Aussies in NBA: The differing fortunes of Bogut and Delly
A day after a poll listed both Andrew Bogut and Matthew Dellavedova as amongst the dirtiest players in the NBA, both Australians returned to do what they do best – be difference makers on the court for their respective teams.
With Bogut, this meant setting mean screens, protecting the rim and finishing off Steph Curry lobs.
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That dynamic start to the game encapsulated a day in which both players had wildly contrasting fortunes and stat lines.
Despite Bogut’s pedestrian-looking output, his defensive impact was evident throughout, helping the Warriors pummel the Cavaliers, 132-98. The Bogey-man logged only 15 minutes and tallied 4 points and 6 rebounds, but those numbers fail to tell the full picture. Per NBA.com, Bogey contested 5 shots at the rim, with the Cavs converting at a lowly 40 percent clip.
Cavalier rim forays frequently ended like this.
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The Dubs went small in the 2nd term, and rested their starters in the final quarter, meaning Bogut had little chance to feature much later in the game. But by then, the damage had already been done.
Meanwhile, Delly did his best to spark a listless and dispirited Cleveland side toward some scoreboard respectability in the 4th quarter, on a night when a 34 point margin represented some form of respectability.
Playing with his usual verve and energy, Delly tallied an industrious 11 points and 6 assists, in 28 minutes of game time, with most of his output in the final quarter.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/AqOVeOz0vlg
Delly continued to showcase his potent 3-point stroke, hitting 3-of-4 from long range, and flashed an off-the-bounce 3-point shot when defenders went way under the screen.
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He even canned this sucker with Livingston chasing him over the pick.
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Despite his burgeoning reputation as a 3-point marksman, Delly shot down any hypothetical call up to the 3-point shooting contest at the All Star break, during a conference with Australian media on Monday.
“I don’t know if the All-Star three-point contest would really suit my shooting style, because you’ve got to get up a lot of shots in a short amount of time,” Delly commented. “I think I’m just going to go enjoy some warm weather and the other guys can worry about that.”
With the Warriors sweeping the season series, it may well be the last time both Australians will see each other on the court this season, barring a return date to the NBA Finals.
Despite a night of such contrasting emotions between the two, the individual performances of both Bogut and Delly continue to be encouraging signs for the Boomers heading into Rio. When that happens, they will finally share the same side of the court, and hopefully share a mutually-satisfying outcome.