Kevin Love proves vital to Miami Heat on and off the court in run to NBA Finals

Kevin Love could only smile.

Love's importance to the Heat – coach Erik Spoelstra quickly took the blame for not starting him in Game 1 – became a hot topic and then a matter of evidence through two games of the NBA Finals: the first a Miami loss, the second a Miami victory.

Love – a 15-year veteran playing in his fifth Finals – has become connective tissue for the Heat during their playoff run. And when he's starting, as he did in Game 2, Miami is more likely to win.

The Heat are 11-4 with Love in the starting lineup and 12-5 in all games he’s played for Miami during the postseason.

“I think just being myself, unapologetically,” Love says as the reason why he’s been able to fit in so well with the Heat after signing with them on Feb. 20 after a contract buyout with the Cleveland Cavaliers in late February.

“I'm very grateful for them that they accepted me throughout the entire organization, just being myself, on the floor, off the floor. I think that helped me get acclimated.”

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Spoelstra said he “didn't have the foresight” to insert Love back in the starting lineup for Game 1 of the Finals after sitting him in Game 6 and 7 against the Celtics, who played a smaller lineup.

“That’s on me,” Spoelstra admitted after Game 2 about Love, who drained two 3-pointers, pulled down 10 rebounds, added an assist and two steals, and drew a charge in Game 2 against the Nuggets.

And Love’s response to Spoelstra’s admission besides the smile:

“I don't feel any sort of way,” Love said. “I completely trust him.”

Love has been a franchise star, won a championship with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving in Cleveland, and is respected by Spoelstra, Heat star Jimmy Butler, rising center Bam Adebayo and Heat lifer Udonis Haslem for his standout credentials.

In the same breath, Love has gained the affection of a cast of role players like Kyle Lowry, Caleb Martin, Duncan Robinson, Max Strus and Gabe Vincent.

Most of all, Love has kept it light. And keeping it light has kept the Heat poised and centered during their postseason run.

“I think the area probably where it stands out the most is his experience, but then also just the joy that he plays with and the humor that he brings,” Robinson said of Love.

““I think he just creates relief in all of us, especially when you get on these stages. Obviously, there's a lot of pressure, intensity. But he tends to be able to lighten that mood and just have people play a little bit more free.”

During Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics, Love was the first person off the Heat bench to celebrate with his hands lifted high after Martin hit a decisive three-pointer early in the fourth quarter that swung the game in Miami’s favor.

And in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, Love was the first one to hug and embrace Martin as he pulled down the game-ending rebound after a miss by Nuggets star Jamal Murray that helped Miami secure a 1-1 series tie.

“He's been everybody's biggest fan,” Martin said of Love. “I think that says a lot for someone like him, that has the career resume that he has. He could easily be mad that he's not playing or getting shots. But he’s one of the first people off the bench when somebody knocks down a shot or gets a stop.”

As a member of the Heat, Love said it’s important for him to lead the same way players like Haslem, Butler, Adebayo and Lowry have already led the franchise this season.

Love takes pride in getting to know his teammates on and off the floor, both personally and professionally. As a veteran, he looks for ways to help them, uplift them and get the best out of them.

“Everybody has their style of leadership, and getting a locker room right, I certainly have mine,” Love said. “But just want to be an extension of guys like UD, like Jimmy, like Bam, Kyle – players like that provide so much not just on the floor but off.”

Love’s connections to his Heat teammates both on the court and in the locker room could help Miami add another championship banner to its arena’s rafters.

“He's just a winner,” Martin said of Love. “You can tell he just doesn't care as long as we win.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kevin Love proves vital to Miami Heat in NBA playoffs, NBA Finals