| |
|
2016 NBA Finals -- Cavs need plenty of Love to win Game 6
By Homer D. Sayson PhilBoxing.com Fri, 17 Jun 2016
CLEVELAND -- It's usually hard to hide when you're 6-foot-10 tall and 251 pounds large, but amazingly, Kevin Love has managed to disappear in this NBA Finals.
The 27-year old Love, a 3-time All-Star, is averaging a pedestrian 8.7 points and 6 rebounds in four games (he missed Game 3 with a concussion). He is shooting 37.1 percent from the field (13 of 35) and dreadful 28.5 percent from 3-point range (4 of 14).
Obviously, Love is horribly under performing his massive 5-year, $110 million contract, one that pays him $19. 6 million this season alone.
But it's never too late. With the Cleveland Cavaliers still facing elimination and trailing the championship series 3-2, Love needs to rediscover his shooting touch and assume his role as another pillar of his team's Big 3.
Otherwise the Golden State Warriors will cap their historic 73-win season with a back-to-back title while relegating the Cavaliers to another bridesmaid finish for the second straight June.
By winning Game 5 convincingly (112-97) on the road, the Cavs have proven that they can win without Love, who finished with a timid 2 points in Game 5. Playing at home at the Quicken Loans Arena reinforces that notion, but even then, it would be unrealistic to expect LeBron James and Kyrie Irving to once again explode for 41 points apiece.
Needless to say, the pressure is on Love to produce. How he fares in today's Game 6 will weigh heavily on his future here in Cleveland.
GAME 6 ODDS -- With home court and momentum on their side, the Cleveland Cavaliers are -2 favorites to win Game 6 and force a Game 7 at the Oracle Arena on Sunday night (Monday AM in Manila).
When this crucial contest tips off in a few hours, the Warriors won't have center Andrew Bogut in the line-up. The 7-foot Aussie giant has been ruled out for the rest of the Finals with a right knee injury that requires no surgery but needs 6-to-8 weeks to heal.
Photo: KEVIN LOVE will be a huge factor in today's Game 6 of the NBA Finals.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Homer D. Sayson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
DEVIN HANEY VS. RYAN GARCIA FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES , Fri, 19 Apr 2024Filipino cue master Richard Alinsub wins Bali International 9-Ball Open, pockets P350,000 By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 19 Apr 2024Suarez closer to title shot By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 19 Apr 2024World Title Challenger Brandon Adams Weighs in for OTX Junior Middleweight Tournament with Ismael Villareal , Fri, 19 Apr 2024Bangkok Chess Open: Three Pinoys Still in Contention as Arca Loses Again By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 19 Apr 2024HALL OF FAMER JULIAN “THE HAWK” JACKSON RETURNING TO CANASTOTA FOR 2024 HALL OF FAME WEEKEN , Fri, 19 Apr 20242 Division World Champion Oscar Valdez Confirmed for Seventh Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 4, in Las Vegas , Fri, 19 Apr 2024Former interim world bantamweight champion Reymart Gaballo is eagerly anticipating his upcoming fight against Mexican boxer Kenbun Torres on May 10 at the Midas Hotel and Casino in Manila. , Thu, 18 Apr 2024Lim is top seed in 1st Daneea Balabaran Sinsuat Tennis Championship at Toril By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 18 Apr 2024Cagayan ready to host PCAP Champions League By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 18 Apr 2024Tsutsumi KOs former WBA super champion "Chemito" Moreno in Japan (Video) By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 18 Apr 2024Sixers Edge Heat for 7th, to Face #2 NY in Playoffs; Bulls Eliminate Hawks By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 18 Apr 2024WEIGH-IN RESULTS FOR TOMORROW'S BROADWAY BOXING FROM THE 2300 ARENA IN PHILADELPHIA, PA , Thu, 18 Apr 2024IIEE Metro Central Invitational Chess tourney set for May 1 By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 18 Apr 2024HANEY VS. GARCIA MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES , Thu, 18 Apr 2024Pierce Egan, Sr. In Memoriam, 1772-1849 By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Thu, 18 Apr 2024June 8: Xander Zayas-Patrick Teixeira Junior Middleweight Showdown Kicks Off Puerto Rican Day Parade Weekend at The Theater at MSG LIVE on ESPN , Thu, 18 Apr 2024Arca bounces back, wins again By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 18 Apr 2024Unbeaten Super Lightweight Kurt Scoby Signs Exclusive Glove Deal with ENGAGE , Thu, 18 Apr 2024Macs post 2nd win, ISD Pacman triumphs By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 18 Apr 2024Paradero leaves for Masbate to fight Malupague By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 17 Apr 2024Former Undisputed Heavyweight Champion Lennox Lewis To Attend Broadway Boxing Tomorrow Night at The 2300 Arena in Philadelphia , Wed, 17 Apr 2024WBO Super Lightweight Champion Teofimo Lopez Confirmed for Seventh Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 4, in Las Vegas , Wed, 17 Apr 2024The Past Week in Action 16 April 2024: David Papot Wins WBO Global Welter Title; Anderson Outpoints Merhy; Ajagba Edges Vianello By Eric Armit, , Wed, 17 Apr 2024LA Lakers Beat Pelicans for 7th Seed, Secure Rematch With #2 Denver Nuggets; Kings Eliminate Warriors to Face Pelicans for 8th Seed By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 17 Apr 2024 |
|
|
|
|
|