Fansided

Hardwood Paroxysm Presents: The NBA Playoff Super-Overreactionizer

By HP Basketball Network

Apr 18, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) lies on the court after a fall against the Washington Wizards in game one of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Washington defeated Toronto 93-86. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 18, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) lies on the court after a fall against the Washington Wizards in game one of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Washington defeated Toronto 93-86. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 23, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) shoots for three points against the Boston Celtics during the second half in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. The Cavaliers defeated the Celtics 103-95. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 23, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) shoots for three points against the Boston Celtics during the second half in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. The Cavaliers defeated the Celtics 103-95. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

Kevin Love Ain’t Going Anywhere

by Wes Goldberg (@wcgoldberg) – The Friendly Bounce

This time last year, Kevin Love was sitting on a couch, hunched over his coffee table planning his escape from Minnesota.

Step one: Low-key demand a trade. Step two: Narrow your destination to a list of contenders. Step three: Get a call from LeBron James who says he’s going to the Cavaliers and wants to bring you along to be the Cleveland version of Chris Bosh.

And off to Cleveland he went.

It’s been a rough few games. Well, 82 games, to be exact. His coach can’t figure out how to maximize his talents and he’s been rendered an option on the margins. Hell, even J.R. Smith is a more bonafide scoring threat than Love on the regular.

That’s all about to change.

The Cavs are up on the Celtics 3-0 in the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs and, in Game 3, Love took the battlefield. He scored 23 points and went 6-for-10 on his 3-point looks, and added nine rebounds. The Cavs needed him to step up and he did, emerging as their second-best player, hitting the dagger of the game and flipping the switch in the process. 

LeBron did his thing, sucking in the defense with his gravity and kicking the ball out to his trusted 3-point shooter to ice the game. 

Thanks to Love, the Cavs are on their way to a sweep in round one. Maybe Love doubted his future in Cleveland before but, after tasting the sweet success of his playoff heroics (is that a pierogi-stuffed grilled cheese sandwich I smell?), he’s not going to want to leave. Where else can he play with LeBron, compete for a title and ride his bike to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

Blatt or no Blatt, all Love needs is LeBron. LeBron and Love. Love and LeBron. LeBron knows how to use him and how to win. The alliteration is too perfect, and the combination is too natural, for it not to be a long-term partnership. No longer in Minnesota, Love is in Cleveland and in the playoffs. And he ain’t going anywhere.

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