This past NBA All-Star Weekend was great format for Dion Waiters and Kyrie Irving to display their talents to the world. I can admit that I’ve criticized Irving for not leading his team to the playoffs at this point, and Waiters has been a me first player at times this season. The criticism may be warranted, but after this weekend it’s pretty obvious that what is going on in Cleveland is not their fault.
I know All-Star Games resemble an AAU game rather than a legit NBA game, but we as fans saw what Waiters and Irving can do on a big stage. Starting off with Dion Waiters: Waiters put on a show in the BBVA Rising Stars Game. Waiters went at it toe to toe with Tim Hardaway Jr, and finished the game with 31 points while shooting 10-13 from the field.
I know that Waiters wasn’t battling a top-tier player, but the performance was breathtaking. With the death of the shooting guard position Waiters can propel himself into one of the top shooting guards in the game in a year or so. Waiters has been criticized for being selfish, but it seems like he is not being in position to succeed as a player.
Kyrie Irving has been under a microscope, because his commercials have been better than his play this season. In the main event Irving turned into Uncle Drew, and won the All-Star Game MVP by scoring 31 points and 14 assists. Irving put on a show, and did against the best players in the NBA. Irving knows that he can hold his own against the league’s best, and it’s time to translate to the actual games.
Waiters and Irving can use this confidence boost to get the Cavs out of their slump. They are currently 20-33, and still have ample time to make the playoffs. The world can see what Irving and Waiters can do now it’s time for Mike Brown to take notice. We know Mike Brown is a sub par coach, and there is no excuse why this Cavalier team should not be at least an eighth seed at this point. This season is far from over, but the pressure is on the Cavs organization. Coaches such as George Karl, Lionel Hollins, and Nate McMillan would be great fits for Cleveland, and they have a history of having great guard play. I am not saying Dion Waiters and Kyrie Irving is the next Joe Dumars and Isiah Thomas, but they should be put in better position to succeed.
Waiters and Irving proved that they belong, now it’s all on Mike Brown and the Cavs Organization to take notice. It’ll be interesting how things shake up this season.
