Andrew Bogut Comments on Critics Accusing Kevin Love of Being 'Soft'
Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut understands what it takes to pass the NBA's concussion protocol. In turn, he said Thursday that anybody who's criticizing Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love as he goes through the process is an "idiot."
Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com passed along the comments from Bogut, who suffered a concussion Oct. 27 and wasn't cleared to return until Nov. 9. He doesn't think it's something to rush in an era when head trauma is a hot-button topic across the sports spectrum.
"There's probably people calling Kevin Love soft, and those people are idiots," Bogut said, per Windhorst. "You don't mess around with the brain. ... You can be a hero now in the NBA Finals in 2016, and in 2021 you will be sucking food through a straw. And you won't give a [expletive] about what you did in 2016."
Love "lobbied" against the decision to keep him sidelined for Cleveland's 120-90 Game 3 victory Wednesday night, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com. McMenamin also noted the forward, who suffered the concussion during Cleveland's Game 2 loss Sunday, went through practice Thursday, but head coach Tyronn Lue said his status for Game 4 hasn't been decided.
"After the workout, it has to take 24 hours for the NBA protocol," Lue said. "So once he works out today, it takes 24 hours to see him again to see if everything adds up. I'm not sure what goes into it. But now he had a great workout, and now it takes 24 hours to come and re-evaluate him."
Making sure Love is back to full strength takes priority. He'll likely push to play once again as the Cavaliers look to level the series at 2-2 on Friday night, but whether he can pass the concussion tests will be the deciding factor.
From a basketball perspective, Cleveland will have some tough decisions to make once Love has medical clearance. His absence forced the team to go small, with LeBron James starting at power forward and Richard Jefferson sliding into the starting lineup.
The result was a 30-point blowout victory after being crushed during the two road games to open the NBA Finals. It could lead to a lesser role for a healthy Love as the Cavs attempt to find the remedy for the offensively dynamic Warriors.
McMenamin pointed out Lue wasn't prepared to discuss those types of decisions yet, however.
"Haven't thought about it yet," he said. "Hopefully just trying to get Kevin healthy is the most important thing right now."
