‘Mad Men’ Finale Predictions: WFNY Roundtable
May 15, 2015On the Tribe’s Wayne Garland, and efforts that backfire
May 15, 2015“Obviously we don’t get this win without 13 and 17 from this guy [pointing at Thompson] and 19 [pointing at Dellavedova] and just how in-tuned they were from the start,” declares LeBron James about the importance of Tristan Thompson and Matthew Dellavedova to the Cleveland Cavaliers in their Game 6 victory over the Chicago Bulls. These two players were, at many times in the series, the heart and soul of the Cavaliers. But it was the series clinching win in Game 6, when Tristan had a double-double Dellavedova led the team in scoring, that their individual efforts became more clear
Thompson and Dellavedova were the constant motors for the Cavs in their second round series versus the Bulls. They came into the series to do the dirty work with effort, but also came out of it showing that they can make the big plays for the team when needed.
“These two, as hard as they play, as a coach and as a leader for me, you have no problem with them making mistakes because of how hard they are playing and their intentions are,” explained LeBron James after the Game 6 victory. “They give everything to the team and you don’t mind when they make a mistake. You rarely see it because they’re out there just playing hard and they’re giving everything they got.”
Over the six games versus the Bulls, Thompson averaged 9.3 points along with 11.2 total rebounds, four offensive rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. Dellavedova averaged 8.3 points and 3.7 assists. Not eye-popping numbers, but when these two were on the floor, the team played well. Thompson had a plus-42 differential, while Dellavedova was plus-27 over the six game series. On defense, the two unassuming member of the Cavaliers had two of the four best defensive ratings on the team, with Thompson earning a 98.0 rating and Dellavedova earning a 96.5 rating.
“They give everything to the team and you don’t mind when they make a mistake. You rarely see it because they’re out there just playing hard and they’re giving everything they got.”
– LeBron James
Thompson was the biggest pest for the Bulls. He ravaged them in the paint with his rebounding, especially on the offensive side. He was able to singlehandily get past multiple Bulls post players using his athleticism, effort and toughness. He wanted it more. His presence on the boards also opened up other opportunities for his teammates to gain the rebound, sometimes getting the hockey assist for helping his teammate gain possession of the rebound. It got so tough for the Bulls that they had to start assigning two players to try and block out the active big man.
But, Thompson did not just cover the boards. He also was a factor in scoring in the paint and defending the Bulls. His 53.8 percent from the field was the highest percentage of the entire team. He finished very strong, including many alley-oop passes from the likes of Dellavedova and James. On defense, Thompson was extremely affective guarding the pick and roll. He is such a good athlete that he was able to switch onto smaller guards and be able to stay in front of them in most situations. In many scenarios, he forced the Bulls’ guards to take a long jumper because he did not let them get past him for a drive to the basket. At the basket, he contested many shots, causing many to be altered and missed. Cavs Head Coach David Blatt summed up Thompson’s performance after Game 5 very well saying, “He’s been in many closing situations and has given us yeoman’s work. Every time he’s in there, he never steps away from it. That’s his identity and he lives it … But he’s in the fray all the time. He makes big plays that don’t necessarily show up as points.”
Dellavedova was the surprise player of the series. Over the course of the season, fans, including this one, thought the team would need to obtain a backup point guard so that the Cavs would not have to rely on Dellavedova. But in this series versus the Bulls, he showed that he was ready for the challenge. He was a huge boost off the bench in the series with his ability to make open shots, shooting 42.9 percent on 3.5 three point attempts per game and shooting 53.1 percent from the field on 5.3 shot attempts per game. He was not a liability on the floor because of his ability to knock down open shots. Offensively, he also was able to run the offense well when Kyrie Irving was on the bench, which was more often because of his multitude of injuries. Dellavedova was able to get shots for teammates, including a lot of alley-oops to Thompson. His offensive performance in the series was capped off with his team leading 19 points in the Game 6 victory on Thursday.
Many times throughout the series, Dellavedova was charged with guarding the Bulls’ Derrick Rose. Dellavedova is not a great athlete, so you would think he might struggle guarding the super athletic Rose. But, he did a heck of a job in making Rose work for everything on offense. On many occasions, he was able to stay in front of Rose and force the Bulls’ star to shoot a jumper. He was never a liability on the floor during the series.
“He embodies all the good things you want to see in players and teammates,” praised David Blatt after the Game 6 victory. “He competes. That kid is a competitor. He’s not where he is without being a competitor.”
Thompson and Dellavedova were the engines of the Cavaliers’ team during the series against the Chicago Bulls. You can tell from the comments of James and the rest of the team that these two players are admired by their teammates because of their effort and team mentality. Going forward, the Cavaliers will have the luxury of two players who will go out there and do the quote-unquote dirty work. There is not another team in the playoffs afforded such.
14 Comments
Delly was so uncharacteristically assertive on offense. When he made that spin move in the lane, in the playoffs, on the road … just not your regular season Delly. I commented late last summer that if he can develop some reliable aspect of an offensive game – a jumper, something – he’ll be in the league a long while and make a lot of money. Maybe a somewhat bigger and better Kirk Hinrich, a smart and tough coach’s dream type guy. He generally seems to know where the ball should go within the offense, even if he can’t always get it there. But a reliable jumper will make all that easier, and on defense you can’t coach grit.
And Tristan has already earned a boatload of money the last 3 weeks. Every GM in the league, every star player looking for help, has watched him lay waste to two teams in high def national broadcasts. These two series have morphed him from Andy’s understudy to the new team sheriff, just entering his prime. When he was submarined, hit the shot, landed on his shoulder and popped right back up ready for more … damn, that had to mess with the Bulls heads.
and another thing before we leave this series: if Taj Gibson thinks fans throwing stuff at players is typical low class Cleveland, I’d like to know what he thinks about the United Center roaring at the completely unprovoked clothesline applied to Shumpert.
You stay classy, Bulls fans.
They cheered when LBJ had his back wrenched it happens everywhere.
Derek Anderson thinks it’s classy that they weren’t cheering their own players injuries at least
I dunno man, this Delly stuff is over the top. He had a nice game. A bigger, better Kirk Heinrich? Heinrich was a borderline all-star in like 04-07. Delly might turn into a nice eighth man, as opposed to the limited eighth man he is now.
IF. If he develops an offensive game. He had one last night. Boobie had one, one night long ago. But if he does develop that reliable game he’s a starting PG for mediocre to bad teams, a reliable back up/spot starter for good teams. Those guys hang around and collect decent NBA checks for years.
It’s possible I guess. This talk hearkens me back though, to the days when the Cavs had seven players who could barely dunk, finished 26-56, and led the league in intangibles.
in related news, you can catch Ramon Sessions with the Wizards
was going to mention Sessions but actually think he’s more athletic. Going way back, guys like Darnell Valentine. There’s been dozens of them and if they can stick a 12 footer and the occasional three they’re always needed somewhere until they can’t move their feet on defense.
you think that’s funny? you think I’m laughing?
to be fair, it was low class. I hate that crap. I was at Bottlegate, in the lower stands, a section from where the refs went out the tunnel. It was scary. People can get seriously hurt by a fan throwing any kind of debris. I’d be mad if I were him, too.
However, it goes with the territory, and if you make millions to play basketball it’s probably not that bad to have to dodge a paper airplane or two…
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