Kevin Love returns for Cavs against Bulls
The Cleveland Cavaliers will face a big test Monday as they look to solidify the shaky ground they stand on with a third straight victory.
Standing in their way are the Chicago Bulls, but the Cavs have reinforcements for their battle with their deep Eastern Conference foe. Kevin Love has returned after his second one-game absence of the season due to back spasms, suiting up opposite Pau Gasol and company.
The Cavaliers having won without Love against the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday shouldn't confuse Love's value to the team, especially on the offensive end. While he hasn't been as good as he's been in the past, in part because the Cavs are using him sub-optimally relative to how the Minnesota Timberwolves employed him, he remains an important offensive piece.
In 39 games, Love is averaging 17.7 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists, and the offense has been 4.4 points per-100 possessions better when he's on the floor. There's reason to believe Love should be even better moving forward, too, as his catch-and-shoot 3-point percentage is well below his established standard at 34.9 percent.
If Love heats up and the Cavs get more creative in how he's deployed, the team's eighth-ranked offense stands to be much deadlier moving forward.