"Listen, I was caught off guard when I heard it," Love said after practice. "I talk to LeBron every day. I know there has to be some sort of an angle. You guys have deadlines to make. There are 24-hour news services and stuff has to be put out there."

James initially denied the tweet -- which also included the message "be a part of something special!" -- had anything to do with Love following the Cleveland Cavaliers' 120-105 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.

The term "fit out" was something Love used during the preseason.

In a bizarre chain of events, James later confirmed the tweet was indeed in reference to Love to a small group of reporters, then took to Twitter yet again Monday morning to double down on his denial, writing, "If I have a problem with a teammate or anyone I'll say (it) to their face and not over social media. That's corny and wack!"

James said Tuesday that he did not have any conversation with Love about the tweet.

Love was asked if he still believed the tweet was directed at him, despite James' latest denial.

"I don't know," Love said. "I truly feel if LeBron had a problem with me or needed to talk to me for good or for worse, he would have come up and talked to me. "I talk to LeBron every day. He said if he had a problem with me or any of the coaches or training staff, he'd go right to them. Initially, I was confused. I don't feel bad. You guys can write what you want to write. There's no problem with us. I'm going to keep saying that I'm trying to help this team. That's all that matters. I don't need any validation."

James said he has an open-door policy with all of his teammates.

"That's what I'm all about, man," James said. "I'm not sugarcoating or hiding behind it. I got to see him every day, so if I have something to say to him, I'll say it to his face. The rest of the guys, too. And I hope if they came to me and was like, 'Well, you're not leading us, we don't believe what you're saying or you're not (practicing what you preach),' whatever the case may be, I would hope they would come to me as well."

Love told the Akron Beacon Journal after Sunday's game that he was unaware of James' tweet going into the Lakers game before scoring a season-high 32 points on 11-for-18 shooting.

He knows that the Cavs will continue to be scrutinized, even if they continue their winning ways, as they've come on top in 13 of their last 14 games.

"It's more of a circus because we have so much talent here," Love said. "It comes with the territory with LeBron and with this being a big story in sports this year and beyond. We know it's going to continue to happen. We just have to keep fighting through it."

All the attention paid to Love took some focus away from the Cavs' rematch with James' former team, the Miami Heat, Wednesday in Cleveland. James said it will be a far different affair than when the Cavs lost in Miami, 101-91, on Christmas Day.

"I mean, obviously, a lot of emotions went with it, just being back in that building for sure around my teammates and those fans was great," James said. "Obviously, both sides have moved on since then."

James said there is one tie to Miami that remains with his Cavs' experience this season, however.

"This is my third time having a startup," James said. "It's like a startup company. First my rookie year, my first year in Miami and now being back here, it's like a startup company. You get guys around that you feel can help the company build and you guys have one goal. So, it's my third time doing it."

Is Cleveland meeting the projections in James' business plan?

"Early, we met our quota," James said. "We had some early falls early on, but we're getting there."

nyk4ever wrote:kevin love is so overated to me.. total number-hanger. don't get me wrong, he's a good player, but i wouldn't go paying him the max, i think on a good team he's a solid 17ppg/10rpb guy, but he plays no defense.

So he is DLee 2.0?

NYKBocker wrote:

nyk4ever wrote:kevin love is so overated to me.. total number-hanger. don't get me wrong, he's a good player, but i wouldn't go paying him the max, i think on a good team he's a solid 17ppg/10rpb guy, but he plays no defense.

So he is DLee 2.0?

i didnt wanna make that comparison because i think overall love is a bit of a better player, but they are definitely similar - yes. i agree with smacked... love is sooooo unlikable to me.

smackeddog wrote:

NYKBocker wrote:

nyk4ever wrote:kevin love is so overated to me.. total number-hanger. don't get me wrong, he's a good player, but i wouldn't go paying him the max, i think on a good team he's a solid 17ppg/10rpb guy, but he plays no defense.

So he is DLee 2.0?

David Lee was much more likeable than Kevin Love. I'd struggle to root for him if he became a Knick. We could get more out of him offensively than the Cavs are, but we'd be stuck with another PF who can't play defense.

I don't understand this way of thinking. If he's a Knick...YOUR TEAM..why wouldn't you root for him and wish him success? If he succeeds, hopefully, THE TEAM SUCCEEDS! I didn't like S.Anderson and couldn't stand O.Harrington but no way would why boo or hate them while they wore the Blue and Orange. That just doesn't make sense to me.

Anyway...always been a Love fan but agree with you and nyk4ever..he is a bit overrated and I wouldn't give him the max

mreinman wrote:most melo fans think that Love is overrated ... not sure why.

He is not having a good year but even in his bad year (so far) he is a very good player. His shot is off this year (so far) yet he is still having a good year.

I would probably still stay away from maxing him.

holfresh wrote:

Nalod wrote:I have no problem with Lebron calling out his teammate!
If its on court stuff, thats cool. Thats what leaders are for.

But in social media and initially denying it??..Never speaking to Love about it??..Love still isn't sure it was meant for him..LeBron is weak and is not a leader, he is their best player..There is a difference...

Shouldn't be for social media, but you know its a different era and mistakes are made. Lebron is not weak, You don't take a team to 5 finals if your weak and your the best player on the planet.
No, he's not jordan.

SwishAndDish13 wrote:I find it hysterical that people consistently tout LeBron's leadership when stuff like this clearly demonstrates that he is not a leader. Not sure why the media feels that every great player has to be a great leader.

leader just means that you make other players better.

mreinman wrote:

SwishAndDish13 wrote:I find it hysterical that people consistently tout LeBron's leadership when stuff like this clearly demonstrates that he is not a leader. Not sure why the media feels that every great player has to be a great leader.

leader just means that you make other players better.

That's an interesting interpretation of the definition. Makes sense, but not in line with the context for how it is used typically when describing players.