IT’S all coming up Delly.
Australian sensation Matthew Dellavedova has just signed a new one year deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers, after providing some break out moments during the club’s losing NBA Finals tilt.
The bullish guard, who some have likened to the Michael J. Fox character Teen Wolf because of his grizzly facial hair and uncanny resemblance, signed the $1.64 million qualifying offer to be back in the Cavs’ wine and gold for 2015/16.
And, to celebrate, our mates over at Sportsbet.com.au have launched a few exotic markets on the Australian Boomer.
Chief is the whether or not he can play more games than the uber talented, but oft injured superstar point guard Kyrie Irving.
Providing backup to All Star Irving, Delly is actually the $1.80 favourite to play more games than Irving ($1.95).
The bookie is also taking bets on how many games the Aussie star will play in 2015/16 with a line of $1.87 set for over or under 69.5.
In other specials, Delly is $15 to get ejected from a game and a massive $1,001 to be named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player.
In his dreams.
“Teen Wolf is back in the building,” Sportsbet.com.au’s Will Byrne said.
“It’s fang-tastic news for Aussie fans of the NBA and we’re betting next season will be an even better one for Delly.”
Dellavedova, 24, had a break out season for the Cavs after going undrafted and scrapping his way onto the roster by performing well in the Summer League in 2013.
He played in 67 games in the 2014-15 regular season, with 13 of those as a starter, filling in for an injured Irving.
He averaged 4.8 points per game, 1.9 rebounds and three assists in 20 minutes per game, hitting a career best 40.7 per cent from three point range.
And he upped the ante in the playoffs, asked to fill in for Irving again in both the Easter Conference Semi Finals and the NBA Finals, which his side lost to Golden State, four games to two.
During the playoffs he averaged 7.2 points per game, 2.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists in a tick under 25 minutes per game, including a 20 point explosion against the Warriors. He was also lauded for his defensive effort on NBA MVP Stephen Curry during the finals.
Delly has copped it for his perceived dirty play, but that has been written off by his supporters as him playing hard.
“I don’t really pay attention to anything outside of the locker room because none of that stuff really matters,’’ Dellavedova said.
“In college, guys would try all kinds of things to just distract me or get under my skin, and things like that.”
And he has pleased coach David Blatt.
“He’s a courageous kid that plays right,’’ Blatt said.
“There was a lot of nonsense swirling around about his style of play.
“I think anyone that really looks at him objectively and fairly recognises someone that just plays hard, heartfelt, and tough basketball.
“Delly is the most Cleveland like Australian I’ve ever met in my life and if you’re from Cleveland you know what I’m talking about.”
Warriors centre and fellow Aussie Andrew Bogut, who will suit up alongside him in the upcoming FIBA World Championships, said: “I see him as a gritty jerk of a player to play against.”
“That’s the kind of player you want to play with.
“Not the most athletic guy, so the motor has to be higher than everyone else’s.’’
And he has the endorsement of the King, Lebron James, who said he “must be made of steel, or something.”
“He’s huge for our team,” James said.
“He gives us that grit — that grit that we need.
“He gives us everything until his tank is empty and he has a small little reserve tank that he works through.”
Matthew Dellavedova exotic markets
Who will play in more games?
Kyrie Irving ($1.95)
Total Games – Over or Under 69.5
Over ($1.87)
Under ($1.87)
Point Average – Over or Under 5.0
Over ($1.80)
Under ($1.95)
Assists – Over or Under 3.0
Under ($1.75)
Over ($2.05)
Rebounds – Over or Under 2.0
Over ($1.87)
Under ($1.87)
Three point percentage – Over or Under 38.5 per cent (.385)
Over ($1.87)
Delly Specials
To get ejected in any regular season game ($15)
To be named NBA sixth man of the year ($101)
To appear in the next Entourage Movie ($101)
To win the NBA Most Valuable Player Award ($1001)
* Odds provided by Sportsbet.com.au
Dellavedova’s Cavaliers favoured to win NBA title
Hot on the heels of Delly’s big signing, the Cavs are $3.75 favourites for the NBA title with WilliamHill.com.au.
Well, not because of Delly. It’s because they have the best player in the NBA, and have star point guard Kyrie Irving and skilled stretch four Kevin Love on the come back trail from injury.
They’re a force to be reckoned with.
The busy San Antonio Spurs launched themselves into a close second favourite at $4, thanks to the monster signing of star former Portland big man LaMarcus Aldridge and the lesser, but also important signing of veteran power forward David West. They join Kawhi Leonard and the ageing big three of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili on a stacked roster that has the rest of the NBA sweating.
Reigning NBA champion Golden State are third on the line of betting at $5.50 and that’s for good reason. They re-signed heart and soul forward Draymond Green and haven’t lost anyone of note, apart from David Lee, the little used, but offensively talented big sent to Boston for a packet of Smith’s Crisps and tickets to the movies.
They have the reigning MVP Steph Curry, who is fast becoming the greatest shooter of all time, if he wasn’t already, and they have a gun two guard in Klay Thompson who is arguably the best at the position in the league. They also possess the reigning Finals MVP Andre Iguodala, Aussie centre Andrew Bogut and the improving Harrison Barnes.
And the stacked Oklahoma City Thunder are a rather juicy $8, with a beastly line up that features two of the best players in the league in former MVP Kevin Durant and last years scoring champion Russell Westbrook, as well as a flock of above average role players in nightly double-double threat Enes Kanter, defensive monster Serge Ibaka, Dion Waiters, Steven Adams, Andre Roberson and DJ Augustin. They obviously think a lot of Kyle Singler, handing him a long term, $30 million deal.
Those four teams are the only ones in single figures, while up and coming hopefuls New Orleans, led by a potential all time great in Anthony Davis, and the Miami Heat, which signed Phoenix gun point guard Goran Dragic, are both moving up in the world, rated $31 and $34 chances for the title by William Hill, respectively.
2015/16 NBA Title market
Cleveland Cavaliers ($3.75)
San Antonio Spurs ($4)
Oklahoma City Thunder ($8)
Los Angeles Clippers ($10)
Chicago Bulls ($13)
Houston Rockets ($13)
Memphis Grizzlies ($23)
Atlanta Hawks ($26)
Washington Wizards ($31)
Dallas Mavericks ($31)
New Orleans Pelicans ($31)
Miami Heat ($34)
Toronto Raptors ($41)
Indiana Pacers ($41)
Milwaukee Bucks ($51)
Portland Trail Blazers ($67)
Phoenix Suns ($81)
Los Angeles Lakers ($81)
Sacramento Kings ($101)
Utah Jazz ($101)
Boston Celtics ($101)
Brooklyn Nets ($151)
Denver Nuggets ($151)
Detroit Pistons ($151)
Minnesota Timberwolves ($151)
New York Knicks ($151)
Orlando Magic ($151)
Charlotte Hornets ($251)
Philadelphia 76ers ($251)
* Odds provided by WilliamHill.com.au
