Cleveland Cavaliers insider Joe Vardon says Cavaliers fans don’t have to wait any longer for Kevin Love: Love will play against the Milwaukee Bucks tonight. Love returns to a team that’s much different than the one he left when he injured (fractured) his hand on Jan 30. Gone are Dwyane Wade and Isaiah Thomas. Love’s new teammates now include Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. Even the coaching staff is different, as head coach Tyronn Lue has taken a leave of absence for medical reasons beginning today. So it’s Lue out, Love in. Though he is a big proponent of Lue, Cavs star LeBron James will make that trade — Love for Lue — any time. Lue, crucially, has never grabbed a rebound for the Cavaliers. Love is proficient at it. And the Cavs need boards.
Love’s hand injury should have allowed him to maintain his conditioning for the most part, but there is nothing like NBA game shape, and fans can expect to see a little fatigue, if not rust on Love. Though the Bucks would rather play a Cavaliers team without Love any day, they’ll look to take advantage of his return with speedy play. Expect the marvelous Giannis Antetokounmpo to look to exploit Love whenever they’re one-on-one or in late help situations when Antetokounmpo beats his man. Antetokounmpo plays more of a wing/guard than Love, but the two are about the same size and should tangle.
Kevin Love will play tonight, they are unsure on Korver
— Joe Vardon (@joevardon) March 19, 2018
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