Lanard Copeland goes In The Paint to talk NBA Finals, Delly and being a teammate of Charles Barkley

MELBOURNE Tigers’ legend Lanard Copeland says the Cleveland Cavaliers could have used departed Boomer Matthew Dellavedova as they find themselves in a 3-0 hole in the NBA Finals.

He’s with the Bucks now, but Lanard Copeland says the Cavs could use a little Matthew Dellavedova in the NBA Finals. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

MELBOURNE Tigers’ legend Lanard Copeland says the Cleveland Cavaliers could have used departed Boomer Matthew Dellavedova as they find themselves in a 3-0 hole in the NBA Finals.

Dellavedova, who signed a US$38 million deal with Milwaukee after winning the title with Cleveland last season, played just 46 minutes in last year’s finals.

But 500-game NBL doyen Copeland told the In The Paint Podcast the Melbourne born hustler would have played more this year as the Cavs dealt with the Golden State Warriors’ addition of Kevin Durant.

Copeland believes he would have been pivotal in hindering Stephen Curry in this series.

“The reason Cleveland are struggling this year with Curry and those guys is no Dellavedova,” Copeland said.

He’s with the Bucks now, but Lanard Copeland says the Cavs could use a little Matthew Dellavedova in the NBA Finals. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

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“He did something so different.

“He was a hound and they don’t have that hound this year. They don’t have a guy to pick Curry up and make it hard for him to bring the ball up the court.

“Dellavedova’s a superstar and people don’t realise what he did (for the Cavs).

“You can see the difference this year.”

Delly did a superb job on Stephen Curry whenever he was called upon in the Finals in both 2014 and 2015. Picture: Getty Images

The Cavs were slaughtered by the Warriors in the first two games and then gave up an 11-0 run to end the game, surrendering Game 3 in Cleveland today, 118-113.

Finals MVP favourite Durant led the way for the Warriors with 31, while Klay Thompson burst out of the blocks with 16 in the opening term to finish the game with 30.

LeBron James finished one assist short of a triple double with 38 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists and Kyrie Irving had 38, but both went missing in the last minute as the Warriors took over.

Lanard Copeland with his best mate Andrew Gaze after the Tigers won the 1997 NBL title.

It leaves the super team from Oakland just one win away from an historic perfect postseason, a win in Cleveland on Thursday would make it 16-0 in the playoffs.

Copeland speaks about his time in the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Clippers — including being a teammate of Charles Barkley — as well as his remarkable NBL career and his special connection with the Aussie GOAT Andrew Gaze.

Originally published as Lanard Copeland goes In The Paint to talk NBA Finals, Delly and being a teammate of Charles Barkley