Fresh Since 2009.
Dion Waiters isn’t planning on listening to unkind words this season. After John Wall suggested that the best best backcourt consisted of himself and Bradley Beal, Dion reacted. Waiters just said how he felt and who can blame him.
“That’s nonsense,” Waiters said after practice Tuesday. “(Beal is) supposed to say that, but I know deep down, he’s not messing with me and Ky (Kyrie Irving). I think me and Ky are the best backcourt, young backcourt. That’s all.”
Unfortunately for Dion, a lot of people don’t feel the same way as him even after checking out his tweet about the entire situation.
Men lie women lie BUCKETS DNT RT @H2da_IZZOO: @Me_University @dionwaiters3 http://t.co/HPmgsVcK15 #BUCKETS
— Dionwaiters3 (@dionwaiters3) October 1, 2014
Check out the ESPN poll that is giving the best backcourt title to Bradley Beal and John Wall.
Jason Concepion has compared Dion Waiters to Mario Chalmers in a piece for Grantland. LeBron seems determined to keep Waiters from facing that same struggles in the media that Chalmers did. Basically, Dion needs to stop talking.
Post-“Decision” LeBron knows something about being a punching bag. He was one himself. And he’s seen, up close, what happens when guys with Mario Chalmers–level abilities get Big Three–level egos. LeBron worked constantly at keeping Mario in his own lane, and it seems like he’s trying to do the same thing with Dion. At some point, when even your teammates think you need to focus on doing your talking on the court, maybe you should think about doing that.
Gawker is even charging Dion with the crime of being too into himself without reason. Jordan Zirm gives the best final thoughts on Waiters.
If we want to criticize Waiters and his game, we can. But he is not a metaphor for, as the elderly like to say, “those damn kids.” He is not a terrible person, and he does not walk into the locker room every day and flip Tristan Thompson the bird.
He is simply a kid from Philly who likes to talk about his game, in a league full of the garrulous. Why he’s made out to be a villain has become an inexplicable phenomenon.
All this talk about dion makes me think of KJ. I miss your comments, where are you?
NBA = No Boys Allowed
Kyrie and Tristan have the appearance and body language of being “men” this year. There’s a noticeable difference. They actually look like veterans. Dion needs one more year (as Kyrie & Tristan needed). Hopefully, the presence of veterans accelerates Dion’s process. That doesn’t mean that Dion won’t play well or “break out” this season. It just means he won’t be fully mature until next year. Dion – Stay out of trouble until then.
Talk is cheap, prove it Dion to us all Cavs fan! We need you and Kyrie to be the best one two punch in NBA this season.
Here is Marc Weinrich on why the Cav’s should never rest Lebron:
This guy is a total moron. Utterly clueless. How do guys like this get a column?
The Cavs have the best forward combo in the league (LBJ + Love). If you throw Andy in at C, that would be the best front court in the league.
Best backcourt? Unless the word “young” is used in there, Parker/Manu and Chris Paul/anyone still are at the top in my book.
Over on FTS…a guy named eraulii was doing some research on the best backcourts…and apparently CP3 with Redick was in a tier all by themselves. Historically, Parker/Manu should be in the conversation…but Manu has gotten noticeably older…even with last years Finals being a point in his favor. I believe the standard status for “Young” means 25 and under…which is why I can’t take Curry/Klay in to this conversation…but otherwise, they would easily have the best young backcourt. I am a fan of the versatility that Kyrie/Waiters bring (particularly from an individual standpoint) as they remind me of a poor man’s… Read more »
I’m high on Dion. This situation is great for him. He WANTS Lebron to teach him. Blatt’s system should hopefully get him to stop worrying about his touches and become a more willing passer. And he recognizes that he needs to stop fading away on his shots. It all suggests improvement. He still needs to master the art of shot selection and stop taking contested midrange jumpers. Just because you can make it doesn’t mean you should take it. He also needs to step up his defensive game this season. He’ll be proving some people wrong this year, especially if… Read more »
Maybe our version of Birdman Anderson?
Birdman would actually be a great comparison.
I’m high on Dion too. Always have been. This year is his chance to really improve his efficiency. I hope he does.
Amico is exactly correct about the center position. All they need are guys who will rebound and play some defense. They have them in TT, Andy, and Haywood. They don’t even have to be that great at defense.
And I love Dion. He’s going to have a great season. As is everybody else.
I love Dion, too. He’s been my favorite Cav this past year. He’ll be my next jersey purchase.
I think the guy busts out big time this season. He might end up fitting best as sixth man off the bench, but I hope he figures out how to be effective as a starter with three guys who should arguably get more touches than he does.
The Dion story is a great example of how Dion’s words always get turned around. Dion is the only guy who caveated his statement. He said best “young” backcourt. Given that caveat, his claim is not that insane. You could plausibly argue Curry and Thompson are not a true “young” backcourt (Curry is 26 and Thompson 24, while Dion and Ky are both 22). Even setting that aside, this debate has raised the whole “Beal is better than Waiters” thing again. Both players have been almost identical in their production, yet somehow Beal is seen as “rapidly improving” and a… Read more »
Yep well said. And cause people still like to chuck out irrelevant statements like “well he’s never made the playoffs”. So what? They might win it all this year but that won’t (of itself) make them better than Wall or Beal. Team LeBron up with me and some mates and see if we can make the playoffs!
Maybe I’m one of the few who actually likes that Dion talks. That’s what the NBA used to be more about. Talk junk about your game and then go and try and back it up on the court. In this case however, it’s even more cool because he’s not talking about just himself, he’s talking about himself and (as he affectionately calls him) Ky. I like the swagger, even more so because it’s inclusive of a teammate.
Love Dion’s swag. I’m just concerned his talking is going to tear his focus away from the team and towards fending off the media trolls
Dion needs to show some maturity here. He is on a team now that is the odds on favorite to contend for a championship and win 55+ games. There will be enough media distraction and attention to this team. Who cares if our backcourt is better than Washington’s? If Dion took exception to Wall stating that they were the best – he should of just filed that away in his own personal payback drawer. Then after a Wizards game that he plays well in and the Cavs win – let Wall know face to face what he thinks. Getting into… Read more »
Who cares that Dion Waiters says this in the offseason? Someone asked Beal, and he said they were the best. Someone then asked Waiters, and he said he and Kyrie are the best.
There are things to clamor about in terms of maturity issues and distractions, and there are things that people just need to take a chill pill. This is the latter. This isn’t Dion saying it in the playoffs before facing Washington in a Game 7. It’s the freakin’ preseason.
I agree with you. Dion is Dion, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with what he said. In any way, shape, or form. The media is paid to pick up things like this and run with them. It creates the embers for an eventual file (rivalry), and that’s something the NBA loves.
I find it hard to believe Dion’s talk is going to distract anyone from anything. We have a Big 4 (not a Big 3), and he’s a part of it. It’ll show this year.