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Cavaliers’ Kevin Love to practice for first time on Saturday

By Tom West

Sep 28, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) talks to the media during Cleveland Cavaliers media day at Cleveland Clinic Courts. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 28, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) talks to the media during Cleveland Cavaliers media day at Cleveland Clinic Courts. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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After the Cleveland Cavaliers had to endure a NBA Finals loss against the Golden State Warriors without Kevin Love, their star power forward is finally ready for full practice.

Kevin Love hasn’t been able to help the Cleveland Cavaliers since Kelly Olynyk decided to launch a personal attack on his shoulder. After months off, Love will finally be able to participate in his first full practice on Saturday Oct. 10. Which, after LeBron James averaged 45 minutes a night in the Finals last season, is a very exiting piece of news for the four-time MVP.

As has been reported by Chris Haynes for Cleveland.com, Love’s return to practice has been officially announced be Cavaliers head coach David Blatt:

"Head coach David Blatt announced on Wednesday that power forward Kevin Love will make his first full practice debut on Saturday. The three-time All-Star has been rehabbing ever since undergoing shoulder surgery in May.“He’s coming along real nice,” Blatt said.On Monday Love was cleared to participate in 3-on-3 basketball workouts. Prior, he was only allowed to do individual work that consisted of absorbing contact from a pad in the post."

Following his initial return to 3-on-3 sessions on Monday, Love’s participation in full practice this weekend will be the first time the Cavaliers can fully gauge his condition in slightly more physical training and scrimmaging. If that goes well and he continues to come along “real nice,” as Blatt said Wednesday, there is also a chance that Love may even play in the Cavaliers’ preseason game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday Oct. 12.

When he does return, the Cavaliers will finally have their rebounding leader and third top scorer to unleash on opponents. After averaging 16.4 points and 9.7 rebounds per game last season, Love’s stats weren’t remotely as impressive as his 2013-14 All-Star numbers of 26.1 points and 12.5 rebounds. Yet, by not being used nearly enough throughout most of the year as the top option in the post, and playing alongside LeBron and Kyrie Irving, Love was never going to have the same production as he did with a dismal Timberwolves squad.

Numbers aside, though, the return of Love will be huge for the Cavaliers. Plus, with a recovering Irving and a recently injured Iman Shumpert who’ll be out for at least three months for wrist surgery, Love’s comeback will feel even better for Cleveland.

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