If Kevin Love Can't Play in Game 3, Ty Lue Must Try Channing Frye

Kevin Love suffered a concussion in Game 2 of the NBA Finals and it’s unclear if he’ll be ready for Game 3. This sounds like bad news on the surface – he is their 3rd leading scorer this postseason and top rebounder – but could Cleveland spin this as a positive if Ty Lue could pull the right lever and force the Warriors to make adjustments?

The best option to replace Love has to be Channing Frye. Lue seems reluctant to play Frye for defensive purposes. Frye averaged 19 minutes and 13.8 ppg vs the Hawks and 16 minutes and 9 ppg vs the Raptors. He’s played 11 minutes in two games and hasn’t made a 3-pointer vs Golden State.

Why not try Frye at forward to start the game against Harrison Barnes? LeBron on Draymond for the pick-and-roll. Keep Thompson in and have him defend Bogut.

I know everyone’s focusing on how the Cavs defend the Warriors, but we need to talk about their staggering (lack of) offense. The Cavs have topped 100 points in every game this postseason except two road losses to the Raptors (84, 99). They haven’t sniffed 100 vs the Warriors.

Offensively, the Cavs turned the ball over 19 times in Game 2 and had only 15 assists (Kyrie Irving had just one). They had 17 turnovers in Game 1. The ball movement that looked brilliant in the Eastern Conference, leading to a bevy of 3-pointers and a 12-2 record, has vanished.

I’ve got no idea if 6-foot-11, 33-year old journeyman is the answer. But I know the Cavs are running out of time, and they’re just about out of options.