The Cavs' backup point guard struggled in limited minutes in
Game 1, then found himself thrust into the starting role for Game 2 of the NBA
Finals facing the league's Most Valuable Player and the most dangerous shooter
on earth. Just as he did in the Eastern Conference Finals vs. Atlanta,
Dellavedova came out and won his defensive matchup.
Steph Curry shot 5-of-23 from the field and 2-of-12 from
3-point range in the Warriors' 95-93 Game 2 loss in overtime to the Cavaliers.
With Dellavedova defending, Curry went 0-for-6 in Game 2, and with
"Delly" on the floor, just 3-for-18. So what was it that Dellavedova
did to disrupt the great Steph Curry?
"Nothing really," was Curry's response after the
game. "Just besides playing their game plan and playing defense like every
pro is supposed to. Not giving up on any possession." "Not much"
was Shaun Livingston's response when asked what impact Dellavedova had on
Curry. "I"m not saying he's a bad defensive player," Livingston
said hedging, "but Steph can get pretty much any shot he wants on you, and
he's made some huge shots in these playoffs. So we're not as worried about that
as we are the team offense,"
Dellavedova kept a hand on Curry the entire possession,
faceguard him, denied him the ball as long as possible and stuck with him
through every move.
"I doubt this will happen again," Curry said about
his shooting woes, "with the adjustments I'll make once I'll look at the
film. And like I said, one game is not going to make me stop shooting or alter
my confidence at all."
Dellavedova's stat line seems so benign. 3-of-10 from the
field for nine points, five rebounds, just one assist and three steals. However,
the Cavaliers outscored the Warriors by 15 points with Dellavedova on the
floor, by 17 when Curry and 'Dova shared the floor.
LeBron James was why the Cavaliers won Game 2. That can't be
denied, but when the Cavaliers needed heroism it wasn't just Dellavedova's
defense. He secured the offensive rebound in overtime that drew a foul, putting
him at the line with a chance to secure the lead for Cleveland. The youngster
from Down Under calmly sank both free throws to regain the lead for the Cavs.
"It had everything to do with Delly," James said
of the Cavaliers' success against Curry. "He just kept a body on Steph. He
made Steph work. He was spectacular, man, defensively. We needed everything
from him. When Steph shoots the ball, you just automatically think it's going
in because he shoots the ball so well. He just did a great job."
The Cavs were going to need someone or someones to step up
in Game 2 without Irving. Typically you think of that as someone who makes big
shots, has a big offensive game. Instead, the Cavaliers got a 6-4 Australian
backup point guard who came in and locked down on Chef Curry like an anaconda,
and because of it, they head back to Cleveland with a 1-1 series in the NBA
Finals.
