A Canzano piece I actually agree with

[MickZagger]

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/or...ano_trail_blazers_already.html#incart_m-rpt-2

Pretty spot on.

 

[MickZagger]

I liked this post in the comments section:

We drafted a 7 foot boy, and as he grows into a man I think he will be phenomenal. Remember how bad he was his freshman year of college? Then he was legit at the college level within a year... he is still developing, and I am glad. He is FAR from his ceiling, whereas Withey, though I think he will be a legit player, doesn't have much more he can do. Meyers can become a 7-1 Blake Griffin with the ability to knock down 3's... and YES IT IS an amazing benefit to have that legitimate threat to force opposing teams to deal with-- do you really want to pull your center out to guard meyers on the 3 when there are penetrators like Daminan and CJ on the floor? That is a HUGE benefit, and I don't understand how so many people on here don't see that. Our center doesn't need to be blocking shots on OFFENSE. O-boards are nice, but are 2 or 3 extra O-boards better than 2 or 3 extra 3's + the increased % of our interior shots due Meyer's 3pt threat?

 

[PapaG]

Canzano lifted the premise of this article from reading this board. He was posting here last week.

 

[MickZagger]

Did he go by PDXkass?

 

[illmatic99]

Ya I completely disagree. I see him becoming Byron Mullens at best and not just cuz he's white

 

[e_blazer]

Can't wait for the MM response.

Well....actually, I can.

 

[PapaG]

Can't wait for the MM response.

Well....actually, I can.

You could write it for him. Put "Lennay" in it somewhere, too.

 

[PapaG]

Ya I completely disagree. I see him becoming Byron Mullens at best and not just cuz he's white

Byron Mullens has a career FG% of 40%, a career PER of 12 and a career USG of 22.

Mullens has a career WS/48 of .001. Leonard as a rookie was at .97. Leonard had 2.4 WS as a rookie. Mullens has .01 COMBINED after 4 years in the league.

Leonard as a rookie had better number across the board, and is already a much better player than Mullens.

What an odd comparison. Can you elaborate on it, because it seems like a random reach to me.

 

[Rhal]

Ya I completely disagree. I see him becoming Byron Mullens at best and not just cuz he's white

Was Mullens close to as elite of an athlete as ML is supposed to be?

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[RoyToy]

Canzano taking this position just re-affirms my opinion of Leonard.

Also, this:

and I love his snarl around the basket.

 

[PapaG]

Was Mullens close to as elite of an athlete as ML is supposed to be?

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The Mullens comparison is just bizarre. Leonard is already a much better player than Mullens, yet Mullens has already managed a 4-year career in the NBA.

 

[-Ace-]

and I love his snarl around the basket

Probably that snarl after he throws it down. I can't imagine what else it means. I have plenty of hope for Meyers; it's his second year and he's got work to do, and I think he can do it. He surely wants to, and that's where it starts.

 

[illmatic99]

Was Mullens close to as elite of an athlete as ML is supposed to be?

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[video=youtube;LXuDra2tG7w]

He's a C who doesn't know how to use his size on either end of the floor and prefers to shoot 3s. Awful awful player

 

[PapaG]

He's a C who doesn't know how to use his size on either end of the floor and prefers to shoot 3s. Awful awful player

Yes, a much worse player than Leonard. The stats are obvious in that. You only made the comparison because Mullens is white.

 

[BlazerBeav]

Yes, a much worse player than Leonard. The stats are obvious in that. You only made the comparison because Mullens is white.

Spot on.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Maybe Canzano will be right -- I'd love to see ML develop into a top flight NBA pivot -- but the history of guys like Meyers (raw, semi-clueless, hyper athletic) makes it seem like long odds.

 

[PapaG]

Maybe Canzano will be right -- I'd love to see ML develop into a top flight NBA pivot -- but the history of guys like Meyers (raw, semi-clueless, hyper athletic) makes it seem like long odds.

One thing Meyers can do is make shots, though. He shot 52% in summer league, and 55% from the field last year. Those numbers far surpass anything BJ Mullens has done in 4 years of a terrible career. Plus, Meyers shoots 81% from the FT line. Most teams would love to have a 7'1" player with that offensive skillset and athleticism. I'm guessing Olshey feels the same way, and isn't willing to give up on a project who has shown NBA skills at this point.

 

[ebott]

Maybe Canzano will be right -- I'd love to see ML develop into a top flight NBA pivot -- but the history of guys like Meyers (raw, semi-clueless, hyper athletic) makes it seem like long odds.

Especially big men that don't play a lick of defense.

 

[jlprk]

One thing Meyers can do is make shots, though. He shot 52% in summer league, and 55% from the field last year. Those numbers far surpass anything BJ Mullens has done in 4 years of a terrible career. Plus, Meyers shoots 81% from the FT line. Most teams would love to have a 7'1" player with that offensive skillset and athleticism. I'm guessing Olshey feels the same way, and isn't willing to give up on a project who has shown NBA skills at this point.

Nope. Not if that's all he has. And Leonard doesn't even have that. Just because he makes an occasional shot does not mean he has any offensive polish beyond a middle schooler. For example, he cannot catch the ball under the basket without bobbling it and losing it. No offensive skills whatsoever. Just an outside shooter.

 

[Boob-No-More]

No offensive skills whatsoever. Just an outside shooter.

Well, that's a rather self-contradictory. Last I checked, shooting is considered an offensive skill.

BNM

 

[superfly4201]

"Meyers can become a 7-1 Blake Griffin with the ability to knock down 3's"

Um.....no

 

[jlprk]

Well, that's a rather self-contradictory. Last I checked, shooting is considered an offensive skill.

It's close to zero in proportion to the pie chart of skills a center needs. So I rounded the percentage off. Zero.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I don't know Acker, but I thought this was a quote that was tuned in to what Rip City Fans are:

Certainly there will be Blazer fans upset with what has transpired in the last few days. Many will lament the fact that Eric Maynor, so prized and pivotal in last-season’s second half, switched coasts without so much as a peep. The real die-hards have already cried foul on the abandonment of Elliot Williams, the embodiment of potential with a penchant for season-ending injuries. Real masochists will be watching Jeff Withey in New Orleans, a steal in the second round of this most recent draft, and won’t hesitate to make their voices heard when he has a good game and Robin Lopez does not. Even a few deluded Blazer fans are not impressed that J.J. Hickson was allowed to skip town for Denver.

Such is the plight of Blazer fans: it could always be better.

 

[illmatic99]

Yes, a much worse player than Leonard. The stats are obvious in that. You only made the comparison because Mullens is white.

meh w.e

 

[magnifier661]

Maybe Canzano will be right -- I'd love to see ML develop into a top flight NBA pivot -- but the history of guys like Meyers (raw, semi-clueless, hyper athletic) makes it seem like long odds.

I agree. My hope is he gets to a level of consistent rebounder, spreads the floor with his shooting and can have a few monster games a month. I just don't see him as a leader type.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

So, is the contention still that nards can't play man defense?

From what I've seen he seems to be doing good on the block

 

[MickZagger]

Leonard looked great in SL considering he didn't have a real PG playing with him.

 

[magnifier661]

So, is the contention still that nards can't play man defense?

From what I've seen he seems to be doing good on the block

It's not bad when he's on one guy. It's when there are back picks or cuts. He seems to lose his man when are moving without the ball.


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[Rhal]

I don't know Acker, but I thought this was a quote that was tuned in to what Rip City Fans are:

Pretty much spot on about Blazer fans and this forum in general.

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[oldmangrouch]

I don't know Acker, but I thought this was a quote that was tuned in to what Rip City Fans are:

Fans frustrated with an extended string of front office fuck-ups and/or the worst luck imaginable? How DARE we expect better of the team?

If Mr Acker (whoever he is) wants to grab his ankles and chant "thank you sir, may I have another" - that's his choice. I don't swing that way.