Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love Have Officially Rounded Out Cavaliers’ Big 3

Last year’s postseason was all about LeBron James for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love were forced out of action with injuries, leaving James to carry the city of Cleveland to its first championship in over half a century. The two sidelined Cavs could only offer moral support as they witnessed another franchise celebrate a title on their home floor.

Now, Irving and Love, healthy and productive, have officially joined the party. Together, the three have bulldozed through the playoffs’ first two rounds, going a perfect 8-0 against the Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks.

Delayed Construction

Technically, the Cavaliers have possessed a Big Three since August 2014, when Love was traded to Cleveland for Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett and a first-round pick. At least, there were three stars learning how to cohabit. Their impact together couldn’t always be classified as “big.”

Part of this was the offensive scheme, which saw Love drift out to the three-point line far too often and become strictly a three-point shooter while James and Irving dominated the ball. Part of it was James’ sabbatical halfway through the 2014-15 season, followed by devastating injuries to both Love and Irving come playoff time.

“I’m sure there were questions,” Love said about the Big Three, per Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. “For us, we had to figure it out and there was some rough spots.”

A whole eight months passed between Love’s shoulder injury in the 2015 opening round and Irving’s return following knee surgery on Dec. 20, 2015. Heading into their second postseason together, questions remained.

After leading the Cavaliers in three-point shooting a season ago (41.5 percent), Irving dropped to a career-low 32.2 percent. His player efficiency rating dipped below 20 (19.9) for the first time in Irving’s five professional seasons. The phenomenal chemistry he had seemingly developed with James last year only showed up in flashes.

“I just don’t think Kyrie fits in,” one Eastern Conference scout told Bleacher Report shortly 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. He’s very weak …

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