We talked about this topic once on ScoresPro.com, but it was when nothing was certain about the injury Kevin Love sustained when the Cavaliers played the Boston Celtics. However, the latest reports are that the big man won’t be able to return to court at least for the next six to eight weeks. The initial diagnose was that Love will watching from the sidelines for a period of two to three weeks, but it seems that these statements were made a bit prematurely.
The official statement that Love will be out until the end of the playoffs was made by the Cavs general manager – David Griffin. In an interview, in which Love’s condition was discussed, Griffin said that it’s “highly unlikely” that will be able to see Kevin playing in the next rounds of the postseason. The fact that Cleveland’s big man is out for the rest of playoffs is definitely a big it for the team and their title hopes.
The Cavaliers find themselves in a lot of troubles, as Love was one of the most important players for the success of the team. Even though he didn’t contribute a lot statistically, his presence on the floor was crucial for the team. Love was playing the role of a stretch four for the Cavs, and he spaced the floor magnificently for them. It’s not like it is absolutely impossible for Cleveland to get over this loss, but it will more than different to reach the Finals, let alone win them, without Love on the court.
However, let’s not forget where Cleveland is playing. Reaching the Finals is a lot easier in the East, than in the West, but there are still some obstacles along the way. The first one is called the Chicago Bulls. Derrick Rose and company haven’t yet advanced past the Milwaukee Bucks, if we assume they do, the pose a very big threat to Cleveland’s title dreams. The Bulls have a lot of solid big men, which are definitely happy that they won’t have to guard Love. It will be a great series and with a little bit of luck, the Cavs could get out of it as winners. However, even if James carries his team to the Finals, it’s hard to believe that they will be able to defeat the Western Conference champions without Love on the floor.
NBA News: Kevin Love is out for the rest of the playoffs. Are the Cavaliers a championship contender without him?
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