Dion Waiters:
- Yes, it is still only two meaningless Summer League games, but Dion Waiters has made just 7 of his 25 shots in those two games, most of them poorly-balanced jump shots from beyond 20 feet. Waiters took another 6 long jump shots last night, bringing his total to 14 of his 25 shots taken from long range. Waiters will never be a dangerous scorer if he relies on jump shots, and so far that is what he is settling for in Summer League.
- Waiters did do a better job of attacking the rim on Monday night, taking seven shots insider the paint compared to just three on Sunday night. The problem is that Waiters made only two of those shots, and one was an unchallenged fast break dunk. Right now the #4 overall pick can't score inside or out.
- The jump-shooting problem falls on bad mechanics and bad shot selection, but Waiters' troubles near the rim are just as problematic. He is starting his gather - the point where he picks up the ball and tries to power his way to the hoop - too far away from the basket. This leaves him having to use his momentum laterally just to get to the hoop, rather than using it to raise up above the defense for an easier finish at the rim. Waiters did show a little creativity in getting his shot up around the defense, but things would be much easier for him if he could penetrate deeper into the lane before picking the ball up for the shot.
(AP Photo/David Becker)
- Which illustrates another problem: Waiters isn't showing the speed to get around the corner on his defender. This could be a matter of Waiters adjusting to the pace of the game and having the ball in his hands so much, but the lack of speed in Waiters' dribble game is a bit concerning. He does a good job of splitting defenders with the dribble, but hasn't been able to burst to the rim very often.
- Finally, Waiters' defense has been generally terrible in both games. He isn't sticking with his man, he is not hustling on close outs, and he is providing almost no help to his teammates. His effort level on the defensive end has not been there, and could be more evidence that his conditioning coming into Summer League was not NBA-ready. Coach Byron Scott talked about Waiters' conditioning after the game Monday night, and I think the coach's first priority is getting Waiters ready to run with the big boys come November.
- While that is a big list of problems with the performance of the Cavaliers' new shooting guard, it remains the results of two Summer League games. Waiters can and will improve. But that doesn't meant that his performance in these two games was remotely impressive, or even satisfactory. Of the players selected in the Top 10 in last month's draft (excluding #1 pick Anthony Davis who is playing with Team USA), Waiters is next-to-last in scoring at 10.5 points per game, ahead of only Andre Drummond (7.4 ppg). Michael Kidd-Gichrist (18 ppg), Bradley Beal (18.7 ppg), Thomas Robinson (14.3 ppg), Damian Lillard (25 ppg), Harrison Barnes (18 ppg), Terrance Ross (15.3 ppg) and Austin Rivers (14 ppg) are all averaging more points per game, as are #11 overall pick Meyers Leonard (14 ppg) and #12 overall pickJeremy Lamb (20.3 ppg). I look forward to watching Dion Waiters get over this hump and progress the way the Cavs front office hopes, but he has a long way to go at the moment.
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