Matthew Dellavedova's incredible postseason run has carried over to the start of this season. In fact, he has been even better.
Dellavedova's 17 assists rank in the top 10 entering Monday, he has just one turnover through three games and hasn't had a turnover in about 62 game minutes.
Perhaps most impressive, the Cavaliers have outscored opponents by 53 points while he has been on the floor _ the second highest plus/minus ratio in the league behind the Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green (54).
There was a time not long ago when Dellavedova was viewed as simply a hustle guy who defended well and kept the ball moving on offense. Now in his third season, Dellavedova is growing into a valid threat.
"I definitely feel as confident as I've [ever] been right now," he said. "I try to take what worked in the playoffs and build off that."
Delly is entrenched as a key piece in a deepening rotation. Everyone who coaches Dellavedova loves him.
Sixers coach Brett Brown had him on the Australian national team and raves about him every time he sees him. Former Cavs coach Mike Brown started him at shooting guard as an undrafted rookie over Dion Waiters. Now it's Cavs coach David Blatt who trusted him almost immediately at the start of last season.
"He knows he has a significant role here and takes responsibility for that," Blatt said. "He's just a guy that's always trying to get better. I think it shows."
Delly's confidence bloomed last season during the playoffs when he became a cult hero for his play. He replaced Kyrie Irving as the starting point guard in the Finals and was critical to the Cavs' two victories in the series before fading in the final three games.
His dehydration may have been part of that - Dellavedova was never the same player after he was hospitalized following his 39 minutes in a Game 3 victory.
He was outscored by Steph Curry 62-6 in the final two games of the series, but his defensive work on the league's reigning MVP to start the series boosted his belief entering this season.
"I think I can guard at a high level when games mean the most," he said. "It fell away at the end [of the Finals] but I felt comfortable shooting the ball."
Dellavedova has struggled to make 3-pointers early (3-of-10), but his overall command of the game with the ball in his hands has increased. Mo Williams was signed to be the backup point guard, but Dellavedova's strong play - and Blatt's affinity for him - will leave the coach with difficult decisions to make once Irving and Iman Shumpert are both healthy.
That's a decision for another day. For now, even though he struggled to find offers over the summer as a restricted free agent, Dellavedova is proving yet again he belongs in the NBA.
"For lack of a better word, he looks refreshed," forward Kevin Love said. "You can see that in the way he moves around practice, how he's guarding people. Delly is always Delly, but we do see a little different energy about him."
