Gilbert left open only the very tiniest sliver that Love could perhaps return very late in the playoffs. Based on everything that was said, even if he did manage to return Willis Reed style, he'd be a shadow of his former self offensively. And it's not like his defense would make up for that. Maybe a poor man's James Jones.
The Willis Reed thing is the most overhyped episode in NBA history, and the only reason it is part of NBA lore is that it was played up in the media center of the world by big-mouthed New Yorkers. Had it happened anywhere else, even in Boston, it would be a minor footnote at best. The Knicks won that game because Clyde Frazier went off for 36 points and 19 assists, not because Reed tossed in a lousy 2 buckets.
It's a big deal in basketball history because despite New York being the alleged "Mecca of Basketball", their Knicks franchise hadn't won a championship since the league began way back in 1946, and the rival city of Boston had won 11 championships in the last 15 years. So if they couldn't have the greatest franchise, by God they were going to manufacture the greatest story.
Any hope of a Kevin Love "Willis Reed" moment is based on nothing more than a manufactured myth concocted by New York sportswriters. If we're going to win it, it's going to be without Love making any meaningful contribution other than being a right-handed towel waver.