I was.
I thought he was going to step up this season. Disappointed he hasn't lived upto his rookie production and hype.
Wake up Cleveland.
I'd say you're underrating him. His numbers are slightly better than Jeff Green's and he's a rookie. He's only started 9 games too.
He's playing for a terrible coach and staff that give Kyrie Irving way too much power because they're afraid he'll leave Cleveland. It's not the best situation for him.
He's steadily improving I think, and he's got a certain level of swagger/ego strength like most stars have.
It's very hard for a ball dominant guy like Waiters to play with a ball dominant point guard like Kyrie.
I've watched their games and Waiters misses so many opportunities because Kyrie isn't looking around or focusing on getting his own mid range jumpshot off instead of making the easy pass.
Cavs fans seem to like him, and I made a proposal over on real gm in the Cavs forum recently about us sending out Green to the Cavs for Waiters and they didn't want a bar of it.
Remember last year he wasn't even starting in college- he was the 6th man as a freshman- so he's still a kid.
His shooting is what will make or break his career- it needs work, but again he's a freshman.
His numbers are basically the same, with more points, more assists and 1 more turnover per 36 than Jeff Green- and that's been with Bynum and Irving on his team.
Now Bynum has gone his slashing/cutting game like Avery Bradley will benefit.
Actually Green has higher ppg, fg %, 3 point %, rbs, blocks and fewer turnovers. Also Waiters is not a rookie. I agree he's talented, but when a young player thinks he's better than he is (claiming to be the best shooting guard in the NBA), it is a bad situation. Not to mention the fact that there's numerous reports of him arguing and fighting with his teammates...I wouldn't want any part of it. I think the Cavs wish they would've taken Oladipo with that #1 pick and sent Waiters somewhere else.
Per 36 minutes 2013-14 NBA season
Jeff Green
17.4 points, 2.1 turnovers, 1.6 assists,0.5 steals,0.5 blocks, 5.0 rebounds.
FG 46.8%
3PT FG 39.6%
FG attempts 12.5
FG makes 5.3
Free throw 78.1%
With no Rondo and Sullinger, Crawford and Bradley as his biggest competition for usage and time.
Dion Waiters
18.7 points,4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 0.3 blocks, 3.2 turnovers, 1.2 steals.
FG 45.2%
3PT FG 38.9 %
FG attempts 13 FG makes 5.7
Free throw 68.1%
Competing with Kyrie Irving and Andrew Bynum, whilst starting 9 games.
You can't compare stats when Green plays 4 and a half more minutes per game and starts -Green's also playing in his 7th season and his stats have barely changed in that time. The only noticeable difference is free throw percentage where Waiters has dropped from 74% to 68%.
So if you're going to be try and convince me that their numbers aren't almost identical you're going to have to do a better job than showing Jeff Green starting 30 games at 33.5 minutes a game.
One is a sophomore playing for a terribly coached team with two (now one) selfish stars in Bynum and Irving.
Anyway, I'd expect Waiters numbers to up steadily if his free throws improve and now that Bynum is not planting himself inside the key.
Waiters is the type of player that would thrive in Stevens system of execution. Mike Brown's plays are a circus.
But yeah, my point stands that he is basically posting the same numbers as Jeff Green is after 7 years, except it's his 2nd season.
Point being that it's under rating him to say he's a disappointment.