Waiters playing crunch time minutes for the Thunder

[OttoinGrotto]

Game isn't over but they went to him late and he had two nice jumpers vs the Spurs. Looked like he belonged.

If he has a good year he's in line for a huge payday. Will be interesting to see if Donovan can smooth his rough edges a bit.

 

[SC Orange]

Game isn't over but they went to him late and he had two nice jumpers vs the Spurs. Looked like he belonged.

If he has a good year he's in line for a huge payday. Will be interesting to see if Donovan can smooth his rough edges a bit.

And while he didn't light it up points wise he did lead the team in +/- and played well. I think good things are finally coming for Dion!

 

[ssbriefcase]

I know it's only the first game, but...I saw a different Dion. I tried to watch every single possession he was involved in. His game was tighter in a good way. He didn't have that aura of everything being about him. I saw 2 bad decisions and neither was in crunch time. And the fact he was on the floor in the most crucial part of the game, told me he has Donovan's trust. And he performed. He was very deliberate on D guarding Green and Parker. He posted up Parker and hit 2 jumpers and had a crucial rebound in traffic with a min or so left, the clock didn't reset, about 3 seconds left, he knew it and found Westbrook in the corner for a 3.

Again couldn't have a smaller sample size, but he seemed different, hopefully that's things to come.

 

[orangefog]

I know it's only the first game, but...I saw a different Dion. I tried to watch every single possession he was involved in. His game was tighter in a good way. He didn't have that aura of everything being about him. I saw 2 bad decisions and neither was in crunch time. And the fact he was on the floor in the most crucial part of the game, told me he has Donovan's trust. And he performed. He was very deliberate on D guarding Green and Parker. He posted up Parker and hit 2 jumpers and had a crucial rebound in traffic with a min or so left, the clock didn't reset, about 3 seconds left, he knew it and found Westbrook in the corner for a 3.

Again couldn't have a smaller sample size, but he seemed different, hopefully that's things to come.

I really hope this is true, because our guys in the NBA don't seem to have the bet reps.

 

[longislandcuse]

Dion brought it last night in crunch time. Very impressed with those two clutch buckets he hit under 2 minutes.

 

[Brooky03]

I said it before, he's going to have a 10+ year NBA career.

 

[Knicks411]

I'm going to continue to remain very skeptical on Dion.

 

[ssbriefcase]

I'm going to continue to remain very skeptical on Dion.

I expect most will. He's going to have to do that for most of the season to start getting more people on his side.

 

[longislandcuse]

One thing I noticed right away is how pumped Westbrook and Durant were for Dion when he hit those shots.

 

[reedny]

One thing I noticed right away is how pumped Westbrook and Durant were for Dion when he hit those shots.

Two in a row over Parker to take the lead for OKC at crunch time. That was sweet.

 

[Melancer46]

I'm going to continue to remain very skeptical on Dion.

Yeah, this is basically a make or break year for him. If he can't play a winning style of basketball this year, he'll probably miss out on that pay day. I've never liked the way he's played in the past (even at Syracuse), but he has undeniable talent. Hopefully he'll finally put it together.

 

[HOFCeluck]

I've felt this way in past re him turning a corner attitude wise. Just a very frustrating player.

 

[Knicks411]

Yeah, this is basically a make or break year for him. If he can't play a winning style of basketball this year, he'll probably miss out on that pay day. I've never liked the way he's played in the past (even at Syracuse), but he has undeniable talent. Hopefully he'll finally put it together.

It's the beginning of the year, so we get the yearly "SU players who haven't been that good are going to turn it around this year!!" posts. We'll see.

Just in general, he's a guy who likes the ball in his hands, and the thunder have some guys who are going to have the ball in their hands a lot.

 

[Cusefan0307]

I think Dion can be great off the bench for OKC, but i'm skeptical with him on the court with Durant and Westbrook. He couldn't play with Lebron and everyone loves signing up to play with LBJ.

 

[longislandcuse]

I think Dion can be great off the bench for OKC, but i'm skeptical with him on the court with Durant and Westbrook. He couldn't play with Lebron and everyone loves signing up to play with LBJ.

OKC is different. Lebron likes having a bunch of shooters. OKC is more attacking.

 

[SoBeCuse]

I said it before, he's going to have a 10+ year NBA career.

Not rocket science. Agreed but it is all about maximizing his opportunities and embracing his role. Obviously he is a talented dude. He is in a good spot now after being a pouty, inconsistent primadona in CLE. If he had been cool and a good teammate there just think how valuable he could've been in the Finals with Irving out. Hopefully the light comes on in OkC and he carves out a solid role instead of being a potential 10 year journeyman malcontent.

 

[HOFCeluck]

Not rocket science. Agreed but it is all about maximizing his opportunities and embracing his role. Obviously he is a talented dude. He is in a good spot now after being a pouty, inconsistent primadona in CLE. If he had been cool and a good teammate there just think how valuable he could've been in the Finals with Irving out. Hopefully the light comes on in OkC and he carves out a solid role instead of being a potential 10 year journeyman malcontent.

Yeah...I think he'll have a long career, but I think a lot of people, myself included hoped for more.

Like I've said before...maybe he prefers to score twenty plus on forty percent shooting for a lottery team than come off the bench for a playoff team.

 

[ssbriefcase]

It's the beginning of the year, so we get the yearly "SU players who haven't been that good are going to turn it around this year!!" posts. We'll see.

Just in general, he's a guy who likes the ball in his hands, and the thunder have some guys who are going to have the ball in their hands a lot.

I hope that wasn't directed towards my post. I simply gave an account on what I saw. I had some disclaimers and used "hopefully".

 

[SoBeCuse]

Yeah...I think he'll have a long career, but I think a lot of people, myself included hoped for more.

Like I've said before...maybe he prefers to score twenty plus on forty percent shooting for a lottery team than come off the bench for a playoff team.

Agreed. Unfortunately he probably would prefer the latter.

 

[Brooky03]

Not rocket science. Agreed but it is all about maximizing his opportunities and embracing his role. Obviously he is a talented dude. He is in a good spot now after being a pouty, inconsistent primadona in CLE. If he had been cool and a good teammate there just think how valuable he could've been in the Finals with Irving out. Hopefully the light comes on in OkC and he carves out a solid role instead of being a potential 10 year journeyman malcontent.

There's no doubt he didn't gel with the guys on that Cavs team, and a lot of that was on him, but I think some of the players on that team need to be looked at as contributing factors, too. They don't/didn't exactly have good role models of team players.

 

[HOFCeluck]

There's no doubt he didn't gel with the guys on that Cavs team, and a lot of that was on him, but I think some of the players on that team need to be looked at as contributing factors, too. They don't/didn't exactly have good role models of team players.

He played for like a hundred different high schools. He's had issues on every team he's been on since 2010 save one.

I know it sounds like I'm shixxing on him, but it is what is. But who knows? Maybe a college coach can reach him better.

 

[orangefog]

Dion wants to be the alpha on a team. He is talented, but not NBA alpha talented. He has to figure out if he wants to be rich or not. If he wants to be rich, then he needs to become one of the best secondary players in the NBA.

 

[Knicks411]

I hope that wasn't directed towards my post. I simply gave an account on what I saw. I had some disclaimers and used "hopefully".

Nah just in general, I've seen the same post for Wes and Dion mainly for the last few years.

 

[SoBeCuse]

There's no doubt he didn't gel with the guys on that Cavs team, and a lot of that was on him, but I think some of the players on that team need to be looked at as contributing factors, too. They don't/didn't exactly have good role models of team players.

I don't know man. I live here. They have a good young team with a bunch of young leaders aside from LBJ. Irving and Thompson are good dudes. It's no coincidence that chemistry and play on the court improved when they shipped him out.

 

[Brooky03]

I don't know man. I live here. They have a good young team with a bunch of young leaders aside from LBJ. Irving and Thompson are good dudes. It's no coincidence that chemistry and play on the court improved when they shipped him out.

I don't doubt they're good dudes; I enjoy watching them play, especially Kyrie. I've just never been convinced a lot of the guys there are 'team-first' types. Waiters isn't either, so it seemed like a case of there being too many mouths and egos to feed.

In fairness, and this is going to be wildly unpopular (possibly deservedly so), LBJ doesn't strike me as being a team-player to the degree he's perceived to be.