Comparing Delly's Game 6 performance to Gibsons past and present
Matthew Dellavedova and Taj Gibson became intertwined -- and more literally entangled -- in Game 5 of the Cavs-Bulls Eastern Conference semifinal.
Gibson was ejected from that game, while Dellavedova was assessed a technical a day later.
Two days later in Game 6, "Delly" went from face down on the floor of The Q to standing tall at the United Center.
Delly's star turn (19 points on 7-of-11 shooting) proves reminiscent of another Cavs role player, who did so in the middle of a run that ended with a berth in the NBA Finals.
Daniel "Boobie" Gibson averaged only 4.6 points per game in the 2006-7 regular season. Even in the Cavs' first two series of the 2007 playoffs, Gibson's role was minimal -- he played more than 20 minutes just once and had a high of 8 points.
However, in the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals against the Detroit Pistons, Gibson exploded, particularly in Game 6.
Similar to Dellavedova Thursday night, Gibson was on fire, hitting 7 of 9 shots (5 of 5 on 3-pointers) and 12 of 15 free-throw attempts to finish with 31 points.
Both of those performances helped spur the Cavs to series-clinching victories.
"He's a scorer and a shooter," then Cavs coach Mike Brown said of Gibson after that game, which sent the Cavs to the NBA Finals. "You leave him alone you better watch out, because it's Boobie for 3."
Current Cavs coach David Blatt praised Dellavedova's work ethic following Thursday's win.
"He was an undrafted kid, and not a lot thought he would be in the league. To come out and do what he did is admirable," Blatt said. "He understands his role, and sees the opportunities. He is fearless. He knows who he is playing with out there and where the ball should go. He makes the plays and competes. He is a competitor."
Dellavedova averaged 4.8 points in 20 minutes per game in the regular season but has been thrust into more playing time with Kyrie Irving battling injuries. His previous career high in points came in the Cavs' final game before the postseason, when he scored 18 (and added 12 assists) against the Washington Wizards. Before that, he'd reached double-digit points eight times in 67 games.
Delly had also hit that mark once before in these playoffs (10 points in Game 3 vs. Chicago).
Back to Boobie - like Delly, he too had nine regular season double-digit scoring performances in '06-'07 before doing it six times that postseason.
As for that other Gibson, the one of the Bulls who got into it with Delly - this Game 6 was not one he'll want to remember. Taj Gibson's final statline: 2 points and 2 rebounds in 15 minutes.
