[Seamo15Participant]

While it might be far too early to call, it looks like Coach Scott is going to be coming down hard on 4th pick Waiters this season in attempt to quash any existing attitude problems. The following is from the Cavs/ Bucks game fom espn

Guard ">Dion Waiters, taken by the Cavaliers with the No. 4 pick in the draft, scored two points in 14 minutes and was benched by coach Byron Scott early in the fourth quarter. Waiters drew Scott’s ire for taking a 23-foot jump shot and was immediately pulled from the game. "I drew up a play and he messed it up," Scott said. "To me that was a lack of focus and I figured he didn’t need to play the rest of the game." Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press

Whether this is apreemptive measure or perhaps a sign of a discord between coach and player I don’t know. It could even be nothing. But with the previous knowledge of Waiters attitude problems I can’t help but draw conclusions.    

[F_S]

 i think that’s nice. send a message and let him know who’s got the power

[river09Participant]

Cool to hear of a coach really stepping up.. I wonder how many head coaches in the league right now would do this? Especially with a player that needs all the seasoning he can get. I  like the move, it sets a precedent for the year to follow the instruction of the coach at all times. 

[Lebron’s HairlineParticipant]

 Great job Byron Scott. Let waiters know now that he can’t just play street ball and do his own thing, that he has to play within the team concept and plays. If not bench him, just because he’s the 4th pick he isn’t obligated to anything

[SiggyParticipant]

 He could’ve been yanked a couple of other times as well. Waiters’ shot selection needs a lot of work to say the least.

It shouldn’t be a question of which coaches would do that. ALL coaches should do that in the preseason.  

Kinda OT: As an aside, I was skimming through the Mavs/FC Barca game earlier today and it was embarassing watching the Mavs taking the shots they were taking compared to the shots FC was taking.  FC was executing like a well-oiled machine, almost always getting easier, quality shots while the Mavs were coming down the floor taking contested shots off of a couple of passes or isos, forcing drives and taking tough, hanging shots in the paint. Easier shots are…umm easier to make.  I don’t know why players feel the need to dribble up and shoot contested shots in people’s faces.  I mean, it’s great to have that ability in your back pocket for when the defense tightens up and the clock is running down, but there is no need to take that shot when the player doesn’t have to.  Those were the shots Waiters was taking: early in the clock with a hand in the face.

[BlueLacesParticipant]

I am still kind of scratching my head in regards to the Dion Waiters pick by the Cavs.  I am a firm believer that Harrison Barnes was the right pick for them and that he and Kyrie would have complimented each other and played well together.  I guess we will have to wait and see.

Regardless of how Waiters turns out, I can’t wait to watch Kyrie this year.  The Cavs are one of my league pass teams because of him.

 

[jmarg25Participant]

I would have even picked Jeremy Lamb before him, terrible pick. 

[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

Just humbling the kid

I’m with BlueLaces though, Harrison Barnes would have been a better pick than Dion Waiters with that pick

[HitsterParticipant]

The ironic thing is perhaps that Cleveland drafted Waiters on the selling point of the kind of shots he took! Barnes would have been a safe pick for them even Thomas Robinson if they could have used Thompson as a C. But I’m prepared to give Waiters time and it is good to see Coach Scott showing him who is boss.

[McDunkin]

 So if this is a consistent thing… It’s pretty much a givin that jr smith would average like 9 minutes a game before and lead the league in yanks from the courts

[anthonymatthew24Participant]

 Many teams are gonna regret passin on him.. in these first couple of preseason games hes been atacking the basket agressively and looks very focused!

[A Lil EnglishParticipant]

Funnily enough Byron Scott was JR Smith’s first coach I read an article on Smith recently that highlighted Scott had this approach going back to his days with Smith.

 

Smith’s first NBA coach was Byron Scott, someone who wasn’t accustomed to losing — the 2005 Hornets lost 64 games — and babysitting teenage shooting guards. Scott takes a more diplomatic stance these days, remembering Smith’s rookie season as "a little bit tougher than he probably expected," but also that "we knew he was going to be a hell of a player. We also knew it was going to take some time." Smith didn’t do himself any favors by practicing his half-court shot when his teammates queued up at the free throw line, or joking around in the locker room after losses — two habits that irked Scott and Hornets veterans.

"It was probably tough on both of them," former Hornets guard Speedy Claxton said. "Byron was old-school. He grew up under Pat Riley. He’s probably one of the most hard-nosed, disciplined coaches there is. J.R. was used to being the man and probably got away with a lot in high school. It was a power struggle between them."

 

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8396297/is-new-york-knicks-shooting-guard-jr-smith-misguided-just-misunderstood

 

[A Lil EnglishParticipant]

I’m still rooting for him to prove all the doubters wrong – mainly for Cleveland’s sake because they really convinced me they were set on Dion. Let’s give him time

[omphalosParticipant]

 Gee, maybe if you’d worked out Waiters before taking him 4th overall you’d get an idea of what sort of attitude or focus he might have. Waiters doesn’t respond well to criticism, he’s got a superstar mentality without the superstar skill-set, the fact that he threatened to walk from Syracuse is proof that he’s a diva.

[theballerwayParticipant]

He wasnt playing tho Siggy. lots of kids do this when they get that intouction to the bench. Ive read that Jr Smithh article and I thought of his relationship with Smith when I read this piece this morn. Byron Scott never been kind to rookies from what i remember. Scott had no choice w/Kyrie, he wad 1st pick

[SiggyParticipant]

 Even with Kyrie, B.Scott didn’t give him carte blanche.  He managed Kyrie’s minutes and timed his substitutions. Scott also called him out on his defensive play.  The main difference b/t Kyrie and Dion was that Kyrie was less prone to mental mistakes.  It’s always good to nip something like that in the bud.  It’ll take some time, but Waiters really needs to understand what a good shot is.  I don’t see him playing a large role for the Cavs until he shows improvement in that area.

[Taylor Gang MikeParticipant]

 Yeah HB woulda been the better pick, but Dion needs to get his act together. We are proud of him in our city, but he has Dejaun Wagner written all over him. CJ Miles is gonna start and Dion will come off bench it looks like. I dont think Dion wants to be a sixth man again, but Byron is the man and is in charge if they wanna make the players

[HitsterParticipant]

A hard nosed coach is sometimes needed and why would they pander to rookies, also however highly regarded a rookie might be, they have to earn their team mates respect. For example Anthony Davis would be looking to earn the respect of his team mates particularly the more senior guys such as Roger Mason for example. Look at the Thunder where we can see their is a lot of mutual respect between KD and Nick Collinson in their respective roles as the franchise player and the team’s senior player.

If a player upsets the coaching staff and his team mates then it can become a lonely place in the locker room.

I’d love to know what Coach Boeheim’s honest views on Dion Waiters was, he had him on his roster for two years but was content to use him from the bench and not change his established starting line up. As Jim Boeheim is an HoF Coach, I would have been amazed if Chris Grant and his draft war room had not spoken to him about Waiters.

As regards Dion Waiters, I think we have to give him time. Look at Evan Turner who was older than Waiters when he was drafted and he took nearly two years to become a regular starter for the 76ers and is still on a large upward curve. To go from a college bench guy to become a long term NBA starter takes time regardless of where you are drafted, I would expect that it could take Waiters at least a couple of seasons to make this transition, so this year is very much a learning curve.

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

Thats what i’ve been saying that most youngesters that come into the nba,dont have a mid-range game, its either a 3 pointer or a dunk…Irving started because he was different than JR Smith and Waiters…Irving had been taught how to play the game the right way while he was at Duke….And if you notice,under coach K,so many pro players that have tried out for TEAM USA or made the team, show an improvement in their overall game the next season……

Thats why he was successful and much more ready to contribute then Smith & Waiters,who are superior athletes,but lack an in between game…..Its not about Byron Scott being hard on rookies,he wants him to learn when to take a shot,how to play off the ball…And play more to his strengths,which are driving the lane and splitting double teams…

But Only moments after entering the game Waiters tossed up a 3 pointer that hit nothing..Afterwards the cameras showed the Cavs bench ,Irving was laughing and Scott shaking his head…..

Waiters have the talent to be 1 of the top 3 players from this year’s draft, if he’s willing to listen to coach Scott…You have to admire coaches that arent afraid to let players know they’re doing something wrong….

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

And speaking of yanking players…

Rick Carlise will be Yanking OJ Mayo from the starting lineup if he keeps missing shots….

[apb540Participant]

I’m in the ‘would of taken Barnes’ boat so in a rather selfish way I don’t mind seeing this.  On the other hand, Dion needs to do a better job of representing Philly ball players better.  Hustle, play with intensity, be a team-player, etc. 

[bangbangwaynee]

U guyd
S r bandwagon jimpets. Dst dumt knoe mu
tton.

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

 Barnes is just empty points. Give him a bunch of shots and he will score some points, but not really any better than any other two guard. Just a bunch of long jumpers that he might hit 40% of the time. You aren’t going to win too many games off that type of offense. And you won’t get any assists, steals, rebounds, or blocks from him. Trust me. You didn’t want Barnes. 

[BringWinBingoParticipant]

haha

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

BangBangWayne what Planet are you From? You have your own crazy lingo.That seems to be in codes…….SMDH

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

This title saying he Dragged Waiters from the game, sounds like some Bobby Knight or Woody Hayes type of sh*t…lol

[bangbangwaynee]

Dude

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

BangBang, your mom needs to find your english teacher and Slap them

[HitsterParticipant]

OJ Mayo in Dallas would be slaughtered if he starts taking bad shots especially from his more senior team mates and Coach Carlisle as Rude Boy rightly points out.

[aamir543Participant]

Taking 23 foot jump shots does not mean you have attitude problems, it just means you need to improve you Basketball IQ and shot selection.

[FACEFANDEParticipant]

And speaking of yanking players…

[Author]

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