Matthew Dellavedova’s Case for Most Improved Player
By Jared Kungle
Matthew Dellavedova was a cult hero last year, could he be the Most Improved Player this year?
During his 2.5 seasons suiting up for the wine and gold, Matthew Dellavedova has stolen the hearts of fans throughout Northeast Ohio. His consistent hustle makes him a player any coach would love to have on his team — even the coaches who voted him as the NBA’s dirtiest player.
Coming off a masterful collegiate career, where he became St. Mary’s all-time leader in points (1933), assists (778), three-pointers made (228) and free throw percentage (86%), Dellavedova clawed his way into the league thanks to his ability to facilitate an offense, along with his heart and hustle as well.
His claim to fame, however, was his performance during the 2015 playoffs. “Delly” became the Cavaliers’ unlikely hero when star point guard Kyrie Irving was sidelined in game one of the NBA finals against the Golden State Warriors with a broken left knee.
A strong playoff outing eventually led to an offseason payday for the Aussie. The Cavaliers inked the 25-year-old to a one-year, $1.2 million contract back in July, and the they are now reaping the benefits.
In his third season with the Cavaliers, Dellavedova is scoring the ball at the highest rate of his young career, netting 43% of his shots from the field and behind the arc. That 43% from three-point territory puts him at seventh in the association.
Not only is Delly shooting the ball at an efficient rate, he is also keeping the ball safe while doing so. With an average of 4.9 assists per game and just 1.5 turnovers per game, his assist-to-turnover ratio is 3.24, which is good enough for fifth in the league, and better than notable players such as Tony Parker and Rajon Rondo.
Numbers like these beg the question: Is Matthew Dellavedova making a case for this year’s most improved player?
Last Season: 4.8 points, 3 assists, 1.9 rebounds, 36/40/76.
This Season: 8.2 points, 4.9 assists, 2.4 rebounds, 43/43/90.
Though his numbers aren’t jaw-dropping, Dellavedova’s numbers have improved across the board in his third season. To determine whether or not Delly deserves the honor of 2015-16’s “Most Improved Player”, it would be appropriate to look at the competition:
McCollum spent a majority of the 2014-15 campaign coming off the Portland Trail Blazers bench behind Wesley Matthews, starting just three games. After losing key contributors, such as Matthews and LaMarcus Aldridge, via free agency, McCollum’s role with the Trail Blazers grew substantially.
Being inserted into the starting backcourt alongside Damian Lillard, McCollum has made the most of the opportunity. In 45 games, the Canton, Ohio native has averaged an impressive 20.8 points, 4.4 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game. These numbers are a huge step forward from the 24-year-old’s previous season, where he averaged 6.8 points, 1.5 rebounds and one assist per game.
In his fourth year in the league out of Connecticut, Andre Drummond has been a force to be reckoned with. He currently leads the NBA in rebounds, averaging 15.2 per game, and is in the top 20 in blocked shots, rejecting 1.4 shots per contest, all while maintaining a scoring average of 17.3 points per game.
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Just less than a year removed from playing in a crowded frontcourt with Josh Smith and Greg Monroe, Drummond is striving with a stretch-four in the lineup in the starting lineup in Ersan Ilyasova, rather than someone like Monroe. Drummond has led the Detroit Pistons to a 25-21 record thus far, and is a big reason they are currently sitting at sixth place in the Eastern conference.
Matthew Dellavedova may not be averaging 20+ points per game, or leading the league in rebounds, but 44 games into the 2015-16 campaign he has already surpassed his season highs in points, assists and field goals made, all while beating out veteran point guard Mo Williams as the team’s primary backup point guard.
With names like McCollum and Drummond having career years, it’s unlikely Dellavedova walks away as this season’s most improved player, but he at least deserves recognition. His ability to shoot the ball and keep the ball secure puts his name in the conversation for most improved player.
Who do you think is the Most Improved Player? Matthew Dellavedova?