Written by Jeff Zillgist at USAToday.com
Without hesitation, Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut answered the question, the question that is now a major focal point of the NBA Finals between the Warriors andCleveland Cavaliers.
Asked if he thinks Cavaliers forward Kevin Love will be in the starting lineup for Game 4, Bogut said, “For sure.”
Love, who sustained a concussion in Game 2 and missed Game 3, must be cleared to play, but if he’s cleared – he was on the court working out but not available to the media on Thursday – Cavs coach Tyronn Lue faces a difficult postseason decision.
If Love is available, will Lue start Love or use him off the bench in Game 4 (9 p.m. ET, ABC) following Cleveland’s impressive 120-90 victory against the Warriors in Game 3?
Lue avoided the topic for the most part.
“I haven’t thought about it yet,” Lue said.
Love wanted to play in Game 3. But he needs to clear all steps in the league’s concussion protocol program, and he hadn’t done that in time for the game.
“It was tough. He wanted to play,” Lue said. “He was very upset about the situation, but the guys said, ‘We’re going to win this game for you.’ And LeBron (James) and Kyrie (Irving) and those guys told him, ‘Tonight we’re going to win this game for you, so get yourself healthy, get yourself back.’ He was all happy after the game. And they told him, ‘Kevin, this was for you.’ ”
He rejected any notion that Love’s absence led to an improved performance.
“What made it easier is we played harder. We competed, we played harder, and we were able to get matchups in transition. It didn’t have anything to do with Kevin being on the floor,” Lue said.
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