Kyrie Irving

[davedugan43]

Re: Dion Waiters

This is getting ridiculous. I've never seen so many fans of a team turn on their star player, a guy who has given hope to a franchise that, let's be honest, was looking pretty shattered for a bit there. The same guy just tweeted to Spike Lee that "Cleveland is home." words that have never even entered LeBron's mind to say. He has been patient while Grant and Gilbert stockpiled talent to run with him these past two years, and now we have Thompson, Waiters, Zeller, Bennett, Karasev, and Felix from these past three drafts. We're gearing up. I think you underestimate how badly he checked out because he can't stand losing. Magic Johnson has said he thinks Kyrie will end up a better pure PG than he was. He has a good attitude (minus the Fan Appreciation Night fiasco), loves to give back to his fans (see Australian visit), and is one of the most finely tuned point guards i have ever seen. I love Dion Waiters, his work ethic and intensity have me thrilled about the next five plus seasons, but stop hating on Kyrie, seriously. He is a young man waiting his turn.

 

[Surge]

Re: Dion Waiters

QTIP- I was more commenting on his percieved "lack of commitment." He lost more games his rookie season before the all-star break than he lost since grade school. With our "tanking" and lack of bringing in true talent to help him, I could see his commitment waning.

I'm not saying it's right, or that we won't try to get some help this off-season, but those factors can take a tole on a hyper-competitive player.

As long as he plays his ass off and produces like we know he can, I couldn't care less what he looks like.

 

[Birdy89]

Re: Dion Waiters

Or Kyrie is starting to get beaten down by the constant losing since he's come here.

The whole tank mentality is so ingrained in the brains of so many around here that they refuse to acknowledge the ugly under-belly of the tank as far as its effect on players.

It is why the same bad teams are in the lottery every year drafting lots of young talent and yet still finding themselves in the lottery that next year.

Once you lose at this kind of level for 3-4 years in a row guys become desensitized too it and it becomes just part of the job. It's a death spiral where most of your roster knows nothing but losing, and it makes it 1,000x harder to break the cycle and begin the climb back toward being at least mediocre (before you can even dream of contending).

 

[Adam]

Re: Dion Waiters

Its the situation 'once bitten twice shy' see it all the time when a spouse cheats and then the person distrusts the new partner

Back to Dion i am really impressed how much he has re-tooled that jumper, its not easy when you have had a lot of success to undo bad habits and take a step back,so you can take two steps forward. Hopefully this helps him improve those percentages to elite levels

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Re: Dion Waiters

This is getting ridiculous. I've never seen so many fans of a team turn on their star player, a guy who has given hope to a franchise that, let's be honest, was looking pretty shattered for a bit there. The same guy just tweeted to Spike Lee that "Cleveland is home." words that have never even entered LeBron's mind to say.

Nobody is "turning" on him or advocating we trade him. People are expressing a concern that has a factual basis, and the idea that we here should censor our comments because we might offend some tender-hearted player is ridiculous. You can rest assured that if he shows up in less than hoped-for shape, he's goign to hear it a lot more directly coming from MB and the coaches. Probably other players as well. And just because a guy says "I'm all about Cleveland" doesn't give him a free pass from working on those aspects of his body/game that need work.

I think you underestimate how badly he checked out because he can't stand losing.

So this "checking out" has been pretty much since he was drafted? Because looking at him and his on court performance, marvelous basketball talents aside, the dude has simply not put in the work on his body/conditioning since day one. Don't the rest of our players want to win too? Didn't TT put up with losing? Didn't Dion put up with it last year? Why didn't they check out?

I'll never understand the minsdet that fans are supposed to be blindly supportive. This city has always supported guys who work hard, and disliked those who don't. I hope Kyrie turns out to be one of the former.

Once you lose at this kind of level for 3-4 years in a row guys become desensitized too it and it becomes just part of the job. It's a death spiral where most of your roster knows nothing but losing, and it makes it 1,000x harder to break the cycle and begin the climb back toward being at least mediocre (before you can even dream of contending).

Kyrie has only been here two seasons, and apparently wasn't a gym rat before or after that first season either. Was he "beaten down" then too? Honestly, I really hope you guys are wrong about this, because if our star player is so fragile emotionally that he gives up after/during a poor season, I doubt he's going to have the mental toughness to do what it takes to take us to a championship.

I personally just think he's made it for so long on amazing skills that he's never had to bust his ass to get elite conditioning, and that the demands placed on him last season will be a wakeup call. If not, then I hope MB runs his dick into the dirt.

One constant of truly great players is that they never stop working on their game, which is why so many people are pumped by Dion. If Kyrie suffers in comparison, he's got nobody to blame but himself. Hopefully, he'll show up to training camp rock-solid and in the best shape of his life.

 

[Rich]

Re: Dion Waiters

This is silly. No one is turning on Kyrie. But since when did it become taboo to speak honestly about the team's players? He's not a particularly hard-worker in the off-season. There is evidence of this. Why is it not allowed to be said?

 

[Birdy89]

Re: Dion Waiters

This is silly. No one is turning on Kyrie. But since when did it become taboo to speak honestly about the team's players? He's not a particularly hard-worker in the off-season. There is evidence of this. Why is it not allowed to be said?

In the history of Cleveland sports I am not quite sure I have ever seen anything approaching the level of blind and unquestioned loyalty being shown to the Cavs right now.

If you look at people's attitude toward the team it seems that the more we lose the more sure of the plan everyone seems to be.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Re: Dion Waiters

In the history of Cleveland sports I am not quite sure I have ever seen anything approaching the level of blind and unquestioned loyalty being shown to the Cavs right now.

If you look at people's attitude toward the team it seems that the more we lose the more sure of the plan everyone seems to be.

I prefer to think ot it as a realistic assessment of the alternatives.

I don't think there is any sure route to build a champion. It takes a lot of skill and knowledge, and a shitload of luck. It is entirely possible that the Cavs' plan won't succeed in bringing a championship team here, even if it really was "the best" plan. Sometimes, it just doesn't go your way.

But I'm at a loss as to what they could do differently that would increase their chances of succeeding. Right now, we aren't able to sign quality free agents unless we massively overpay for them. So we either do that, or hope that improvements to the team and/or a different crop of FA's make us a more desireable destination in the future. It's nowhere near a sure thing, but I think waiting under those circumstances is the best course. It may not work, but it's better than the alternative.

 

[Futuredome]

Re: Dion Waiters

Everybody knew the Cavs were aboard the tank, that isn't blinded loyalty, but keen awareness of the situation.

 

[chuck0609]

Re: Dion Waiters

Stop.

It is debatable.

It doesnt mean people turned on him, but this is year three for him; he knows what the NBA is all about at this point. Its time for him to make a turn towards becoming physically focused to avoid his injuries.

there's no jury out on this issue, but I saw something where he's played only 110 games so far? Some may be attributed to the tank, I fully get that, but he needs to get on the Court.

You arent going to do that being a doughball, no matter how talented you are.

 

[Chris]

Re: Dion Waiters

lol @ a 21 year old ball player being "beaten down" by two seasons of losing. God forbid the worst team in the league isn't winning two years after drafting you.

LOL.

Get a grip, please. That goes for anyone who says that and the player in question, too.

 

[AZCavs]

Re: Dion Waiters

It is debatable.

It doesnt mean people turned on him, but this is year three for him; he knows what the NBA is all about at this point. Its time for him to make a turn towards becoming physically focused to avoid his injuries.

there's no jury out on this issue, but I saw something where he's played only 110 games so far? Some may be attributed to the tank, I fully get that, but he needs to get on the Court.

You arent going to do that being a doughball, no matter how talented you are.

The term "doughball" is complete hyperbole. I hardly consider a 6'3" player who weighs less than 200 pounds a "doughball".

Plus, you don't come back from an injury that sidelined you for 3/4 of your freshman season in college and play the way Kyrie has during his time on the court in his first two seasons by having "debatable" work ethic.

You act like he's as fat as Khalid El-Amin. We're talking about a 21 year old point guard with a extremely sub-par supporting cast who has battled separate injuries. Extra conditioning wasn't going to prevent the shoulder injury he suffered this past season. Also, what should have the Cavs have done? Rushed him back to play in even more meaningless games down the stretch of a season that was already a lost cause?

 

[chuck0609]

Re: Dion Waiters

The term "doughball" is complete hyperbole. I hardly consider a 6'3" player who weighs less than 200 pounds a "doughball".

Plus, you don't come back from an injury that sidelined you for 3/4 of your freshman season in college and play the way Kyrie has during his time on the court in his first two seasons by having "debatable" work ethic.

You act like he's as fat as Khalid El-Amin. We're talking about a 21 year old point guard with a extremely sub-par supporting cast who has battled separate injuries. Extra conditioning wasn't going to prevent the shoulder injury he suffered this past season. Also, what should have the Cavs have done? Rushed him back to play in even more meaningless games down the stretch of a season that was already a lost cause?

There's a difference between be in shape to make it through the season and being a true professional athlete who is in supreme condition. He doesn't have a professional body at this point and his injuries may very well be the result of that.

Again, no one is saying he's lazy yet, but this is the year to see a more mature Kyrie. It's time to become a true professional.

 

[Nathan S]

Re: Dion Waiters

There's a difference between be in shape to make it through the season and being a true professional athlete who is in supreme condition. He doesn't have a professional body at this point and his injuries may very well be the result of that.

Again, no one is saying he's lazy yet, but this is the year to see a more mature Kyrie. It's time to become a true professional.

I dunno, he looks pretty ripped here:

...oh wait.

 

[The Process God]

I don't know if this is news or not, but since it was never actually confirmed immediately after Kyrie posting a pic of him with some girls around him whether or not the two broke up, I thought it might be worth mentioning. Natalia Garibotto, Kyrie's (ex)girlfriend, is no longer following him on Twitter, nor is Kyrie following her. I'm guessing that they're broken up now?

That's probably a good thing. She talked a lot about having "brains," but she seemed about as shallow as they come.