I think Love and Kyrie sitting the whole quarter was sending a message as well as it was trying to win the game. They were both horrendous in the minutes that they played. Kyrie went back to playing selfish no defense basketball and Love stopped doing everything once he missed shots.
Along with zero rim protection (besides LeBron playing the back line of defense as a roaming safety), this is the biggest issue on the team and will likely remain so until Kevin and Kyrie fully "get it" and exorcise all their bad old habits that came from years of playing on losing teams.
I said this in the Open Thread maybe two weeks ago --
Kevin and Kyrie are mentally weak. That was probably the wrong way to word it, but the point is the same. They are the Achilles Heel of the team, the spot you are hoping to force to crumble if you are to defeat the Cavs. At least among the "major" portions of the team.
In the grand scheme of things, this was an excellent year for both Kevin and Kyrie. Both had their best seasons with LeBron around. Kyrie has really come around, more and more, to moving the ball at a greater rate. Things look promising for both players' future.
Still, there is progress yet to be made by both Kyrie and Kevin as regards focus and defensive effort. And when and how to "turn the switch" and keep it turned, and so forth.
This is no surprise. LeBron, who is extremely mentally strong now, had to go through similar lessons in his own career.
Once Kevin and Kyrie fully "figure it out," we will be nearly unbeatable. Hopefully that happens sooner rather than later. Last year was a giant step for them both in terms of 'mental toughness' development.