18-point deficit.
“To try to put Kevin back in with four minutes to go in the fourth quarter in a hostile game, hostile environment, it's not fair to him,” Lue said. “Channing gave us a great lift off the bench, and we just rolled with it."
The Cavaliers need more from Love. Cleveland is at its best when LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Love are scoring and creating offensive opportunities.
Give Toronto credit for making offense difficult on Love. After going to the foul line 13 times in the first two games, Love didn’t attempt a free throw in the next two games. Toronto’s interior defense was outstanding at home.
“We’re just trying to play aggressive,” Raptors forward Patrick Patterson said. “Knowing Kevin likes his post-ups, likes pick-and-pop and likes to hit the three. Just trying to be as physical as we can and forced him into tough shots. Granted, he’s missing a lot of shots. There’s not too much we’re doing to make him miss other than being physical and putting a hand up. He’s gotten clean looks. We’re just trying to contest every single shot and make every opportunity that he has on the offensive end difficult.”
Follow Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt.