The Cleveland Cavaliers are slowly putting it all together. After big trades for JR Smith, Iman Shumpert and Timofey Mozgov, the Cavaliers are starting to look like the threat everyone expected them to be. The team is now leading the league in with 11-game win streak after the Atlanta Hawks broke theirs and things are really starting to flow. However, there is still one issue with the team and it is Kevin Love who still cannot find his spot on the team.
Love continues to struggle, putting together a season-low performance of five points while going 1-for-7 in the first quarter. The forward did have 15 rebounds, but is struggling to find his shot as he continues to take more attempts from beyond the arc. LeBron James is concerned that confidence could be an issue for the forward.
"I think Kev had some shots that he passed up on," James said, via ESPN.com. "Maybe he felt that he just wasn't in a good rhythm, but I know I hit him with a few [potential] shots after the first quarter where he had some good looks when he decided to swing-swing [with a pass], which is OK, it kept the ball moving. So, I think for Kev, I think his confidence maybe shooting the ball is a little down, but for me as a player, I get him good looks. I want him to shoot the ball and he needs to shoot it with confidence."
Love denies that confidence is an issue for him, claiming he is simply just doing what is asked of him. The forward has seen himself being benched for entire quarters. His stats are down and he is not putting together the season most expected when the Cavaliers gave up two former first-round draft picks for him. A lot has been made about Love's intentions with Cleveland has he can still become a free agent in the summer, something he denies being part of the plan.
"I'm just doing what's being asked of me," Love said. "I think I've kind of been doing that all year. I've been keeping my head up and keeping positive, glass half-full. And I'm just trying to impact the game in other ways as best I can. I think tonight I did that on the defensive end -- stuff that doesn't necessarily show up in the stat sheet, and I've been trying to rebound the ball and get inside the paint a little bit more these past few games."
The Cavaliers need Love to step up if they are going to continue being threats in the Eastern Conference. While the team also considers trades for backup point guards, getting an improved Love will be the final piece to the puzzle.
