Kevin Love dislocated his shoulder during the Cleveland Cavaliers first round playoff series against the Boston Celtics last season and he is still recovering from the ensuing surgery. Love has been optimistic about returning at the beginning of the season all along but he also realizes that he shouldn't rush his return. The Cavaliers open up their season in about two weeks and it is unknown whether Love will be available for that game, according to Sean Deveney of the Sporting News.
Love underwent surgery for the shoulder at the end of April and was intially given a four to six month timetable for a return with six months being considered more realistic. Love returning for opening day would be a little less than six months and although he doesn't know whether he plays he thinks it's possible.
"I feel pretty good, As far as the opener goes, I am not completely sure. I'll probably get with the doctors and see what they have to say. I know that my six-month post-op is coming up here pretty fast. As far as getting the strength back, getting the range of motion, I feel pretty good, so I am looking forward to getting into some more contact, getting into a rhythm and getting out there as quickly as I can," said Love.
While the power forward would love to be on the floor with his teammates for the opening game he also realizes that he needs to stick with the rehab process and not rush back. Love has been cleared to participate in 3-on-3 practices but has yet to be cleared for 5-on-5 and that is a hurdle he would likely need to pass soon in order to play in the first game.
The good news for Cavaliers fans is that even if Love doesn't get back for the first game it seems likely that he won't miss much regular season time and they need him badly. It seemed like the Cavaliers had a very deep team but they might not have Kyrie Irving in the beginning of the season, Iman Shumpert is out with a wrist injury and Tristan Thompson is still holding out with no end in sight. The Cavaliers still have the best player in the NBA, LeBron James, and will likely be fine until they get everyone back but they don't want to have to put too much on LeBron's shoulders which makes having Love back even bigger.
In his first season with Cleveland Love averaged 16.4 points and 9.7 rebounds in 75 games and the Cavaliers plan to involve him even more this year after there were times that he was just a spot up shooter a year ago. Love is a big piece to the puzzle in Cleveland and things are looking good for Love on the health front even if he doesn't play in game one of the season.
