Cavs: 3 potential 2020-21 two-man games with Matthew Dellavedova
By Dan Gilinsky
#1 2020-21 Cleveland Cavaliers two-man game involving Delly: Delly-Dylan Windler
Last but absolutely not least, perhaps the two-man game I’d be looking forward to seeing utilized most in 2020-21 would be between Delly and Dylan Windler. Delly always gets perimeter shooters their looks coming around curls or flare screens on time and right in the shooting pocket ready to fire.
Windler, who hit 40.6 percent of his three-point attempts in a four-year collegiate career at Belmont, per Sports Reference, would fit seamlessly with others, and in bench minutes, Delly in particular (along with a willing passer in Kevin Porter Jr.). Delly would be able to hit Windler, a great ambidextrous finisher, on cuts to the rim/the paint, too.
I’d also imagine Windler could align really well with Dellavedova in the pick-and-pop game as a screener as well, and could get some quality pull-up opportunities after hard closeouts after passes from Dellavedova.
Granted, it is unclear how long Windler will take to get acclimated to the NBA game, and that will likely take a good bit of games. The rookie wing is yet to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers, given complications involving a stress reaction in his left leg, and even if there are more 2019-20 games for the Cavs, we almost certainly won’t see Windler.
Next season, though, if he is re-signed, a Windler-Dellavedova two-man game is one that could be really effective in 2020-21 once Windler gets his legs under him. Windler, who is a willing and able secondary playmaker with a solid handle, would be able to hit Delly on cuts when opponents close to him along the perimeter and Delly cutting behind that, too.
While, it is uncertain if Delly is back, and even if that’s the case, I wouldn’t expect him to play more than say, 14.0 minutes per game consistently, he still is a reserve guard that helps all kinds of players get easy looks in their preferred spots. He played into Collin Sexton putting up a scorching 25.5 points per game post-All-Star break, for example.
It’s evident that he meshes well even with teammates he hasn’t played long with, and I’d expect that to prove true with the aforementioned Okongwu, if he’s selected by the Cavs, and Windler early on in that sense.