Game 64 | New York Knicks @ Cleveland Cavaliers | March 8th, 2014 | 7:30 PM ET

[caf]

I don't blame the refs at all. Some of those calls were bad, but all of those were bad basketball plays. Refs don't usually like to reward sloppy, and shitty play. That's how it is. You can't expect bail out calls. Yes, Spencer's arm was hit, but WTF are you doing dribbling the ball into traffic, that's just bad basketball. I like him, but he in the second half was really horrible, making really bad decisions.

I think the regression of Hawes in the 2nd half is a direct reflection on Mike Brown. MB needs to let the performance of his team dictate who gets a majority of minutes each game. Go with the hot hands, go with the mismatches, etc. Brown doesn't want easy buckets for some reason and I just don't get it.

I have a feeling this leads to the iso ball everyone here hates. When you surround your players that are shooting hot with players that are disinterested, that just reinforces the iso ball mentality. Hawes was dominating inside and out on offense during the first quarter. Wouldn't it make sense to put in a player like Dion to attack the basket? Kick out to an open Hawes? If I get an easy basket, I am going to keep getting those easy baskets until the team adjusts. Mike Brown seems to notice that easy basket and he wants to keep that play in his pocket, as if that mismatch is a secret. Or he is just oblivious. I just don't know...

 

[CHIMOCHIS]

Dion showed no heart last night no hustle

 

[Surge]

Dion showed no heart last night no hustle

Aye! Don't you dare question Ball Hard.

 

[tristan+kyrie=$]

why hustle when jack is going to play 3 times as many minutes as you?

Dion showed no heart last night no hustle

 

[OptimusPrime]

Dion showed no heart last night no hustle

How could you tell? Was he not waving his towel hard enough for your liking?

 

[billmac91]

How could you tell? Was he not waving his towel hard enough for your liking?

Do you even recognize the atrocious effort Dion gave 3 straight possessions against the Knicks? Like blatant disrespect to his teammates with his lack of effort. I wish I were using hyperbole but unfortunately it was that bad. I think that is what the original poster is referring to when he says "no heart and no hustle". When Pablo Prigioni is sizing you up waiting for you to close-out so he can initiate his offense, but you never even attempt to move forward to the three point arc, that would be a lack of effort.

I'm not sure what else Mike could do at the point other than yank him...

And yes, I'm aware Jarrett Jack has largely been garbage this year. But I can't recall Jack being that blatantly lazy/disrespectful. It's unfortunate too, because there are times where Dion looks like the best player on the court and an elite player. But he can't pick and choose when he wants to be that guy, especially at the defensive end. His defense on Prigioni had to come with consequences otherwise you're setting a terrible example for everyone, and especially Waiters himself. But you certainly don't want Bennett, Karasev, or Kyrie seeing that and then it going unpunished.

The most troubling part is that Dion still thought he could play and get away with that. I'm glad Mike did something about it, but I'm equally concerned that it's still happening 60 games in. Not good...

 

[Futuredome]

Do you even recognize the atrocious effort Dion gave 3 straight possessions against the Knicks? Like blatant disrespect to his teammates with his lack of effort. I wish I were using hyperbole but unfortunately it was that bad. I think that is what the original poster is referring to when he says "no heart and no hustle". When Pablo Prigioni is sizing you up waiting for you to close-out so he can initiate his offense, but you never even attempt to move forward to the three point arc, that would be a lack of effort.

I'm not sure what else Mike could do at the point other than yank him...

And yes, I'm aware Jarrett Jack has largely been garbage this year. But I can't recall Jack being that blatantly lazy/disrespectful. It's unfortunate too, because there are times where Dion looks like the best player on the court and an elite player. But he can't pick and choose when he wants to be that guy, especially at the defensive end. His defense on Prigioni had to come with consequences otherwise you're setting a terrible example for everyone, and especially Waiters himself. But you certainly don't want Bennett, Karasev, or Kyrie seeing that and then it going unpunished.

The most troubling part is that Dion still thought he could play and get away with that. I'm glad Mike did something about it, but I'm equally concerned that it's still happening 60 games in. Not good...

lol on this. I saw no "disrespect" anymore than Dion than anybody else, I saw complete non-caring from the whole team. Kyrie's defense regressed and TT looked like he would rather be handling out alms to the poor.

You try and signal out one player, you self-defeat your point. IMO, they were pissed over the loss to the Bobcats........pissed at Mike Brown who they felt, let them down in that game(among several others).

 

[billmac91]

lol on this. I saw no "disrespect" anymore than Dion than anybody else, I saw complete non-caring from the whole team. Kyrie's defense regressed and TT looked like he would rather be handling out alms to the poor.

You try and signal out one player, you self-defeat your point. IMO, they were pissed over the loss to the Bobcats........pissed at Mike Brown who they felt, let them down in that game(among several others).

I think you're being a bit oversensitive to the criticism of Dion. The Cavs were in the midst of a great comeback, and in fact showing a lot of effort in battling back from a 15 point deficit. They started the 3rd quarter with a ton of momentum and took a 1 point lead. The team defense had picked up from the first half.

Until Dion let Pablo Prigioni do whatever he wanted. Our 1 point lead turned into a 7 point deficit on a dime. And it was because of Dion's laziness. And again, the unfortunate thing is, Dion had probably just made the best move of the game slashing for an acrobatic lay-up to then come back on defense and just do nothing. Literally just watch Prigioni bomb away without contesting. It was horrific.

They may be pissed at Mike Brown, and there are certainly malcontents on the team, I get that. But Dion took it to another level against New York. You just don't do that to your team, especially when they've fought like hell to take a lead after getting smashed in the first half. It's not singling him out, its being truthful. I love Dion's potential and the flashes he shows make me think he could have a higher ceiling than even Kyrie...he's that special with the ball in his hands. Saturday was a terrible display from a guy who has the ability to be great. He didn't deserve to be on the court after 3 straight possessions of whatever it was he was doing. It wasn't like he was lazy one trip down the court....after 3 straight possessions of the same BS, what choice do you have as a coach?