After Kevin Love scored a season-low five points Monday and didn’t attempt a shot after going 1-for-7 in the first quarter, LeBron James suggested there were more shots available for Love that he turned down and questioned whether his teammate’s confidence might be shaken.
“I think Kev had some shots that he passed up on,” James said. “Maybe he felt that he just wasn’t in a good rhythm, but I know I hit him with a few [potential] shots after the first quarter where he had some good looks when he decided to swing-swing [with a pass], which is OK, it kept the ball moving. So, I think for Kev, I think his confidence maybe shooting the ball is a little down, but for me as a player, I get him good looks. I want him to shoot the ball and he needs to shoot it with confidence.”
“I’m just doing what’s being asked of me,” Love said. “I think I’ve kind of been doing that all year. I’ve been keeping my head up and keeping positive, glass half-full. And I’m just trying to impact the game in other ways as best I can. I think tonight I did that on the defensive end — stuff that doesn’t necessarily show up in the stat sheet, and I’ve been trying to rebound the ball and get inside the paint a little bit more these past few games.”
Love didn’t totally agree with James’ assessment.
“Maybe one look, but it was more so on a swing-swing to [Matthew Dellavedova],” Love said. “I think a guy was closing out on me and I hit Delly and Delly didn’t end up shooting it. But, no, I think I had some good looks in the first quarter — a couple tip-ins that I missed; [Timofey Mozgov] and I both went for the lob, I thought I had my hand on it, and missed that one. But, you know, getting good looks there. Not for lack of confidence, no.”
