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Raptors rip Delly for 'hellish' screens

Toronto Raptors coach Dwane Casey has compared Matthew Dellavedova to the great NBA point guard, John Stockton

Milwaukee Bucks' Matthew Dellavedova
Toronto coach Dwane Casey has compared Matthew Dellavedova to great NBA point guard John Stockton (AAP)

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Source: AAP


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Matthew Dellavedova is at the centre of a dirty play controversy for setting "hellish screens".

That's not a surprise.

It has become a tradition in the NBA Playoffs for the rugged Australian point guard to be called out by opponents for crossing the line and engaging in bruising illegal play.

On Monday the Toronto Raptors, after being stung 97-83 by Dellavedova's Milwaukee Bucks in Saturday's game one in Toronto, claimed he was setting illegal screens.

Raptors coach Dwane Casey denied Dellavedova had rattled his team psychologically, but he said his side had complained to officials.

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"He is not in our minds," Casey told reporters.

"I didn't go to bed last night thinking of Dellavedova.

"I was worried about the Milwaukee Bucks.

"He did set 18 screens and we did talk about them and look at them and a lot of them weren't legal."

One of Dellavedova's main targets was Toronto's star guard, DeMar DeRozan, but he refused to speak his mind for fear of being slugged with a fine from the NBA.

"If you pay my fine I'll answer that question," DeRozan told reporters.

Dellavedova has always denied he is dirty.

Three years ago playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers he received the dirty tag for locking his legs around Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson in a playoff game, leading to Gibson losing his cool and being ejected.

Later in the playoffs that year against the Atlanta Hawks Dellavedova crashed into Kyle Korver's ankle, ending Korver's season and leading to surgery, and centre Al Horford accused the Australian of going for his knees.

Last year Dellavedova hit Golden State Warriors forward Andre Iguodala in the genitals while trying to stop a fast break, but the Australian claimed it was accidental.

"All people set illegal screens in the NBA," Dellavedova, who said it was the typical way to play in Australia and internationally, said.

"If you follow the letter of the law, the rule is your feet have to be inside your shoulders.

"Big men are always kind of setting it wide."

Casey said officials told him Raptors players were not colliding hard enough with Dellavedova for a foul to be called, something he said would change in Tuesday's (Wednesday AEST) game two in Toronto.

"Hats off to him," Casey said.

"Credit him.

"We have to make sure we have a confrontation because he is one of the great screen setters in the league, just like how (Utah Jazz point guard great) John Stockton was."

Casey respects the Australian.

"There's a respect factor for Dellavedova because he does set hellish screens," Casey said.


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