NBA Finals: Why Cavaliers can win Game 3 without Kevin Love

LeBron James will (should) be forced into taking over

So far in the Finals, much like the Cavaliers as a whole, LeBron has been underwhelming. Besides the stellar averages of 10 rebounds, nine assists and three steals per game that can’t be discredited, his total of 42 points on 42.1 percent shooting is far less impressive. The Warriors have been switching brilliantly all series, rotating with impeccable speed and accuracy, and forcing the likes of Andre Iguodala, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green at LeBron, who have all done their part well.

Throughout the playoffs altogether, though, LeBron hasn’t shot effectively from range. In the Finals, his intention to force the issue inside has become even more problematic seeing as the Warriors can stop him.

Just look at his playoff shot chart, via NBA.com. 168 of his 289 shots (58.1 percent!) have come within three feet. Seriously.

Not only is LeBron hardly making his jump shots, but he’s actively avoiding taking them whenever he can.

With this kind of inefficiency from range, he’s going to be enduring an absolute nightmare if he wants to turn things around against the relentless switches and team defense of the Warriors.

Now, with no Love to space the floor and serve as another offensive option for the Cavs, who continue to slow down their ball movement in the Finals and rely on isolation heavy stars (Kyrie Irving, this is especially aimed at you), the desperate need for LeBron to take over has emerged. More than ever, with his season well and truly on the line (if not past the line), he will be forced to adopt the kind of takeover-the-world attitude that he hasn’t displayed yet and make the consistent jumpers he hasn’t yet.

Obviously, the useless strategy of LeBron posting up and kicking the ball out to teammates again and again won’t work, but LeBron still has it in him to be the most unstoppable force the Cavs have at their disposal. With more versatility to spread to the four without Love and more shots to go around, he could easily have his best performance yet — if he can make his shots fall.

Also, LeBron will need to spread the ball as much as possible when he establishes himself as a scorer. According to ESPN, James has doubled his amount of isolation plays in the Finals in comparison to the first three rounds of the playoffs.

It’s hard to be positive for Cleveland, but with more small-ball LeBron to replace Love’s damaging minutes and the increased urgency for him to carry the scoring load with more assertiveness, the Cavs still have a chance to win Game 3.

This is the time for LeBron to go full LeBron to the kind of level he mustered in the Finals this time last year. He’s been down before and come back, and he’s the only one who can encourage any kind of fight in this situation.

Next: None of Love's woeful defense