Matthew Dellavedova Stars For Cleveland, As Cavs Sail Into Conference Finals

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Published

May 15, 2015

‘Strayan legend, defensive bulldog, and the kind of player every team could use one of, Matthew Dellavedova had his moment in the sun today, putting in arguably his best performance for the Cleveland Cavaliers, leading the team in scoring and dominating his direct opponents as the Cavs routed the Chicago Bulls to wrap up their NBA playoff series and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.

After starting point guard Kyrie Irving aggravated his previous knee tendinitis and was taken out of the game as a precautionary measure by coach David Blatt, Delly assumed the lead guard role for the majority of the game and delivered in spades.

Delly drained a team-high 19 points from 7-11 shooting – including 3 of 6 made from beyond the 3 point arc – and backed that up with an assist and two rebounds from 34 total on-court minutes.

But as usual it was Dellavedova’s trademark tenacious defence that proved the decisive factor. Delly helped the Cavs blanket the Bulls, holding them to just 13 fourth quarter points, as the Cavs completed the blow out to down Chicago 94-73 and wrap the series up with 4 games to 2.

Blatt was full of praise for the dogged Aussie legend, “For an undrafted kid to do what he did, that’s admirable.” Meanwhile LeBron James, who’s game was decidedly quiet in comparison, also acknowledged Delly’s relentless efforts, “He’s not the most athletic, fastest, doesn’t shoot as well as some of the other point guards in this league but I’ll put him out there against anybody.“

The Cavs Twitter account was quick to embrace the Delly fever during the game.

Dinner is served.

#Cavs lead 41-40. #ALLinCLE pic.twitter.com/TcUEpqmduu

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 15, 2015

MORE BUCKETS.

#ALLinCLE pic.twitter.com/U5skot34uS

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 15, 2015

So much Delly. ????

#ALLinCLE pic.twitter.com/pfTLZbHcag

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 15, 2015

And the internet writ large has had themselves a field day.

When Kyrie is out, Kevin Love is out, LeBron is playing sub par, and Delly is breaking your ankles pic.twitter.com/7gkg8jIH9i

— Sports Nation Ohio (@SN_Ohio) May 15, 2015

Matthew dellavedova @joehaden23 #nbaplayoffs #CavsNation #CavsBulls #cavs lebron #LeBronJames
Delly: I CALLED GAME! pic.twitter.com/8ClSfgda9V

— Ed (@Eddie2136) May 15, 2015

Delly to lebron pic.twitter.com/EiuqdFUGAc

— Tyler Lance (@TyLance1) May 15, 2015

Someone put it as LeBron, but now it says Delly owns them: pic.twitter.com/lIYQf3UGkB

— Troy Glover (@GloverTroy) May 15, 2015

The Cavs will face the winner of the Atlanta Hawks/Washington Wizards series in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Hawks currently lead the best-of-seven series against the Wizards, 3 games to 2.

Photo: Jonathan Daniel via Getty Images.