Cleveland Cavaliers: Can The “Big Three” Last Long-term?
By Ryan Rosko
Starts With Love
Kris Grimes
If the “Big Three” are to last long-term, there a few things that need to happen, starting with Kevin Love getting the ball more. By that I mean with so few touches in the second half of games, Love has a tendency to disappear as the game goes on. I get that Kyrie Irving and LeBron James have success in the fourth quarter, but they cannot do it on their own.
The Cleveland Cavaliers manage to get Love the ball early on in the game, and he might have 15 points by half, but finish with 18-20. Those points usually come off put-backs or when he gets fouled by teams in the bonus.
So how does the team get Love the ball more? Irving and James need to forget the “Hero Ball” mentality they often get caught up in. Kyrie needs to become a better play-maker, who not only dribbles to get open shots, but also uses his handles to collapse the defense and get Love open looks.
The same could be said for James, but LeBron does have a tendency to be a playmaker more often than Irving. If Kyrie can play more true point guard late in games and set up his teammates, the Cleveland Cavaliers will be a harder team to beat.
Why is getting Love involved important to keeping the “Big Three” intact? Because he’s the player who doesn’t control the ball. He depends on the likes of Irving and James to get him the ball in the post and for open looks. If Love is not involved or doesn’t make an impact, the Cleveland Cavaliers may look to move him in the offseason.
Boston Celtics GM Danny Ainge has a basketball crush on Love and would most likely trade the world to get him. Thus beginning the end of this current “Big Three”. The playoffs will go a long way to determining if Irving, Love, and James can carry this team to a title.
Love is the key to opening the driving lanes for Irving and James. While LeBron did it almost all on his own last season, it’s time for Love and Irving to show him that they can help him over the hump. Dwayne Wade and Bosh did it in helping LeBron to two titles in Miami, now it’s up to Irving and Love to do the same for him in Cleveland.
Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade and power forward Chris Bosh did it in helping LeBron to two titles, now it’s up to Irving and Love to do the same for him in Cleveland. Otherwise, this “Big Three” is a bust. If they cannot get each other consistently involved when it matters most, then the disassembly of the “Big Three” could begin as early as this summer.
Next: Future Is Up To LeBron