Kevin Love erupted for 32 points against the Lakers on Sunday, including 7-of-8 on 3-pointers, to help the Cleveland Cavaliers win for the 13th time in 14 games. It was Love’s first game since being called out on Twitter by the best player on the planet, LeBron James.
LeBron sent out a cryptic tweet on Saturday that read:
Stop trying to find a way to FIT-OUT and just FIT-IN. Be apart of something special! Just my thoughts
— LeBron James (@KingJames) February 8, 2015
After the win over Los Angeles, LeBron admitted to a group of reporters, via USA Today, that the tweet was aimed at Love.
“It’s not a coincidence, man,” James said.
Earlier this season, according to Cleveland.com, Love mentioned that his teammates wanted him to “fit-out” instead of trying to fit-in. Apparently he got the message, for one game at least.
“I’m comfortable and just not trying to, I guess, fit in so much. I had a talk with the guys on the plane ride over [to Brazil for the World Cup] and also at different practices off the floor and they told me to fit out. Just be myself,” Love said at the time.
"I think he's telling Kevin Love to get FOCUSED." – @stephenasmith on LeBron's tweet pic.twitter.com/2PsFUkqJnq
— First Take (@FirstTake) February 9, 2015
It's fair to say it has been an up and down last 10 games for Kevin Love pic.twitter.com/iL54bW7Mwc
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 9, 2015
Love’s adjustment from being the man in Minnesota to a third wheel in Cleveland hasn’t been as smooth as he was hoping; but Pro Basketball Talk says Love really does care about winning more than anything else – so a chance to play alongside LeBron for the long haul is the No. 1 reason he won’t be leaving Cleveland anytime soon.
“We win 12 games in a row and everybody’s talking about Kevin’s five-point game. I mean really, who gives a damn?” Cavs coach David Blatt said. “What’s important is that the team is winning, and Kevin knows that.”
Love is averaging 17.1 points per game this season, well off the 26.1 points per game clip he had last season with the Wolves.
