Hey moqui

[CorduroyG]

Are we allowed to believe in dion yet? are we deep enough into the season? Or do we have to wait till they lose to see how he responds? Or are we just 'fan boys' no matter what?

 

[SaintTristan]

Are we allowed to believe in dion yet? are we deep enough into the season? Or do we have to wait till they lose to see how he responds? Or are we just 'fan boys' no matter what?

moqui said we shouldnt believe in Dion?

 

[moqui]

you can believe in whoever you want to

I have never doubted his talent . . . it is his character that has not been tested yet this season. I hope he really has changed, not just for the team but for Dion himself. but I don't forget history.

 

[DNABB5]

you can believe in whoever you want to

I believe i'll have another beer.

 

[triplethrea]

Watching him I feel like he's still an off the court. But he has gained a tremendous amount of social intelligence over the course of a year.

He has had so much positive reinforcement this season that I don't think he ever acts like a child again. Demarcus Cousins got babied and went to the NBA. Dion got the pimp hand and grew. I think he'll be fine on the court. Off it, who knows.

 

[otisco]

you can believe in whoever you want to

I have never doubted his talent . . . it is his character that has not been tested yet this season. I hope he really has changed, not just for the team but for Dion himself. but I don't forget history.

I think it is presumptuous to say his character has not yet been tested. He is the sixth man. Most freshman as immature, talented and volatile as he was would not be so accepting of not starting as a soph. He has gracefully accepted his role, by all reports and as it shows on the court. And, it is pretty much indisputable, at this point, that he is matured on the court.

I'm with you - past transgressions typically dictate future behavior. But so far, and hopefully for good, Dion seems to be an extra special case of growing up.

 

[triplethrea]

People do change and grow. I think Dion has earned the benefit of the doubt. I don't think being suspicious of people is healthy, he's cool with me unless he proves otherwise.

 

[HoustonCuse]

There is something about Dion. I just love the guy. Jonny Flynn acted like a straight up punk but people loved him like he was their own son. Dion doesn't hide what he is - he wants to cut out the opponent's throat. He plays like it, he acts like it. Period. I appreciate the killer instinct and attitude the guy has. Plus, frankly, he does very little after-action gyrations and celebrations. He knows he's better than the other guy and doesn't need to dance around after proving it.

 

[OrangeCrush22]

Did no one see this article? It was in the paper this morning, here in Elmira.

http://www.boston.com/sports/colleg...dion_waiters_excels_in_role_off_bench/?page=2

"I didn't raise no quitter" - Dion's mom

 

[SaintTristan]

I don't think being suspicious of people is healthy

unless of course you want to see them fail.

There is something about Dion. I just love the guy. Jonny Flynn acted like a straight up punk but people loved him like he was their own son. Dion doesn't hide what he is - he wants to cut out the opponent's throat. He plays like it, he acts like it. Period. I appreciate the killer instinct and attitude the guy has. Plus, frankly, he does very little after-action gyrations and celebrations. He knows he's better than the other guy and doesn't need to dance around after proving it.

Yep. He is great. Other SU players, past and present, could learn from him. He didnt like his situation as a frosh so he busted his arse and improved. I can name several players that left SU about as good as they were when they started - complacency, laziness, lack of talent, poor pyschology for athletes etc etc. no evidence that they worked nearly as hard in between games as dion clearly has.

 

[albanycuse]

Moqui i thought you were smarter than putting a lot of emphasis on the character of a kid. Yes a kid were talking about who has matured right before our eyes on and off the court. His willingness to make the extra pass and play unselfishly is evident. You dont have to go outside and get wet to realize its raining now do you?

 

[Forza Azzurri]

Just my opinion but I think this is a bit harsh.

Moqui has strong opinions and can be patronizing at times but he is balanced in his assessments. He is no Blue Curtain.

And, he does have a point. It is easy to show that one's character has changed when eveything is going well. This team has not yet faced any adversity this season.

My personal opinion is that he plays with a serious chip on his shoulder, he plays extremely hard at both ends of the court and he just makes plays.

I love him.

Championship game, down 1 last possession, I want the ball in his hands. He is our difference-maker.

 

[mark79]

Me too. Last I checked none of us are saints. Not sure how humble I'd be back when I was 20 and everyone in the world was telling me I'm great. On his twitter he says just about every day H and H. Stands for humble and hungry. He's doing fine in my book.

 

[SaintTristan]

Me too. Last I checked none of us are saints.

excuse me?

 

[moqui]

eman77ster said: ↑

I don't think being suspicious of people is healthy​

unless of course you want to see them fail.

come on, Stan, you know me better than that. Yes, there are people like that, but I am not one of them

I want Dion to succeed. I want him to make mid season Wooden list, to win the National and Conference 6th Man Awards, to make All Big East and All American. I want him to lead SU to an undefeated season and a national title. I want him to earn a lottery selection in the NBA draft and have a long and successful NBA career.

I want him to make me eat crow, and I will gladly and publicly do it (just as I did for Andy Rautins).

I just have my doubts. He has a history both as a freshman at SU and before that as a prep star. I can still see instances of it in his body language at times even now. I though he would - and should - be gone after last season. That JB saw fit to bring him back is enough for me to root for him, but not enough to erase all my doubts. I take the point of view that he is on probation, and until he completes it, the jury is still out - especially since the schedule is so backloaded this year.

Championship game, down 1 last possession, I want the ball in his hands. He is our difference-maker.

As the Orange are still untested in such situations, I fear that when the time that you describes comes, he will so want to be that difference maker that he will dribble it into three defenders, ignore an open teammate, and . . .

I just want to see him tested, that's all.

BTW, thank you for your kind words, Forza.

 

[Forza Azzurri]

I have exactly the same concerns you do, albeit less pronounced.

I, too, have seen the body language on occasion and I, too, wonder whether, when the time comes, he'll go 1 on 3 and forego the right basketball play.

However, given the choice between having the ball in KJ's, Scoop's, Brandon's or Dion's hands with the game on the line, I'll go with Dion everytime to initiate.

I know what I am getting with the first three and it doesn't leave me warm and fuzzy.

KJ tends to stagnate and/or overpenetrate. We've seen that Scoop will either be brilliant or horrid. Brandon's handle is too inconsistent.

I think Dion gives us the best chance to beat his man and put the defense in a situation where they need to choose: collapse on Dion to keep him from getting to the rim or stay with their guy.

At that point, I can only hope that he makes the right decision.

I think he will.

 

[moqui]

I think Dion gives us the best chance to beat his man and put the defense in a situation where they need to choose: collapse on Dion to keep him from getting to the rim or stay with their guy.

At that point, I can only hope that he makes the right decision.

I think he will.

you definitely have a strong case (with the reservation that we really haven't seen the Orange in a tight situation this year), and I think that it probably will be Dion with the ball if we ever do get in that spot.

that being said, I have been very impressed by Scoop's restraint and maturity this year. Even with all the "good Scoop/bad Scoop" baggage from last year, I think I would be most comfortable with 5th year senior co-captain initiating the offense on those possessions, even if it ends up being Dion or someone else taking the shot.

 

[007]

you definitely have a strong case (with the reservation that we really haven't seen the Orange in a tight situation this year), and I think that it probably will be Dion with the ball if we ever do get in that spot.

that being said, I have been very impressed by Scoop's restraint and maturity this year. Even with all the "good Scoop/bad Scoop" baggage from last year, I think I would be most comfortable with 5th year senior co-captain initiating the offense on those possessions, even if it ends up being Dion or someone else taking the shot.

I think it can not be overstated that this team has not been tested yet in a late game situation. We very much need to be before the tournament. I think it is clear that Scoop will be on the floor. I can also envision Joseph or Waiters dribbling out the time at the top of the key and then trying to make a play as time runs out. This is not Joseph's strong suit, but he is the defacto leader of the team because JB trusts experience.

Having said that, here's hoping it is Dion with the game on the line.