CLEVELAND — Kevin Love sat to the right of the LeBron James at the podium and exchanged a few whispers while waiting for the question to come.
Seven questions into the postgame press conference, a reporter finally asked Love about the left shoulder. Love took a hit late in the third quarter of Cleveland’s 108-89 win against the Toronto Raptors in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals. Love said he was good and that James and Kyrie Irving were giving him a hard time.
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“Elaborate,” James said while holding back a laugh. Love then detailed the pick-and-roll with Iman Shumpert one more time.
“Shump passed me the ball, I went out, got fouled, got a little stinger, knocked down my free throws,” Love said. “I feel fine. I'm good. Thanks.”
So there you have it. Love said he’s fine, and Cleveland fans can relax. Love suffered a dislocated shoulder that required surgery in the first round against Boston in 2015. That’s well-documented. Love left for the locker room briefly in the second quarter before the second ding in the third quarter.
The Cavaliers also are 14-0 in the playoffs with Love, James and Kyrie Irving in the lineup at the same time. Love said that’s well-documented, too.
Yet that’s where the two well-documented narratives converge. As long as Love stays healthy and this Big Three stays intact, then Cleveland’s NBA Finals chances are looking better with each victory. The trio combined for 65 points in Game 1 and 68 points in Game 2.
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Love made his impact felt early. He scored nine of his 19 points in the first quarter while working within the offense with James, who dished out assists on a three-pointer and a drive-in layup. Love then pinned Patrick Patterson with an up-and-under move for another basket.
"It was great,” Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said. “He has an opportunity in this series to get going on the block, and you want to play inside and out with Kevin. When he starts inside and scores the basketball; that opens up his 3-point shot."
Love and Irving, who averages 26.5 points per game, have taken some pressure off James, who recorded a triple-double in Game 2.
That’s helped James — he's averaging 23.5 points and shooting 69.2 percent from the floor through two games. That’s created a formula that’s made it very difficult for Toronto to keep up.
“It’s always difficult to deal with me,” James said. “I think it adds even more when you have two All-Stars with you, two guys that command multiple eyes any possession. They're so in such a great rhythm right now, I've been able to just pick my spots and do other things to help us try to win ball games.”
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That’s also been Love’s role through two games. In Game 1, it was a few step-back 3-pointers in the first quarter to open up a lead. In Game 2, Love played closer to the basket. This all comes after he recorded eight straight double-doubles in Cleveland’s first eight playoff wins.
Yet he’ll need to stay healthy to give Cleveland that unique inside-outside matchup for the rest of this series and perhaps the NBA Finals. That’s why there was concern as Love shook out that left shoulder before burying two free throws then hitting the exercise bike for a good chunk of the fourth quarter.
Love was asked about the playoff success of those three in the lineup together, and he repeated what James said after Game 1. The Cavaliers didn’t come here to win nine or 10 games. They’re trying to go to the top.
“I feel like anything can happen in the playoffs, as you saw last year,” Love said. “You have to have a little bit of luck on your side in some ways knowing that it could be taken away from you at any moment.”
A little bit of luck? Sure, but a lot more Love would help the Cavaliers. It’s well-documented at this point.
