Kevin Love proved that he can be Cleveland Cavaliers' stretch four in their first three preseason games, but the All-Star power forward said that he wants more touches inside the paint.
Love, who was acquired by the Cavaliers in a blockbuster deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves in August, sizzled from beyond the arc in their preseason matches against Macabbi Tel Aviv, Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks, knocking down 10 three-pointers in 15 attempts.
The 26-year-old forward, who averaged 26.1 points to go along with 12.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists, said, though, that he wants more inside plays to get himself going in the game.
"My entire life I played the game from inside-out," Love said via Northeast Ohio Media Group. "So the more touches I can get inside to get myself going, the better. I'm not accustomed to starting out a game shooting a three, so it's just something that I see."
Love believes that their opponents will have tough time dealing against them if they focus on putting the ball closer to the basket, saying that teams will have problems matching up against him, Anderson Varejao and Tristan Thompson.
"I'm 26-years-old and I've been playing basketball for quite a long time. Just finding ways to mix it up. If anything, keeping it around the basket a little bit more and the offense will allow me to get offensive rebounds. That will be tough for teams with Andy and myself and Tristan in there," Love said.
Meanwhile, first-year head coach David Blatt has yet to name his starters for the 2014-15 NBA season, but The Morning Journal reported that Varejao will likely be named as the starting center.
Varejao has been manning the center spot during their preseason games alternatively with Thompson, but the veteran Brazilian reportedly got Blatt's nod after also getting endorsement from superstar LeBron James earlier in the offseason.
"He's the same Andy," James said of Varejao, who averaged 8.4 points and 9.7 rebounds last season. "If you ask him to run through six walls, he'll run through seven. He'll fight for every loose ball. He'll dive on the floor. He'll set screens. He'll help you out when you get knocked down. If any altercation happens, Andy will be right there."
