The Cavs are 6-1 without Kevin Love

[DusterBuster]

They really should just waive Love. He does nothing for them and no one is trading for that contract… even once it’s expiring it’s unlikely anyone will give up anything of substance for him,

As long as he's not disgrunted with the diminished playing time and hurts their chemistry, waiving him doesn't accomplish anything.
His expiring contract might be useful eventually 3qor not, you never know.

I suppose. He definitely seems like the kind of putz who would be a pain in the lockerroom if he's unhappy... The crap he pulled on the court last season, noticeably giving less than little effort leads me to believe that, but I could be wrong.

[matt6715]

There's not one team Kevin Love would make better

[Scalabrine]

Garland, Rubio and Mobley are good players. As long as those 3 are healthy and available, the Cavs will compete in every game. It helps that some teams are underestimating them too.

and Jarrett Allen has probably be their best player!

[Scalabrine]

I blame the OP for thinking Love was actually a difference maker at this stage in his career. The dude has been injured constantly for multiple seasons now.

[JN61]

Time to ship Love to Lakers or Nets with the other has beens.

[Ayt]

Love is 9th on the team in MPG at 20.7. I'm going to go out on a very sturdy limb and say that the Cavs winning or losing has a lot more to do with other players on the roster.

[HomoSapien]

Lauri Markannen has been missing for a bulk of those games too, right? I'd suggest taking a look at the Bulls record without him last year before placing all the blame on Love.

[90sAllDecade]

Mobley looks like a star and they'll likely make the playoffs this season, good for loyal Cavs fans.

[JonFromVA]

Love is 9th on the team in MPG at 20.7. I'm going to go out on a very sturdy limb and say that the Cavs winning or losing has a lot more to do with other players on the roster.

The Cavs winning has a lot to do with their early season road trip being over and the team starting to jell.

It's too early to be pointing fingers at Love, Markkenen, Okoro, and Sexton who were not playing up to snuff when they were healthy; but as they start returning and get up to speed it's certainly fair game.

Specifically ...

1) Love brings floor spacing and rebounding, at least when he's knocking down shots - if not him - who? Is Wade going to shoot better? Will Windler get more minutes? Or Valentine dusted off?

2) Markkenen completes the tower city lineup. How much better does that look if he's actually knocking down 3's?

3) Okoro is the team's designated wing defender, but his offensive struggles have been brutal. Will he get back on track?

4) And of course Sexton ... we still don't know how long he'll be gone, and he got off to a clunky start trying to adapt to a new role; but there have already been moments the Cavs could have used a bucket getter. What will his absence cost us and given he's in a contract year what will it cost him ($$$$)?

The big story is that the Cavs have won 6 of their last 7 ... full stop right there.

[bearadonisdna]

kevin love comes off the bench. he isnt the difference between them winning and losing on a night to night basis.

[Lockdown504090]

theyd be 82-0 with him.

[VanWest82]

I don't mind the part where we say Love isn't a winning player anymore but calling the guy a career loser is just ridiculous. He's had a positive net on/off in 10 of his 14 seasons (7 of 10 without Lebron). His career net on/off is +4.8.

In 2014, he finished 3rd in PER, 3rd in WS, 2nd in BPM, and 3rd in VORP. Pay some respect.

[Yoshun]

I love threads like this. Just a disaster from the first post.

[Winsome Gerbil]

So you're saying if they had Love too they could be undefeated, and might indeed have a shot at an undefeated season from here on out?

It's a brave take, but not one I can really disagree with.

[JujitsuFlip]

Ya jinxed it!

[CobraCommander]

Love still in nba?

[GreatWhiteStiff]

I don't mind the part where we say Love isn't a winning player anymore but calling the guy a career loser is just ridiculous. He's had a positive net on/off in 10 of his 14 seasons (7 of 10 without Lebron). His career net on/off is +4.8.

In 2014, he finished 3rd in PER, 3rd in WS, 2nd in BPM, and 3rd in VORP. Pay some respect.

Its the stupidest thing ever and will never die. He was like plus a few hundred one year with rubio, and they'd get destroyed when both were on the bench. Of course he took the blame for not making the playoffs, when his team was just terrible with him on the bench. Love's bad, I guess.

Can't eradicate the thinking though.

[HypeMode]

I don't mind the part where we say Love isn't a winning player anymore but calling the guy a career loser is just ridiculous. He's had a positive net on/off in 10 of his 14 seasons (7 of 10 without Lebron). His career net on/off is +4.8.

In 2014, he finished 3rd in PER, 3rd in WS, 2nd in BPM, and 3rd in VORP. Pay some respect.

Kevin Love has played 10 seasons in his career without LeBron and has never made the playoffs nor had a winning record. That is the definition of a career loser.

[VanWest82]

I don't mind the part where we say Love isn't a winning player anymore but calling the guy a career loser is just ridiculous. He's had a positive net on/off in 10 of his 14 seasons (7 of 10 without Lebron). His career net on/off is +4.8.

In 2014, he finished 3rd in PER, 3rd in WS, 2nd in BPM, and 3rd in VORP. Pay some respect.

Kevin Love has played 10 seasons in his career without LeBron and has never made the playoffs nor had a winning record. That is the definition of a career loser.

Was Kevin Garnett a loser when he had a losing record with twolves in 06&07? Was Lebron a loser that first year with the Lakers when he couldn't stay healthy? Was MJ a loser in his rookie year when he averaged an efficient 28/6/6 and finished 6th in MVP voting?

Basketball is a team game. It takes a team to win and make the playoffs. Love spending his entire career with Wolves and Cavs should tell you what you need to know about why his teams lost.