Quality performances from Cleveland Cavaliers guard Matthew Dellavedova in Games 2 and 3 of the NBA Finals made him one of the most endearing figures of the series.
It began with the 6-foot-4 Aussie's stifling defense on Stephen Curry at Oracle Arena in Game 2, helping force the Golden State Warriors sharpshooter into the most missed 3-point attempts ever in a Finals game.
When Matthew Dellavedova guarded Steph Curry, the MVP didn't make a single basket. #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/ArMCD5z8lI
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 8, 2015
Dellavedova followed up that outing with 20 points, five rebounds and four assists in Game 3 as the Cavaliers took a 2-1 series lead.
The Warriors weren't pleased with all of the media attention Dellavedova received following that game, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer's Chris Haynes:
Sources within the Warriors' organization say they were "pissed off" and "irked" by the media attention Dellavedova was receiving and the narrative of the Australian "locking down" the league's MVP.
As for Curry, he was annoyed too, I'm told.
"People have lit a fire under Steph, which is good thing," Andrew Bogut told NEOMG. "It's something that you don't want to do. It worked out well. We know Delly is a great defender, but we know he's not a Curry stopper."
Everyone enjoys rooting for an underdog, which explains Delly's soaring popularity during this series. He emerged from obscurity to become the second-most important player for the Cavaliers as Kyrie Irving recovers from a broken knee cap he suffered late in Game 1.
Curry's reported annoyance is understandable, though, as the praise being thrust upon Dellavedova can be overbearing. Curry has a proven track record of success, while Delly has two above-average games and all of a sudden becomes the NBA's new sensation.
Game 4 provided Curry the opportunity to remind everyone who the league's MVP is, dropping a team-high 22 points as Golden State cruised to a 103-82 win. Dellavedova, who battled cramping and fatigue throughout, only mustered 10 points on 3-of-14 shooting.
With Game 5 taking place on Sunday night, Curry and company can put Cleveland's title dreams on life support by winning on their home floor.
