A Dry Goodbye presents a compelling story that illustrates how Blazer fans missed the opportunity to get the best out of Meyers while in Portland. In both 2015 and 2019 Playoffs, Meyers set swish3 shooting records (76.9% and the 83.3% WCF Game 4 first half) that may never be equaled by another Blazer. Meyers has elite swish3 scoring efficiency that could have led to more Blazer wins with better game plans.
There is something that can be learned here. Fans can either add to the confidence of Blazer players, as we have done for Dame, Nurk, Zach, and Ant, or they can show disrespect by being hypercritical that decreases the chance for optimal performance. Fans pretending to know what a Blazer is thinking, criticizing towel waving and cheering from the bench, being quick to instantly boo any mistake, and complaining about salary that is a management decision are just wasting Blazer chances for Playoff wins and the Championship. The story here includes demoralizing Meyers to the point of depression rather than recognizing his contributions. There is a lot of credit due for his determined improvements in the last 2 years!
As a Meyers fan, I think that Meyers did not in fact have the chance that he deserved with the Blazers. After that Jan 30 decisive 132-105 win over Rudy Gobert and the Jazz after they had clobbered us twice in 3 days (including on Christmas), and with an early season shooting performance that led the Blazers, Meyers stayed on the bench in several games when he should have been scoring 3 or more swish3s per game. And Meyers should have started all of the WCF games. WCF Game 4 was the only game this year in which Meyers attempted 6 swish3s in one half (as I had been calling for all season), and he made 5 of them, consecutively, and led all Blazer scoring.
We no longer have Meyers to score swish3s, and now must rely on others. Let's hope that Rodney, Anthony, or somebody had help Dame and CJ reach the 15 scored swish3s likely needed to win games next season. But what Blazer fans need to learn is that recognizing and encouraging talent promotes the best in Blazers by building their confidence. Basketball is a game of confidence! Let's build it, and avoid bashing it.
