The name throws you off: Matthew Dellavedova.
He sounds like a soap actor or the follow-up hit to rock band Oasis’ “Champagne Supernova.” His appearance crinkles the forehead. Dellavedova runs a squatty 6-foot-4 with a beard and disheveled hair. He looks familiar, until you realize that no, he’s not Michael J. Fox in “Teen Wolf.”
Dellavedova is everything an NBA Finals star is not. Half his shots look like they are alley-oop attempts to ghosts. He fires jumpers that conjure up images of out-of-shape rec leaguers. He has bags under his eyes, appearing as though he stayed up late studying for finals rather than playing in them.
Yet, he is the mutt who refuses to lose the wag in his tail.
Perhaps that’s why he loves diving at knees at the sight of a loose ball. This tactic has rubbed opponents wrong, with allegations of dirty play. Atlanta’s Kyle Korver underwent surgery on his right ankle after Dellavedova rolled up on him while scrambling for a turnover in the Eastern Conference finals. It began the backlash and flamed the anger toward Dellavedova. Al Horford was ejected in the next game for attempting a WWE elbow drop on Dellavedova’s head.
Dellavedova is a lot of things to a lot of people. But he is Cleveland. America’s most suffering sports city loves grinders, guys with rolled-up sleeves and lunch pails. The Cavaliers host Game 4 on Thursday night with a chance to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals. Undermanned and sabotaged by injuries, the Cavs have created doubt in the NBA’s best team.
Golden State looked rattled, out of rhythm, out of sync and out of options in its Game 3 loss. Those are the side effects caused by a dose of Dellavedova. He makes the game ugly. The Warriors keep praying for a rain of 3s and instead are left slipping around in the mud.
Dellavedova spent so much time in Steph Curry’s head during Game 3, he should have been charged rent. Worse for Golden State, the Australian who is barely known in his home country scored a season-high 20 points, including an off-balance, beautifully clumsy runner late in the fourth.
Part of the charm of sports is its unpredictability. It represents the best reality TV. Nobody saw Dellavedova doing this, turning into LeBron James’ bodyguard.
As I have aged, I have grown less enthralled with the underdog. It provides moments but becomes forgotten quickly. Wisconsin deserved to play for the NCAA hoops title, but I wanted to see Kentucky make history and go undefeated. American Pharoah will be remembered forever. California Chrome? Not so much.
Dellavedova is not your typical after-school special cliché. He’s annoying, like the guy who talks too much at the office. But in this setting, on this stage, his genuineness is refreshing. He averaged 4.8 points per game during the regular season, a typical role player.
Given extra minutes, he has responded like we all like to think we would if given the opportunity. That full effort is so applauded reflects the changing value of sports. Glitz rules over grit. Dunk over the back pick. And, let’s be honest, some try-hard players are just eyewash, creating well-founded cynicism.
Dellavedova, the Aussie with the Hollywood name, is eye-opening. Raw and real. He hustled so much in Game 3, he landed in the emergency room because of leg cramps.
That’s who he is, perfectly reflecting the city he represents. It’s why, as so many opponents have grown to loathe him, that Dellavedova is becoming increasingly easy to root for.
Troy E. Renck: trenck@denverpost.com or
