Dion Waiters

[Keith]

A coach has to pick and choose when to send a message. If Dion was pulled from a game every time he missed a rotation or defensive assignment he would hardly get playing time. Ultimately, the job of a coach is to develop his players and win games. With veterans, it seems like they are able to make adjustments on a game to game basis, rookies usually make improvements on a week to week basis. As long as Mr. Waiters is showing progress (Summer League to Training Camp...Training Camp to now) that's all we can ask for. I trust that Byon knows how to evaluate talent - sometimes you have to take one step back to take two steps forward.

[Jack Brickman]

Maybe Dion missed somedefensive assignments? Maybe that's why he didn't play in the 4th. That's what I was getting at.

If you got yanked for missing defensive assignments or poor shot selection half this team wouldn't make it on the damn court.

[Lumthemad]

If you got yanked for missing defensive assignments or poor shot selection half this team wouldn't make it on the damn court.

Half of the team doesn't also have the potential Dion Waiters has as a total player. Byron wants him to become the best player he can possibly be, which in certain circumstances, means tough love. Rookies need this and especially a rookie with as much potential as Waiters.

[No Regard]

The reason for benching Dion could could very well be an off-court issue. Maybe he was being bigmouthed, maybe he was saying things he shouldn't have said, maybe he was being demanding, maybe complaining about his playing time. It could be anything, really.

We can speculate all we want, but Byron is in the midst of things and I trust him to make the right decision.

What I've liked the most about this situation, is that Byron Scott isn't throwing his rookie player under the bus by talking about it to the media. This tells me that Byron is somehow measuring Dion. That he looks to see what kinds of disciplinary sanctions he can use to keep Dion under control, and how he can make Dion respect him as a coach. A man that is only respected because of his title, will not be respected for very long.

As much as coaching is about the X's and O's of the game, it's also about being a people person. To be a great coach you have to understand that different people need different kinds of motivation and treatment. I think that Byron Scott does very well in that department, which is huge given the young age of our team.

[RappSoda]

lol, debatable.

Although it works for your analogy.

It works for my analogy 9 out of 10 times.

[Chris]

It works for my analogy 9 out of 10 times.

It works for your analogy 10 times out of 10.

Someone's boss being "more knowledgeable" than them works about 3 times out of 10.

[RappSoda]

Someone's boss being "more knowledgeable" than them works about 3 times out of 10.

Got it.

[Chris]

Got it.

Sorry for my assault on your oversimplification of the working world. I have offended you, apparently. What kind of fucker has never seen Horrible Bosses, anyway?

[RappSoda]

Sorry for my assault on your oversimplification of the working world. I have offended you, apparently. What kind of fucker has never seen Horrible Bosses, anyway?

No, not offended at all. Just pointing out that one person's radical view doesn't change a fact that our society (and the world's) has adhered to. Seems like I've offended you as you refer to me as a "fucker". Although I have seen Horrible Bosses. Not trying to bicker, although that seems to be where we've gone. I know for a fact that this isn't a personal issue as I don't think we have had issues in the past. Just didn't appreciate my point being negated by your personal theory.

[Chris]

No, not offended at all. Just pointing out that one person's radical view doesn't change a fact that our society (and the world's) has adhered to. Seems like I've offended you as you refer to me as a "fucker". Although I have seen Horrible Bosses. Not trying to bicker, although that seems to be where we've gone. I know for a fact that this isn't a personal issue as I don't think we have had issues in the past. Just didn't appreciate my point being negated by your personal theory.

Pretty sure my Horrible Bosses comment was not meant to be taken seriously. As if that film is a real indicator of the actual working world.

My original point was a side comment, one I think a lot of people would agree with actually in a lot of different work environments; ie, someone being your boss does not equal them being more competent or more knowledgeable. I'd be shocked if you hadn't been in multiple situations where this was not the case. To call this view "Radical" is an absurdity. At the end of the day, though, it wasn't even meant to discredit your analogy, seeing as I added a simple statement saying that your point still stood.

This was lost on you and I still ended up looking like the bad guy, unsurprisingly. Context doesn't flow too well on forums is the old adage, I guess.

[RappSoda]

Pretty sure my Horrible Bosses comment was not meant to be taken seriously. As if that film is a real indicator of the actual working world.

My original point was a side comment, one I think a lot of people would agree with actually in a lot of different work environments; ie, someone being your boss does not equal them being more competent or more knowledgeable. I'd be shocked if you hadn't been in multiple situations where this was not the case. To call this view "Radical" is an absurdity. At the end of the day, though, it wasn't even meant to discredit your analogy, seeing as I added a simple statement saying that your point still stood.

This was lost on you and I still ended up looking like the bad guy, unsurprisingly. Context doesn't flow too well on forums is the old adage, I guess.

Eh, I missed the Horrible Bosses ref. End of it.

[Rainman]

Part 2: A Numerical Take on Dion’s First Two Weeks

November 13th, 2012 by Kevin Hetrick
Based on data available at hoopdata.com, through November 12 games, there are 62 shooting guards averaging ten or more minutes per game. Of those, Dion:
Making 50% at the rim against OKC

• Takes the thirteenth most shots at the rim per forty minutes (4.5). Of all shooting guards who have made more than one such shot, he has been assisted on the fourth lowest percentage. He gets the ball to the basket. Unfortunately though, he converts a poor 50%, approximately 15% below NBA average this season. Kyrie struggled similarly early last season, and that turned out allright, so hopefully this tide also shifts for Waiters.
• He jacks the nineteenth highest number of long-twos per forty (4.3), while nailing a robust 48%. This is 10% higher than current league average for SGs. These are the least efficient shots in the game, and ideally Dion learns this and quits showing a propensity for them.
• From three, he hoists frequently (6.5 per 40, 19th for SGs), and makes them at a ridiculous rate of 53%.
• He is only shooting 0.18 free throws per field goal attempt. This is below average for a shooting guard. His foul shooting of 60% sits well under the 75% from his two collegiate seasons.

Clearly the shooting from deep is unsustainable, but if everything else also ‘normalizes’, how does his production look for the first seven games? Well…

• For a guy attacking the basket reasonably often, I will assume his ability to draw fouls eventually regresses to the league-mean. If he also drained three-quarters of his freebies; that adds six points through his first seven games.
• If his shooting at the rim was only slightly below league average for an SG (59% compared to 65%), he makes two more field goals. So, four more points.
• If his shooting on long twos reduced to 43% (compared to 38% average), he only loses one bucket over the first two weeks.
• The huge aberration is the three point shooting. If his shooting from deep approached his collegiate level of 37%, he makes five less to date, or a 15-point reduction.

By subtracting seven total points and adding five more free throw attempts to his current seasonal output; his true shooting calculates as 54.4% – exactly league average for a shooting guard. That would rank 23rd of the 62 players, while using a relatively high distribution of possessions (19th most).
For what it’s worth, this occurred against a tough schedule. The defensive ratings of the Cavs opponents to date are: 2nd, 5th, 8th, 10th, 12th, 16th, and 26th. The team already braved a west-coast road trip, yet maintains a non-horrid offense (20th of 30 teams). Softer defenses should be forthcoming.
Overall, it is very reasonable to expect Dion to regress, but if he finishes with league average true shooting, high-usage, and an assist-to-turnover ratio above one; I will be thrilled. Performance to that degree from a pair of 20-year-old guards exceeds all expectations.
I do hope Waiters takes his conditioning seriously, hires a nutritionist, etc. A sleek Dion, moving a split-second faster and jumping a hair higher would be awesome. Work on this, young man. Your body is your temple, and if you do this right, a long NBA career, two max-contracts, etc, can be yours.
(Also, see my Part 1 article below on the Cleveland bench.)

Pass it around:

http://www.chatsports.com/cleveland-...eeks-1-6928318#

There is also a part 1 if anyone is interested, just click on link above. Talks about Cavs bench and rotation

[Off-Season God]

Part 2: A Numerical Take on Dion’s First Two Weeks

November 13th, 2012 by Kevin Hetrick
Based on data available at hoopdata.com, through November 12 games, there are 62 shooting guards averaging ten or more minutes per game. Of those, Dion:
Making 50% at the rim against OKC

• Takes the thirteenth most shots at the rim per forty minutes (4.5). Of all shooting guards who have made more than one such shot, he has been assisted on the fourth lowest percentage. He gets the ball to the basket. Unfortunately though, he converts a poor 50%, approximately 15% below NBA average this season. Kyrie struggled similarly early last season, and that turned out allright, so hopefully this tide also shifts for Waiters.
• He jacks the nineteenth highest number of long-twos per forty (4.3), while nailing a robust 48%. This is 10% higher than current league average for SGs. These are the least efficient shots in the game, and ideally Dion learns this and quits showing a propensity for them.
• From three, he hoists frequently (6.5 per 40, 19th for SGs), and makes them at a ridiculous rate of 53%.
• He is only shooting 0.18 free throws per field goal attempt. This is below average for a shooting guard. His foul shooting of 60% sits well under the 75% from his two collegiate seasons.

Clearly the shooting from deep is unsustainable, but if everything else also ‘normalizes’, how does his production look for the first seven games? Well…

• For a guy attacking the basket reasonably often, I will assume his ability to draw fouls eventually regresses to the league-mean. If he also drained three-quarters of his freebies; that adds six points through his first seven games.
• If his shooting at the rim was only slightly below league average for an SG (59% compared to 65%), he makes two more field goals. So, four more points.
• If his shooting on long twos reduced to 43% (compared to 38% average), he only loses one bucket over the first two weeks.
• The huge aberration is the three point shooting. If his shooting from deep approached his collegiate level of 37%, he makes five less to date, or a 15-point reduction.

By subtracting seven total points and adding five more free throw attempts to his current seasonal output; his true shooting calculates as 54.4% – exactly league average for a shooting guard. That would rank 23rd of the 62 players, while using a relatively high distribution of possessions (19th most).
For what it’s worth, this occurred against a tough schedule. The defensive ratings of the Cavs opponents to date are: 2nd, 5th, 8th, 10th, 12th, 16th, and 26th. The team already braved a west-coast road trip, yet maintains a non-horrid offense (20th of 30 teams). Softer defenses should be forthcoming.
Overall, it is very reasonable to expect Dion to regress, but if he finishes with league average true shooting, high-usage, and an assist-to-turnover ratio above one; I will be thrilled. Performance to that degree from a pair of 20-year-old guards exceeds all expectations.
I do hope Waiters takes his conditioning seriously, hires a nutritionist, etc. A sleek Dion, moving a split-second faster and jumping a hair higher would be awesome. Work on this, young man. Your body is your temple, and if you do this right, a long NBA career, two max-contracts, etc, can be yours.
(Also, see my Part 1 article below on the Cleveland bench.)

Pass it around:

http://www.chatsports.com/cleveland-...eeks-1-6928318#

There is also a part 1 if anyone is interested, just click on link above. Talks about Cavs bench and rotation

What a fucking retarded article. The writer makes all of these assumptions about how Dion will turn out by the end of the year because what Dion's doing right now isn't normal. Well, guy, did you ever think it's because Dion's not normal? The guy just pulled all of Dion's stats down to norms from college, and that's ok? I think not. Look at guys like Kawhi Leonard. Completely different shooter from the get-go in the NBA. I'm not saying that Dion will sustain these numbers, but we can't just assume that he won't because it's out of the norm based on past experiences.

[chrisrich91]

All those numbers are nice...

But none of them take into account the fact that this guy has KILLER written all over his face.

[ChicagoCavFan]

What a fucking retarded article. The writer makes all of these assumptions about how Dion will turn out by the end of the year because what Dion's doing right now isn't normal. Well, guy, did you ever think it's because Dion's not normal? The guy just pulled all of Dion's stats down to norms from college, and that's ok? I think not. Look at guys like Kawhi Leonard. Completely different shooter from the get-go in the NBA. I'm not saying that Dion will sustain these numbers, but we can't just assume that he won't because it's out of the norm based on past experiences.

Did you miss the assumptions?