Refs Not Seeing Dion?
2012-11-25
Dion Waiters hasn’t been getting many calls this year, or so he thinks. The rookie believes that the referees have missed some calls when he feels there was a foul, the Plain Dealer reports. Byron Scott isn’t necessarily supportive of his rookie’s whining, though. He said, actually, “I take that with a grain of salt.” Now, there have been several no-calls on shot attempts by Dion, or so it seems. But while one always wants a coach to stand up for his players, there’s inherent wisdom in Byron Scott not fully agreeing with Waiters. He’s a rookie, and the NBA is a meritocracy. You start to get calls when you start to achieve. Whether or not that’s a fair system, that’s how it is, and Dion should get used to it, and not allow it to affect his game. If anyone is interested, his statistics, including free throws per game, are here:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/waitedi01.html
Demetrius is right on with his analysis about Dion at the rim HOWEVER I fear his ridiculous lack of calls will only ENCOURAGE him to avoid contact and try and make the shot. See what I mean? A vicious circle…
Good point on the “dwade whistles” Demetirus. It floors me after having watched dwade in the playoffs the last 2 years that nobody else on any other team has picked up on those traits. Wade has Chalmers, Lebron and any other 2 bit bum on that team jumping into defenders when shooting, even on straight up jump shots so they get whistled for the “and one”. And anytime they bang bodies, they just throw it up and sometimes get lucky by getting the bucket to fall. Watch any Heat game and watch how they work the system (within the rules)… Read more »
That’s a great stat from Kevin. Part of his fta disparity is the way he finishes. Counter-intuitively, he’s hurting himself by trying to make everything. He has a great ability to contort in the air and extend his shooting arm while shielding with the off arm just enough not to get called. (it’s especially great when you realize how little lift he gets for a 6’3 dude.) While this lets him get way more shots up on the rim it detracts from the natural contact that would happen if he went in straight and definitely keeps him from getting those… Read more »
I agree with Demetrius; Dion needs to figure out his ‘at the rim’ game. I think Derrick Rose had similar ‘not able to draw fouls’ issues early in his career, because he was contorting too much to miss contact.
One good thing about Dion getting to the rim, even when he’s missing, is that most games he generates a couple of “Iverson assists”; i.e. draw the big, put a shot on the rim, miss, easy put-back or slam by a teammate.
Actually, Dani, Kevin showed statistically a few threads back up that it is not exaggerated at all. It’s pretty much a fact that he is not getting calls. And btw, the NBA rooks not getting calls thing is not a “meritocracy” as you described it. If it were in fact a meritocracy, Dion would be getting to the line! It is, rather, a seniority based system which does not take into account meritocracy. Now, there is a mix if the two systems if you become a superstar! Haha! I dunno, is sure seems like a rational thing to point out… Read more »
He brought this on himself in the summer. He was doing a ton of chirping early on and the refs are letting him know. Compare his FTA’s in relation to his high usage to other rooks…it’s not even close. I approve the message though, youngin’ has to learn the hard way. Waiters can get to the rim at will, the calls will come.
Yeah, according to hoopdata there are 46 shooting guards who have played 10+ games and 10+ minutes per game. Dion ranks 33rd in fta / fga, despite taking the 8th most shots at the rim per minute. In somewhat related news, Dion is 3rd to last for finishing at the rim. If one miss every two games were instead a foul, and Dion kept hitting 72% of his freebies, his true shooting would be a much more respectable 50.7%, instead of 48.2%.
Give him a break, referees!
Scott is going the tough love route with Dion. Let’s hope it works like the Boeheim stories suggest it did when Dion was at Syracuse.
But Dion has his own money now, he sees obvious favoritism with Kyrie. I’m sure he has an ego like most athletes. If he perceives impartial treatment from the HC and FO, he may shut down somewhere down the road and then they’ll not be able to get him back.
Scott is treading a fine line with a pro athlete – lets hope he knows what he’s doing.
He’s getting robbed and its wrong. But I agree with Scott. If he wasn’t complaining then Scott should complain for him but if he’s doing it himself don’t embolden and legitize it. Builds bad habits
I think that
a. The extent to which he doesn’t get calls is exaggerated
b. The calls will come. There’s been a few specific ones that people noticed and have latched on to.
He’s right, though. he’s not getting any calls when he gets into the teeth.