Cavs: Matthew Dellavedova’s passing has started out on-point

It’s been a tough go of it for Cleveland Cavaliers veteran point guard Matthew Dellavedova when it comes to injuries this season. Dellavedova, who had endured other concussions in his career, had complications related to a severe one he suffered in preseason, and had to work his way back from that, for one.

Dellavedova also then had to have an emergency appendectomy in late February, which was another bad of rough luck for him, when he was reportedly getting back on track.

For the Wine and Gold, it’s been unfortunate to have not had Dellavedova’s services for nearly the entirety of the season to this point, and Darius Garland and Collin Sexton have had to endure some nagging injuries here and there themselves during the season, for one.

Delly did make his 2020-21 season debut for the Cavs on Thursday in a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, though, and he had some burn in Cleveland’s L at the Miami Heat on Saturday. Dellavedova’s playmaking in spurts has been a positive, anyhow, and it’s still shown that he can give the Cavs some of a lift in reserve run still.

Dellavedova’s passing has started on-point for the Cavs.

In his first two games back, granted I know they were both losses, Dellavedova did what he’s been known for, in getting the ball to his teammates on-time and in their preferred areas.

In 16.4 minutes per outing in his first two appearances, Delly has had five assists in both games, and not turned it over yet. That’s not been too shabby.

Kevin Love, who returned on Thursday as well (right calf injury complications/soreness), has benefited from Dellavedova’s passing abilities, for one. As we know, those two have a well-established chemistry, dating back to the good ole days, and still since Dellavedova’s return to the Cavs, via trade from the Milwaukee Bucks.

Collin Sexton, Isaac Okoro and Taurean Prince, the latter two of whom had season-highs in scoring (17 and 19 points, respectively) at Miami, have gotten some nice looks from Delly as well in some run with him, for example.

Isaiah Hartenstein as a roller will likely get his share of looks from Dellavedova to come, too, and/or when he’s back (concussion), Jarrett Allen, I’d think. And the same will likely go for the likes of Larry Nance Jr., and/or as a catch-and-shoot guy, when he’s back from a reported “mystery” illness (that’s not COVID-19 related).

Anyway, while I’m well aware that the 30-year-old Dellavedova is not going to be much of a scoring presence in reserve burn at all, as he’s had three points in two games, and had just 3.1 points per outing last season, in a few spurts per game, he consistently generates great looks for others. And defensively, he still is a heady player, and aids the club in the team sense.

With Delly, however, though I definitely know he has his limitations as a shooter, that can be fairly mitigated with some burn alongside Sexton, Love and/or Prince, for example.

So again in a few spurts per outing just to help out Garland seemingly, it’s meaningful to have Dellavedova back some. His passing has started out especially on-point.