Kevin Love Already Exorcising Last Year's Playoff Demons

CLEVELAND — Kevin Love's first playoff experience in 2015 didn't even last four full games. Now, the Cleveland Cavaliers power forward is looking to make up for lost time.

During Game 1 of the Cavs' opening-round series against the Detroit Pistons, Love registered career postseason highs of 28 points and 13 rebounds en route to a 106-101 victory. And in a contest where the Big Three combined for 81 points, it was Love's impact on both ends that made the biggest difference.

"Between Kyrie [Irving] and myself, we've had a lot of conversations about our playoff run being cut short, so more than anything, we looked at this as an opportunity," Love said after the game.

This could potentially be a breakthrough for the oft-criticized power forward, whose fit with the team (and alongside LeBron James) has been questioned nearly from his introductory press conference.

When Love ran off the court hanging his limp, dislocated shoulder in Game 4 against the Boston Celtics last April, it was fair to wonder if he would even get this opportunity again, considering his free-agent status at the time. Irving suffered a similar fate, bowing out of the playoffs during Game 1 of the NBA Finals with an injured kneecap.

“For these two guys, they were just excited to get back to this moment," James said. "Obviously for Kev last year with his first-round exit, and then Ky in the Finals, these guys have been working hard just to get back to this moment.”

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For Love, the start to his second postseason life has to feel rewarding. Months spent recovering and training in Ohio, California and Park City, Utah, this summer were suffered through because of this opportunity. It's finally here, and Love's shoulder looks strong.

"My mentality was just to be aggressive, and we have to do that the entire series," Love said.

For the Pistons, a leak in the dam has sprung. Detroit's best player and All-Star center, Andre Drummond, was essentially forced out of the game when Cavs coach Tyronn Lue moved Love to center.

While Drummond stands one or two inches taller (depending on your source) and carries considerably more mass than Love, it's the way Lue moved his chess pieces around that forced Detroit to bench its star.

“It spreads the floor out and makes it really tough in the pick-and-roll for your 5s to get out there," Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said.

"Even when you do cover, we’ve got our center away from the basket. We’ve got the best rebounder in the league, and we’re playing him at 25 feet. It’s something we worked on, obviously not well enough. It definitely makes them a better offensive team, no question about that.”

Playing Love at the 5 is Cleveland's version of small ball, often with James at power forward and a backcourt full of shooting. A lineup of Love, James, Irving, J.R. Smith and Matthew Dellavedova outscored opponents by 20.1 points per 100 possessions this season.

“I thought he posted very aggressive," Lue said of Love. "I thought he took his shots when he had them made some big shots. When we put Kevin at the 5, that’s a tough cover for Drummond when he’s picking and popping.”

Normally playing the third wheel in this All-Star trio, it was Love who led the way for James (22 points, 11 assists) and Irving (31 points) to follow.

“Our main objective in this series is to be aggressive and attack," Lue said. "We want to get downhill and get to the paint then kick out for threes. I thought the Big Three did a phenomenal job of doing that. Kevin set the tone early posting up in the paint, getting deep and getting a couple fouls on their 4 man. It all started from there.”

The Pistons have to decide who to cover Love with, as he consistently bullied Tobias Harris and Marcus Morris yet would pull Drummond out of the paint to open up a lane for James and/or Irving.

As well as the Pistons shot the ball (50.7 percent from the field, 51.7 percent from deep), it was the pure dominance of the Big Three that ultimately doomed them and could make this a quick series, despite their strong showing in Game 1.

After all, it's far more likely that James, Love and Irving will continue to produce than it is that the Pistons will shoot over 50 percent for the series.

"We just could never get any of their three main guys under control," Van Gundy said.

Looking ahead, this could signal the start of Love's coming-out party. While the Golden State Warriors are everyone's favorite to capture another title, a dominant, aggressive and likely vengeful Love would go a long way in improving Cleveland's chances.

The Cavs having a go-to small-ball option doesn't hurt, either, especially if that Finals rematch eventually comes to fruition.

Greg Swartz is the Cleveland Cavaliers' Lead Writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @CavsGregBR.

All quotes obtained firsthand. Stats via Basketball-Reference.com unless otherwise sourced.