Matthew Dellavedova

[EdMonix11]

I do think he improved.

Example: His 3pt FG is good. But in regular season, I remember him missing a lot of open 3 pointers that actually mattered, at important moments of the game. He used to make lots of them in garbage time.

On these playoffs, he's constantly hitting 3 points at crucial times. He hit one today, at the end of the 1st quarter.

Also, based only on eye test, I have a feeling he's finding open guys at more ease than during the regular season. And he does seem to be more confident.

Also this perception is due to an injured Kyrie. When he replaced Kyrie in the regular season the level dropped instantly. But now, with Kyrie injured, he's actually improving the team going in. I don't remember seeing that a lot in the regular season. Also silly mistakes are reduced.

Delly is shooting worse in the playoffs than he did in the regular season so.....

Anyways, Delly has improved as the season has progressed but it has nothing to do with his shooting at all. His biggest improvement is his ball handling and confidence in running the offense. LeBron isn't afraid to lay into him, and he's done it multiple times in the Playoffs in a very public manner. It's always about the same thing-- Delly dribbling away from the pick-n-roll or waving it off. He's needed that kick in the ass to have the confidence to dribble the ball in tight spaces with confidence and help impact the team in ways other than just a spot-up three-point shooter and pesky defender. Good back-up PG's are worth their weight in gold in the playoffs and a bad one is almost a sure way to get bounced early.

 

[K1rieIrving>AllOtherPG's]

People always say things like, he's too small or too slow or that we need to replace him....
You can't teach heart,effort and basketball IQ and you certinatly can't replace it.

 

[Mickorat]

I think you would also find that Delly wouldn't hold anything against his critics. He'll just let his play make him or break him. I'm happy he's getting some recognition as a contributing member of the team. That contribution would be what he would value the most I'm sure.

On the melee or "altercation" today, just WOW, really not much in it, he got an elbow in the jaw and a push in the back and a nudge in the ass. As a fan i was more than happy to see the back of Gibson but I've seen way worse let go. I'm sure Delly is having a chuckle and shaking his head that it resulted in an ejection.

 

[NeilR]

More Marx brothers than basketball!

 

[gaitano]

Did I miss something? How did buttholes cum to light? Other than Taj looking like a shaved butthole. Did you see him push Delly to the floor 3 or 4 plays prior to that hole debacle?

Also, that is highly subjective and a few fruitcakes here would disagree.



Scissorgate

Images: wrestling jiu jitsu leglock, wrestling jiu jitsu scissor grip
Delly never even tried to lock his ankles together, but if you read about "Cleveland Cavaliers lock" today you won't find anything about how last night's game is going to help the Cavs lock up this series. Cleveland-hating media and self-hating Cavs fans, what a combo.

 

[gaitano]

Best view I've found, Delly does do a push-up trying to hold-on, still not really a leg-lock though, but probably enough for Gibson to avoid suspension.
On to game six!

 

[Dungong]

I thought in the second or 2 before this that Gibson intentionally fall backs on Dells while both are on the ground (because Taj puched Delly down to begin with), kind of a hip check. Delly's legs come together as he tries to get up, and hes got Taj's leg in between. I wouldn't call it a leg lock, but it does escalate things a bit. Then Gibson clearly does a kicking motion and gets Delly's leg with it.

I think the early Flagrant 2 and ejection were probably to prevent things from escalating further. Kind of like how Perkins should have been ejected against the Celtics

 

[KilgoreTrout]

Delly would have never BEEN on the ground, if Gibson doesn't elbow him in the back of the head. I thought Delly could have said something like, "I was just protecting myself. The dude had just bulldogged me to the ground, and he still had his foot next to my crotch. I thought he might have tried to kick me THEN."

Watch the whole sequence. Delly got position on him. And then he roughed Delly up. Smart play by Delly. Punk play by Gibson.

 

[Mdog1]

Delly would have never BEEN on the ground, if Gibson doesn't elbow him in the back of the head. I thought Delly could have said something like, "I was just protecting myself. The dude had just bulldogged me to the ground, and he still had his foot next to my crotch. I thought he might have tried to kick me THEN."

Watch the whole sequence. Delly got position on him. And then he roughed Delly up. Smart play by Delly. Punk play by Gibson.

This is how I see it. A guy bowls you over because he has 60 pounds on you, you defend yourself when you're vulnerable.

 

[aldamon]

LeBron's breakdown of the altercation is amazing, I urge anyone to watch the post presser once it's uploaded. You can tell how much he loves having Delly on the team.

http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/postgame-lebron-james-kyrie-irving-may-12

Fast forward to 7:47. Outstanding answer from LeBron.

 

[Lebronimal]

To me this is the same type of sequence as if, for instance, Delly had continued to hold Gibson's arm for a few seconds after the whistle blew and then Gibson punches him in the stomach. Would the media be crying for Delly to get a technical in that circumstance? I dont see how it is different because Delly locked up his leg instead of an arm.

 

[spydy13]

Guys just don't like Delly because he's pesky. He does all the little things that most players in the league don't, like boxing out a big. Gibson was just frustrated that he actually had to fight for that rebound, so he just went right through him.

I'm also guessing that Raja Bell has taught Delly all the tricks to getting into a guy's head as well.

 

[SteelSmack]

Here's a direct link to the LeBron question and response (jump to 7:27).

 

[Scar4343]

Taj Gison is a bitch. I noticed him giving Delly a forearm shiver Game 3 and recorded it, this coming after Delly smartly put a body on the first guy he saw.


There's what, four personal fouls in a span of two seconds there? You'd never guess it, but they all went uncalled!

Here's hoping Gibson gets suspended for the rest of the series, that piece of shit.

It says the video is Private so I can't see it.

 

[Douglar]

I do think he improved.

Example: His 3pt FG is good. But in regular season, I remember him missing a lot of open 3 pointers that actually mattered, at important moments of the game. He used to make lots of them in garbage time.

I'm loving Delly in the Bulls series, but in the playoffs, matchups can really overshadow talent for a role player like Delly.

The matchups against Boston were horrible for Delly. Delly's stats were horrible too.

TS% 39.2%
Ast% 17.6%​

The matchups against Chicago are great for Delly. Delly's stats look great.

TS% 65.6%
Ast% 32.0%​