Photo Credit: The Cleveland Plain Dealer
Matthew Dellavedova has slowly become a fan favorite in Cleveland by disrupting opposing teams with his gritty defense and hustle plays. Dellavedova forced Bulls forward Taj Gibson to lose his cool and get ejected in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals.
Recently Dellavedova caused the Atlanta Hawks to lose sharp shooting Kyle Korver to an ankle injury which requires surgery, and the infamous people’s elbow Al Horford performed on Dellavedova in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals which forced officials to eject Horford.
His play in the Eastern Conference Finals forced some very harsh words from Hawks announcer Steve Holman.
LOL at @RealVoiceofHawk referring to Dellavedova as “Tonya Harding”
— Mike Conti (@MikeConti929) May 27, 2015
So clearly Dellavedova is not a fan favorite in Atlanta, and obviously not by the Hawks radio announcers as well. Dellavedova has been taking some serious heat after being labeled as a dirty player for his antics in the post-season whether it’s for his hustle or “dirty play” which agitated the Hawks, which helped get the team off track from the real goal of stopping The Cavs.
A defensive pest who even aggravates his own teammates in practice, but is it truly fair to call him Tonya Harding? Bruce Bowen an excellent perimeter defender and much like Delly he was a nuisance, but nationally Bowen was never really under scrutiny during his playing days like Dellavedova has been lately.
Dellavedova an undrafted free agent last season had to make a name for himself to get on an underwhelming Cavaliers roster, and did that by impressing defensive minded Head Coach Mike Brown with the defense Dellavedova displayed all year long.
Steve Holman’s comments may have been bitter, but it did add a bit of comic relief to a miserable Eastern Conference Finals for the Atlanta Hawks which came to an end Tuesday night.
Do you think Dellavedova’s play is being criticized fairly? Is he a dirty player?
Let us know @NBAOnDefPen.
