Kevin Love missed the Cavaliers' opening night win over the Hornets with a calf injury but he's healed up and ready to tip off with the Pistons Saturday in Detroit. The veteran big man might not have been on the floor but he definitely was able to feel a new sense on the Wine and Gold sidelines and huddles this season already.
“A sense of togetherness, a feeling of playing for each other and that goes for everything from making the extra pass, helping your teammate up, celebrating each other, to off the court just gelling," said Love after shoot-a-round on Saturday. "That’s been great for us and just our attention to detail and wanting to be better on the floor so I think that transitioned into our first game. Naturally there’s going to be some moments that we need to get better at both sides of the ball and a little bit of sloppy play but to come out and get a W on our first night, after 8-9-10 months off was great for us.”
Love however had to wait a few more days before he was finally ready to get back on the court and he's itching to lace 'em back up and has a lot to look forward to this season after another lackluster campaign ended abruptly last season.
"I guess that fresh start, we know it’s gonna be a condensed season, we’re looking at what could be a playoff situation where it’s 7 through 10 so we feel we have an opportunity to have something happen here," said Love. "We have fresh legs, more than everything, we all missed the game, I talked about myself falling in love with the game again over the summer and just missing it. I think that has been the constant theme throughout, us just wanting to get back on the floor and feeling energized in anyway.”
Now coach JB Bickerstaff has to figure out where his starting power forward can get minutes without hurting Larry Nance Jr's who's impressed coach so far this short season and polished off a 13 point, 13 rebound, 8 assist. 3 steel and 2 block effort in their opening night win.
“We have to do our best to get him on the floor, I think he’s showing us that he deserves that," said Bickerstaff. "His versatility allows us to play him in a bunch of different spots, we’ve had some success with that big lineup but when you play the way he played, it’s our responsibility to get you on the floor.”
One lineup change Bickerstaff won't be making anytime soon is separating the starting trio of Collin Sexton, Darius Garland, and rookie Isaac Okoro as they combined for 60 points opening night.
"It was really our first opportunity to get them all on the floor together…it was really, really good and it was what we expected," said coach Bickerstaff. "And I think what it showed was there are opportunities for all of them and that they can go together and play well with one another, they can complement one another. They do play to each other’s strengths and they can cover each other’s weaknesses. It was a good first start, we’ll get better and that’s the exciting part about it.”
Love was able to see the chemistry of the 3 youngsters from the bench and knows it's only the beginning for them.
"Collin came out and just played great from the jump, gave us a ton of energy, was just himself, felt comfortable out there," said Love. "Darius, slow start in that first quarter but I just kind of wrapped my arm around him and said ‘Block that one out, might be ugly, might be sloppy to start’ and the last 3 quarters he was great.
Rebounded the ball, passing the ball and then we all know he can score so that was great for him. Then for Isaac in his first game obviously super impressive, he was impressive all of preseason so we’re happy with his play. He just puts his head down and wants to get better so we love his energy…As a rookie not having much time to adjust to the NBA, he’s played very well and he continues to go well in practice.”
It was not all sunshine and rainbows after opening night however for the Wine and Gold as Dylan Windler will miss a few weeks after breaking his hand in the win. The 2019 first round pick out of Belmont missed all of last season with injury.
The Cavaliers tip off with the Pistons Saturday at 7 in Detroit.