Fansided

NBA Season Preview 2018-19: Every team’s crash-and-burn scenario

By John Hugar

EL SEGUNDO, CA - SEPTEMBER 24: LeBron James makes his first official appearance in a Lakers uniform at media day at the Los Angeles Lakers training facility in El Segundo on Monday, Sep. 24, 2018. (Photo by Scott Varley/Digital First Media/Torrance Daily Breeze via Getty Images)
EL SEGUNDO, CA - SEPTEMBER 24: LeBron James makes his first official appearance in a Lakers uniform at media day at the Los Angeles Lakers training facility in El Segundo on Monday, Sep. 24, 2018. (Photo by Scott Varley/Digital First Media/Torrance Daily Breeze via Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – JUNE 08: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers warms up before Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – JUNE 08: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers warms up before Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Cleveland Cavaliers: The old Kevin Love doesn’t come back

I mean…we all remember what happened in 2010-11, but this team should be better off than the Cavs were the last time LeBron left. For one thing, they have another All-Star on the roster in Kevin Love. The problem is, Love was never the dominant player that he was in Minnesota during LeBron’s second Cleveland stint. Kyrie Irving took the sidekick job from him, and when he got it back by default, he never seemed up to it. Now, he’s The Guy, with every chance to be the double-double machine he was in Minnesota, while also imparting wisdom to the Cavs’ young cast. If Love isn’t up to the challenge, look for the Cavs to abruptly fall out of contention in the East.