Report: Kevin Love laments his effort is 'never enough'

CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 10: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the first half against the Golden State Warriors in Game 4 of the 2016 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 10, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

After losing Game 4 on their home court in frustrating fashion, the Cavaliers now head back to Oakland facing a 3-1 deficit that no other team has come back from in NBA Finals history.

With things looking pretty bleak for the Cavs, fans and media have already shifted their focus to the blame game. Cleveland is on the brink of losing out on a ring for the second year in a row and as usual, someone has to take the fall. Last year, much of the blame was placed on Love's absence due to injury.

This year, it's exactly the opposite.

When Kevin Love missed Game 3 with concussion symptoms and the Cavs blew out the Warriors by 30 points, many quickly decided that Cleveland is better off without the three-time All-Star, something Love simply doesn't understand.

Love reportedly told Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com that he's confused by all of the backlash he's received:

Why does public sentiment turn on him as soon as the Cavs stumble?

"Why do you think?" Love said, answering a question with a question. "You're part of it. I'm not saying you're who does it, but you are there with the people that do ...

"I don't know how to answer it because, I have a couple bad games last series [against Toronto], tough games, and have to come back and do whatever I needed to do to help the team. Still, it's just never enough."

Despite all of the negative chatter from outside sources, Love said that inside the lockerroom, this is the closest he's ever been with a group of teammates.

"I mean, I've been asked to do different things, being here," Love told ESPN.com. "I've been asked to be the second, third guy -- third guy most nights. It hasn't been the easiest transition in the world, but as far as being a part of a family, this unit here, I've never been on a team that's closer than this. So that's why I don't understand when I hear people say I'm a square peg in a round hole or something like that."

While the Warriors have certainly proved to be an unfavorable matchup for Love -- something he'll admit -- it's been intriguing to see how differently the Cavaliers function as a unit when Love is not on the court. His "fit" on the Cavs roster could make for some interesting discussion this NBA offseason.