CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 5: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives around Mario Hezonja #8 of the Orlando Magic during the first half of a preseason game at Quicken Loans Arena on October 5, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio.
The Cleveland Cavaliers seemed to place much of the blame for Saturday’s blowout loss to Oklahoma City on Kevin Love, but Tyronn Lue has stepped in to shut down these comments.
“It’s not about one person, it’s about all of us,” said coach Lue. “We’ve got to respond. It’s time to start playing better. We’ve got guys back healthy, we’ve got to start performing, start playing better.”
Cavs players complained that Love only played 3:04 in the 148-124 defeat because he felt sick, then went home before the game ended and didn’t attend Sunday’s practice. They questioned both love and the entire organization for not accounting for where Love was in the second half.
Lue said trainer Steven Spiro told him about Love’s migraine symptoms on Sunday, so the coach said blaming the five-time All-Star forward was misguided.
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“I mean, that’s crazy,” Lue said. “If Kevin was out there we might have given up 170. Who knows, man. We’ve got to be better, got to just stay together. We’re being tested right now. This is when your true character comes out and the character of who you are as a person and as a player. We’ve got to step up and play basketball.”
Love has made teammate LeBron James angry in the past. Asked if he felt like he was being scapegoated, Love simply said: “I think you guys can answer that.”
“It’s not about me,” Love said. “I’m not going to make it about myself. I’m sure with other guys it’s the same thing.”
James’ thoughts on the Cavs’ current situation are not known, as the star forward refused to comment.
The Cavaliers (27-19, third in Eastern Conference) also lost to San Antonio on Tuesday and next host Indiana on Friday night. Cleveland has lost seven of nine games.
CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 5: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives around Mario Hezonja #8 of the Orlando Magic during the first half of a preseason game at Quicken Loans Arena on October 5, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio.
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