(EDS: Note Andrew Bogut's language in the second par)
By Peter Mitchell
OAKLAND, California, June 5 AAP - In the past month Matthew Dellavedova has been called a pest, dirty, slow, terrific, tough and overly-aggressive.
The Cleveland Cavaliers point guard from country Victoria can add three new titles: starter in an NBA Finals; tardy for the team bus; and a gritty little asshole.
The last description came from Golden State Warriors' Australian centre Andrew Bogut who was asked on Friday at training to sum up his Boomers teammate.
"From him, I'll definitely take that as a compliment," Dellavedova laughed when told of the comment.
Dellavedova came off the bench and was scoreless in nine minutes in the Warriors' 108-100 overtime victory on Thursday in game one of the best-of-seven NBA Finals.
But, he will likely be a pivotal player for game two after Cavaliers' starting point guard Kyrie Irving's season ended after fracturing a knee cap in the loss.
It will be up to Dellavedova to guard Stephen Curry, the recently named NBA MVP and arguably the best shooter in NBA history.
"I'll be prepared for whatever the team needs," Dellavedova said.
If as expected Dellavedova starts, it will write another chapter in Australian sporting history with two Aussies starting in an NBA Finals game for the first time.
The only solace for the Cavaliers is Dellavedova has excelled in the starting line-up in the playoffs when All-Star Irving, dealing with knee tendonitis and other leg ailments, sat out.
Ahead of surgery Irving sent "Delly" a message via Instagram: "ICE it down del".
Cleveland coach David Blatt and team leader LeBron James also showered the 24-year-old Australian with praise.
"You saw he played terrifically," Blatt, asked about the confidence he has in Dellavedova as a starter, said.
"He stepped in and did a great job, and the team believes in him."
The team also forgot him.
Dellavedova, who was one of the last Cavaliers to shower after the game-one loss, stayed around to talk to a group of Australian reporters in the locker room.
His team didn't realise, their bus left Oracle Arena for their hotel and Dellavedova, stranded at the arena and the journalists unaware, had to call an Uber car.
In game two Dellavedova will also have to be more aware of his surroundings on the court with the 213cm tall, 118kg Bogut declaring his fellow Aussie would be fair game for more bone-rattling screens.
Just seconds after Dellavedova entered game one in the second quarter Bogut ran to the halfway line and set a screen to help Curry evade Dellavedova.
"It was nothing personal with Delly - far from that," Bogut said.
"But my job is to set physical screens."
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