Link to the Present: D-Day, or probably just Dion-day
2012-10-11Nice interview by Brendan Bowers with Dion Waiters after Tuesday’s game. I like what Dion has to say; basically that he is still getting comfy with the play book, that he needs to keep his confidence up and find ways to impact the game even when shots aren’t falling.
I do have a few thoughts on Coach Scott’s desire for Dion to learn offense off the ball. Obviously, I one-million-percent support Kyrie Irving as the center point of the team. That said, the success of this franchise moving forward relies in part on both guards functioning as maestros of the pick-and-roll and on-ball wizards.
Can Waiters play back-up point guard this year? If I have to watch Jeremy Pargo or Donald Sloan play 1000 minutes and post a single-digit PER, while reading stories all season about Dion struggling to find his place in the offense…I will become violently ill. Slargo should be battling for third string point guard duties, while Dion experiences a bevy of on-ball chances when Kyrie sits 12 minutes a game. That is the future. Dion would also play 15 minutes every night with our reigning-ROY, as they master the backcourt-of-tomorrow thing.
To some extent, I would not mind if every minute that Daniel Gibson played this year was next to Dion. Saint Weirdo could carry the point offensively, while depending on match-ups, either could potentially guard the opposing ‘two’. A line-up of Waiters – Gibson – Miles – Leuer – Varejao might be fun for ten minutes; possibly the best non-Kyrie ball movement lineup available. Dion and Leuer could pick & pop, with Andy rolling & cutting, and Miles providing some slashing & iso-shooting. Boobie stands in the corner and drains threes when they develop.
Well, that is a bit of a ramble, but digest some food for thought on the subject of Cleveland playing D-League back-up point guards while we all internally tussle with Dion trying to find his place.
I would rather play Donald Sloan 40 minutes a game at power forward than sign Derek Fisher.
If the Cavs are serious about winning, they need a consistent backup PG. I question that they are, so I don’t think they’ll run right out and get one. If Waiters is going to fill the James Harden bench combo guard role, then so be it, but I’ve seen nothing out of Pargo or Sloan to make me think they’re anything other than placeholders. Perhaps Leandro Barbosa might be worth a look? Or perhaps not… It’d be nice if we could find a veteran point guard to come in and bring some professionality and backup minutes. Hey. Derrick Fischer is… Read more »
I don’t think there has ever been a question about this issue. Dion has always been expected to be our secondary ball-handler, and it would only make sense that much of that occurs when Kyrie is getting a blow. It was a big reason we drafted the guy. Pargo vs Sloan is basically a competition for who would like to spend time sitting on an NBA bench. I think Sloan has proven beyond a doubt that he is NOT an NBA caliber player. Pargo hasn’t looked much better in my comparatively limited viewing. I would assume Pargo wins the position… Read more »
John, it can’t even be said bad business sense or immaturity, as the strategy worked (hello 4th overall pick), and he sacrificed looking like an idiot for what will ultimately be an irrelevant 3 minute interview. That is called smart business, and maturity in sacrificing now for future gains. Clearly the guy is not your timid, just-happy-to-be-here type person that comes across as likable on interviews, and that is a big part of why we drafted him. I’d much rather have 2006-07 kobe than some suck up. Clearly he’s not kobe, just saying, likability in interviews and production on a… Read more »
Casey- I understand your thought, but isn’t that essentially what Manu/Harden do? They take over the offense for the last 4 minutes of the 1st & first 4 minutes of the 2nd quarters. I understand we do not have the depth that OKC/SAS have, but in the beginning of the season, this may not be the worst idea. It may take some pressure off and allow him to get reps as ‘the guy’. Then again, if we don’t see some serious progress out of TT and some signs that Dion can be a legit starter, I think Chris Grant is… Read more »
Casey – It’s not that people want to play him at the PG because he can’t play SG. It is that people want to play him at the PG because after Kyrie, he is the best facilitator on the team with the best ability to create offense for himself and others. The idea is that when Kyrie is off the floor will he run the offense to better serve the abilities of the rest of the team. It’s the idea of playing to all of the players’ strengths. and that video doesn’t show him as an over-confident d-bag when taken… Read more »
I don’t think making Dion the go to back up PG is necessarily a good thing. The last thing we need is another Boobie Gibson. This kid was the number 4 pick, he damn well better be able to play the 2 guard and find his way into the offence or the cavs are in some deep trouble. Theres no way to spin it. We didn’t driaft him to be backing up kyrie half the time. He’s going to have to be good and damn good to justify the number 4 pick. Only in cleveland would we draft such an… Read more »
Casey,
I was only suggesting that Dion play back-up PG this season, not as a long-term fix. His ultimate goal would be to “play the two guard and find his way into the offense”. In the meantime, let him get some reps filling in at the team’s weakest position.
Dion has an edge to him and I like it. The Cavs needed an irrational confidence wild card kind of guy and that’s what I see Waiters as. Dion’s passion can be channeled and hopefully Scott will push the right buttons like Boheim did. Scott’s either going to break the wild horse and mold Dion into that Westbrookesque swag machine or Waiters is going to go full fledged team cancer. I’m sure we’ll see a few colorful exchanges over the season between the two of them. I look forward to it.
plz coach scott do this
Yeah Dion is going to have to learn to initiate offense especially when Kyrie isn’t on the floor.
Nice article about Dion and Byron here: http://www.ohio.com/sports/cavs-byron-scott-critical-of-dion-waiters-because-he-expects-more-out-of-players-this-season-1.341236
I like what both of them said…
Man, I really agree with this post. I’m beginning to really hate Sloan’s game too. I hope it’s Pargo just cuz I hate Sloan’s game so much! Haha!