Cavs' Dellavedova, Shumpert feeling better, expected to play in Game 4
The sacrifices that players make for an NBA championship are on full display.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Matthew Dellavedova was suffering from extreme fatigue after the Cavs' Game 3 victory Tuesday night, but will play in Game 4 on Thursday, according to coach David Blatt.
"The tank was low," Blatt said of Dellavedova's condition during Wednesday's media availability. "We're doing everything we can to fill it back up."
Dellavedova spent at least part of Tuesday night at the Cleveland Clinic after suffering from extreme cramping brought on by dehydration after the 96-91 Cavaliers win. Given the cadence at which the Australian played, that's not particularly surprising.
On Wednesday, Dellavedova brought two Gatorade cups to the media conference and said he was "feeling pretty good."
Dellavedova said that's the most tired he has been after a game. Received IV at hospital, he'll be good for Game 4.
— Jason Lloyd (@JasonLloydABJ) June 10, 2015
"It's a good thing we don't have to play back-to-backs," Dellavedova added. When asked if he was an annoying player, the scrappy guard replied with a logical point.
"I've never played against myself," he said.
Blatt also said that shooting guard Iman Shumpert – along with Dellavedova, a major factor defensively so far in the series – will be good to go on Thursday.
Shumpert underwent an MRI Wednesday on the right shoulder he injured during Game 3, and the results indicated a bruise, with the shooting guard confirming that he'll be fine for Game 3.
"It would take a lot for me not to play," Shumpert said Wednesday. "It's going to take a lot of people to tell me not to go. It's going to take some structural damage for me to do that. If I'm able to push through it, I'll push through it."