Game 68 | Miami @ Cleveland | Tuesday March 18, 2014 7:00 PM ET

[Rich]

We needed Kyrie tonight. Be realistic. Team played good, I love Dion, but the outcome would have been different if Kyrie were in the mix.

Well, you know, Kyrie has been in the mix for a lot of Miami Heat games, and the outcome has yet to be different.

 

[I'mWithDan]

If anything this game proved we DON'T NEED Kyrie. We just went toe to toe with the World Champs AND SHOULD HAVE won the game if not for god awful officiating.

So we don't need the only above average young player our entire roster? Okey.

One game doesn't mean a god damn thing.

 

[Snarly]

If he was wearing the opposite jersey, would it be a no call?

Wow Haslam basically slammed Dion Into Lebron. LeBron appeared to make a clean play but WTF Haslem???

 

[CodyL1121]

Well, you know, Kyrie has been in the mix for a lot of Miami Heat games, and the outcome has yet to be different.

Throw Deng and Hawes in those other games. Let Jack and Dion play as good as they did tonight. Do we still lose?

 

[Cashius X]

Fixed it.

The guy shoots well one out of every 10 games.

Not sure why anyone is surprised by it at this point.

Dion is a tough dude and I like his personality but he is what he is.

Why is Dion lambasted for his shooting % while Kyrie gets a free slide? Because they're both shooting the same % from the field on the year right now...

Only difference is Dion is shooting better than Kyrie from 3. Please answer my question because I'm really confused. This is an open question by the way...

 

[BimboColesHair]

Fixed it.

The guy shoots well one out of every 10 games.

Not sure why anyone is surprised by it at this point.

Dion is a tough dude and I like his personality but he is what he is.

How can anyone say this about an improving 2nd year, 22 year old guard?

 

[Cashius X]

How anyone can say this about an improving 2nd year, 22 year old guard is besides me.

People love speaking in ultimatums around here. As if they know everything.

 

[Shep]

Why is Dion lambasted for his shooting % while Kyrie gets a free slide? Because they're both shooting the same % from the field on the year right now...

Only difference is Dion is shooting better than Kyrie from 3. Please answer my question because I'm really confused. This is an open question by the way...

Because Kyrie is doing it with every team in the league playing defense to stop HIM. Even still, he hasn't shot that well, particularly at the start of the year. He's been much better in the second half though.

 

[Cashius X]

Because Kyrie is doing it with every team in the league playing defense to stop HIM. Even still, he hasn't shot that well, particularly at the start of the year. He's been much better in the second half though.

Not a very convincing argument. The same could be said for Dion because he plays the majority of his minutes without competent offensive players other than himself. Furthermore, you could say the same about superstars all over the league. Most of them shoot over 42% from the field though. Next.

 

[I'mWithDan]

Why is Dion lambasted for his shooting % while Kyrie gets a free slide? Because they're both shooting the same % from the field on the year right now...

Only difference is Dion is shooting better than Kyrie from 3. Please answer my question because I'm really confused. This is an open question by the way...

Maybe because their efficiency ratings and advanced stats aren't close?

Kyrie has hit career lows in nearly all statistical categories and Dion isn't even in the same ballpark.

No one is saying KI doesn't need to bounce back this season but after 2 years, Dion is a completely average 2 guard and yet everyone defends him tooth and nail. Why? Because he's more likable?

People reference his age but perimeter players don't have a history of developing slowly or struggling early in their careers at the NBA level. The only guys that even remotely fall in to that category are ones who never got a chance at that age or were playing with players that didn't afford them offensive opportunities. Dion has averaged 13+ shot attempts for two straight seasons and has career per min averages of 28. I have no idea what his comp would be in that scenario. Look at year two for any SG's with a pulse. They don't hover below the league average in every advanced stat.

 

[Shep]

Not a very convincing argument. The same could be said for Dion because he plays the majority of his minutes without competent offensive players other than himself. Furthermore, you could say the same about superstars all over the league. Most of them shoot over 42% from the field though. Next.

Did you miss the part where I said Kyrie had an off-shooting first half of the season? Dion has been playing big minutes against reserve guards. If you think there is not a difference, then I can't help you.

 

[Rich]

Maybe because their efficiency ratings and advanced stats aren't close?

Kyrie has hit career lows in nearly all statistical categories and Dion isn't even in the same ballpark.

No one is saying KI doesn't need to bounce back this season but after 2 years, Dion is a completely average 2 guard and yet everyone defends him tooth and nail. Why? Because he's more likable?

People reference his age but perimeter players don't have a history of developing slowly or struggling early in their careers at the NBA level. The only guys that even remotely fall in to that category are ones who never got a chance at that age or were playing with players that didn't afford them offensive opportunities.

I'll challenge that. I can name a list of guys who looked pretty average to this point in their careers and exploded later. DeMarr DeRozan and James Harden come to mind immediately.

 

[Cashius X]

Did you miss the part where I said Kyrie had an off-shooting first half of the season? Dion has been playing big minutes against reserve guards. If you think there is not a difference, then I can't help you.

How the fuck are you going to completely disregard the first half of the season? If you can't see how asinine that sounds then I can't help you.

 

[BimboColesHair]

Did you miss the part where I said Kyrie had an off-shooting first half of the season? Dion has been playing big minutes against reserve guards. If you think there is not a difference, then I can't help you.

Man...coming off the bench does not mean you are going against bench guards for big minutes...you should know better.

 

[Cashius X]

Did you miss the part where I said Kyrie had an off-shooting first half of the season? Dion has been playing big minutes against reserve guards. If you think there is not a difference, then I can't help you.

He finishes games. He starts and plays the majority of the second quarter. He plays a lot in 3rd quarters as well. Just because he's coming off the bench doesn't mean he's going against lesser competition...

What a lazy argument.