CLEVELAND, Ohio -- During Game 2 of the 2016 NBA Finals, Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love took a blow to the head, forcing him to exit early and miss Game 3 with a concussion. That's when Richard Jefferson stepped in, provided a nice lift, helped blow out the Golden State Warriors and didn't let Love reclaim his starting spot until Game 7.
It wasn't about Jefferson being a better player. No one would've argued that. It was more about the Cavs needing to play a different style to match the Warriors, one that required what Jefferson brought -- length, athleticism, defensive versatility -- more so than what Love did for long stretches.