Cleveland Cavaliers guard Matthew Dellavedova has seen his name get dragged through the mud over the past few weeks, thanks to a few questionable plays that led to one serious injury and two ejections from frustrated opponents.
Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown is familiar with Cleveland's backup point guard going back to his days coaching in Australia, and doesn't think he's a dirty player. Here's what Brown had to say:
"In Australia you’re taught 'body, body ball. Their body, your body, the ball. You've got to but your body between their body and the ball. The ball is sacred.' He's going after the ball with Korver, he's boxing Horford out the other way, about 10-15 feet. Taj Gibson rolls and he’s trying to get into Taj’s legs after they switch out on the pick-and-roll. All those plays, him scissoring Taj’s legs, that’s a Bruce Bowen thing, you know? But in regards of calling him dirty or trying to hurt people, it ain’t even close. It’s just a very unfair assessment and he’s just got to continue to do what he does."
While it's certainly debatable whether Dellavedova is a "dirty" player or not, citing Bruce Bowen, one of the filthiest players of his generation, as a comp definitely doesn't help anybody's case. But right on for Brown to step up and defend something he feels strongly about.
Nobody knows Dellavedova's intent except Dellavedova, as frustrating as that may be.
(h/t: Sports Illustrated)
Photo Credit: Jim Mone/Associated Press
