Matthew Dellavedova is shining in return to Cavaliers
Matthew Dellavedova has shined in his return to Cleveland. His second stint in a Cavaliers uniform has been quite productive.
Most did not expect much out of Matthew Dellavedova in his return to the Cleveland Cavaliers. While he is far from dominant, he has been a productive backup to Collin Sexton in the Cleveland backcourt.
In 19.4 minutes per game Dellavedova is averaging 9.8 points per game on 51.6 percent shooting from the field. This includes a current career-high 47.1 percent from three-point range. Dellavedova is also shooting 57.1 percent on two-point shots, this too is a career-high. While history says that these numbers will inevitably dip, it is encouraging to see this type of success shooting the ball.
Dellavedova is averaging four assists per game this season in Cleveland. This is his highest total since his first season in Milwaukee, a year which Dellavedova averaged 4.7 assists per game. This is not the result of being surrounded by superior talent, but just good passing from Dellavedova. Cleveland is a team that struggles to shoot consistently, but he still finds a way to help his teammates score.
The Impact of Matthew Dellavedova on Collin Sexton
This could be one of the more overlooked aspects of the return of Matthew Dellavedova, his impact on rookie Collin Sexton. Before Dellavedova returned Sexton struggled with his passing when driving the lane. As many know, this is a strength of Dellavedova.
When driving the lane the Australian guard frequently finds teammates slashing to the basket or trading behind him for an easy bucket. As time has gone on with Dellavedova on the team, Sexton’s play in this situation has improved. Previously Sexton would put up contested layups and overall poor shots, now he is finding teammates for the easy score. While some of this can be attributed to growing more accustomed to the NBA, some credit belongs to Dellavedova. The plays Sexton is now making are nearly identical to the ones that Dellavedova makes on a nightly basis.
The veteran presence and overall impact of Matthew Dellavedova will continue to show with Collin Sexton and others on the Cavaliers roster. Young teams always need veteran players to look up to and Dellavedova is one of the few veterans currently on the roster. While only 28 he has experienced varying levels of success in the NBA and that experience can help guide the younger players on the team through a crucial part of their careers.
