Cleveland Cavaliers Finally Unlocking Secret of the Big 3

Just weeks ago, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Big Three was still being questioned for fit, chemistry and maximization of collective talent. Heading into a potential first-round sweep of the Detroit Pistons, we may finally be witnessing the apex of LeBron James, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving together.

Up 3-0 against Detroit, all three have been brilliant every single game. The trio are all averaging more than 20.0 points apiece on 46.8 percent shooting or better, displaying the kind of potential we’ve been waiting for the past two years.

“It’s been the best I’ve seen all three together,” head coach Tyronn Lue said after Game 3, via Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today. 

Last year, it was the two-man combination of James and Irving that worked so well. This season, lineup numbers suggested that James and Love were leading the way, with Irving now the outsider.

Now, all three have come together as originally intended.

So, what’s changed?

What Wasn’t Working

After all, there were some serious issues plaguing both their playing style and overlapping skills. All three operate best with the rock in their hands, and Irving’s career-low 32.0 percent mark from three this year was killing his ability to play off the ball.

“I just don’t think Kyrie fits in,” one Eastern Conference scout told Bleacher Report right before the playoffs started. “He’s a square peg in a round hole with the way LeBron plays. They’re better with LeBron at the point and Kyrie off the ball. Kyrie’s a scorer, that’s what he wants, that’s his mentality.”

For Love, the major issue has always been his usage in the offense, or lack thereof. His three-point attempts just kept rising, up to 44.9 percent of his total shots. This is great of course, if you’re an outside specialist with no post game or mid-range ability.

It didn’t suit Love’s game.

His post abilities didn’t just disappear. In fact, playing style and his own aggressiveness seemed to be the problem for Love.

“Kevin Love really isn’t much different from what he was in Minnesota,” the scout told B/R. “He was a very good player on a bad team. People expect more out of him, but he’s doing what he’s always done. He’s just not the scorer he was in Minnesota because he got a lot more touches and a lot more looks. On this team he’s got a lot better cast around him so he’s trying to fit in and he’s struggled.”

Thanks to some minor changes and sacrifices, Love and Irving are once again fitting in, with James continuing to lead the way.

LeBron’s New Legacy: Leadership

For this …

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