Dellavedova needs to be suspended and fined. Disgusting...
I think I will respectfully disagree. I think the media is trying to push this narrative, but I for one am not buying it.
Please take a look at the Cavs starting five:
Matthew Dellavedova / Iman Shumpert / LeBron James / Tristan Thompson / Timofey Mozgov
Two of their 'Big 3' are out (in KLove and Irving). Their starting center was lost early in the season. They are playing their role players throughout this playoff run. Just go back and read the names again...
They are playing the Hawks, who were media sweethearts throughout the season, at the ECF. Atlanta's roster has 4 all-stars (Jeff Teague, Kyle Korver, Paul Millsap, and Al Horford) and they are coached by the newly decorated COY (Mike Budenholzer). They finished #1 in the East. Yet the Cavs are leading this series 3-0, after beating Atlanta twice on the road, and have a chance to sweep them at home on Tuesday.
Why is that?
Sure, they have LeBron on the team. He is arguably THAT great. But their role players are supporting him by putting their hearts out on the floor. And I admire that. I even envy that, to be honest.
And Matthew Dellavedova was a questionable NBA player up until a month ago. Hell, even the Cavs tried looking for a backup PG at trade deadline. But this guy proves all doubters wrong. And he does that not by playing dirty, but by putting his best efforts on the floor every single second. Kindly look at the video evidence and see if it supports the 'playing dirty' storyline. This guy from down under is not the most aesthetic player in the world, I agree. But I just wish that we had players with similar hard-nosed mind-set on our bench. I believe our record would have benefited and I believe DMC would have a unit he could be proud of marching and leading into battle.
It will be interesting to see if Cleveland will be labelled as the 'bad boys' if and when they get head to head at the finals with the Warriors. I don't see them going as favourites, as GS basketball has been admired for all throughout the season. But I hope they will do what brought them this far - put on a hell of fight every single game. That is something I will always respect in a team.
As you remember, it worked out fine for Detroit not that long ago, and I think it is too bad we don't see more of that in Sac Town.