http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2014/12/cleveland_cavaliers_have_fourt_1.html
Welcome back, Delly – The final box score wasn't much. Six points. Three rebounds. Five assists. But Matthew Dellavedova had his pesky fingerprints all over the Cavs' win against Toronto.
"We've been waiting for Matty to come back," Blatt admitted. "He's a big part of what we do. He gives us a steady hand off the bench. He gives us great energy and activity on the defensive end and he plays simple and smart on the offensive end. Given that this was only his second game back and he's been out for more than four weeks, his performance was just outstanding against very, very high-level NBA guards."
After having his minutes restricted Monday night against Brooklyn in his first game back from a knee injury, the handcuffs were off Dellavedova as he played 21 minutes, including the entire fourth quarter. It was his calling card, defense, that helped the Cavs rally late.
"He's just scrappy, man," James said. "Delly is a guy that's always been counted out. Saying he can't make it, he can't do this, he can't shoot enough, not fast enough, not tall enough. One thing about it: Heart and effort will take a way a lot of the things that you cannot do. I'll take a guy like that any day on my team."
James believes Dellavedova reminds him of a former teammate that helped the Heat win two titles.
"I had Norris Cole on my team in Miami," James said. "He was the same type of guy. We called him the pit bull. You just put him out there on anybody and he's always going to be successful and know you can never discredit how he goes about the game and how hard he plays. You put him out there for 20 seconds and it will be the hardest 20 seconds he ever played, like he'll never play again... Everything they do won't show up in the box score but teammates and people that know the game know he made an impact."
Dellavedova was floored when he heard about the praise he received from James.
"That's the highest compliment you can pay a teammate," he said. "It really means a lot to me."
Dellavedova was everywhere in the fourth quarter. He guarded Kyle Lowry, who shot 1-of-8 in the final 12 minutes and 6-of-18 on the night. He fronted the bigger Patrick Patterson in the post. He matched up with James Johnson at times and contested shots from Terrence Ross.
He took charges, dove on the floor for loose balls, hit some big shots and made a pair of slick passes to Tristan Thompson, which led to the first four points of the fourth quarter.
Most of all, he frustrated the Raptors.
"That's what I try to do each time I come in," Dellavedova said. "Every time I'm out there I just try to do whatever it takes to win, do whatever we need."
He did that and more. Irving couldn't hold back his smile when asked about the man who occupies the locker next to him.
"He's incredible," Irving said. "He's awesome. We have developed such a great relationship. Having my brother back out there. Knowing what you're going to get from him every night is 150 percent. Incredible professional and incredible teammate to have. I know everyone in this locker room appreciates him. I'm just glad we have him back."
Dellavedova plays with a chip on his shoulder. He knows toughness, defense and energy are things expected of him. He's been cut from teams. He went undrafted, which Delly considers the same as getting cut. Those things won't soon be forgotten.
"Growing up you always hear the story of Michael Jordan getting cut from his high school team," Dellavedova said after the game. "I still remember getting cut at my Under-12 team and never wanting to have that feeling again. It's going to happen again and again and it's about how you deal with bad and a lot of success. Just working. In the end it's going to pay off. If not in the specific thing you are doing, it's going to pay off in something else down the road."
It's earned him a prime spot in Blatt's rotation. If people were wondering early in the year why Blatt chooses Delly to close out games, Tuesday highlighted the reasons. Rebounds. Energy. Defense. He knows how to play and makes a difference. Many of the Cavs' best lineups this season have featured him, and it's not by coincidence.
"He's non-stop," Kevin Love said. "We love him. He's great. He takes charges, will guard anyone one through five and do anything he can."