Explain Layman, please.

[Binx]

What the hell! Who is this guy?? I’ve never seen this kind of transformation in a player. He’s gone from a tentative, uncertain guy to an all-star overnight. Ok, “all-star” is too much, but I don’t even recognize him on the court anymore. It’s like another player has crawled inside of his body. He used to stand around the three-point line and miss every shot he took, sometimes horribly, but now he’s a scoring machine with a variety of very deft moves and playing with total confidence.

Anybody know how this happened? Was it counseling, a new fitness regime, a pep talk from Lillard or Stotts? I haven’t seen Layman address the change, but I’d be curious to hear other people’s opinions.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

3rd year leap - it's not all that uncommon. He was getting a lot of good looks before this year, and sometimes he'd really impress. However, there were way too many 2-12 games, so Stotts had to bench him. His shooting is now way more consistent. In addition, he's getting a lot of dunk, alley-oop and otherwise, increasing his FG%.

I'm pretending like I'm answering your question, but the truth is, I want to know, too! Stotts credit? Unlikely, on these boards

 

[B-Roy]

Confidence? The biggest difference now is that it looks like Layman doesn't give a shit who is on the floor. He's gonna attack regardless.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Jesus has returned to Earth.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Confidence? The biggest difference now is that it looks like Layman doesn't give a shit who is on the floor. He's gonna attack regardless.

I was typing in confidence when you posted this. I think it gets lost at times but almost every NBA player is a great athlete, a lot of what makes a guy go or not happens in there head.

 

[TBpup]

I was typing in confidence when you post this. I think it gets lost at times but almost every NBA player is a great athlete, a lot of what makes a guy go or not happens in there head.

Jake is a + athlete. 6'9" with a 40' vertical and at the Draft combine, had the 5th fastest shuttle run...at 6'9"! That is freakish athleticism. Simons is another one. If they can both actually play with that freak athletic ability, that is two serious weapons to have.

Can someone feed Anfernee a couple of cheeseburgers?

 

[andalusian]

Am I the only one that was bullish on this guy from way back?

Based on my first Layman related post - he is still not where I expect him to be:

http://www.sportstwo.com/posts/3999398/

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

He went from a garbage time player to a 6th man of the year type of player.

 

[rotary111]

Jake has acquired the "I don't give a f**k...I'm going off!" attitude.

He is certainly making people expendable next season. Pay the man!

 

[joeBlazers]

Honestly, I always knew Jake could play. Problem is, the coaching staff never trusted him. A few mistakes or bad shots, and he was benched for many games/weeks. It even happened this year too, where he was benched after having a very fine game.
How can a player grow, if they are on a short leach from day 1?
Jake was never utilized right. He was thought as a one dimensional 3 points shooter. He is more than that. We need to leverage all his tools like we are doing now.

 

[riverman]

Pat Connaughton got all his minutes...it's just his turn now and he's way better than Patty C....I've liked Layman since we drafted him...his defense is finally up to snuff so he can stay on the court...he's going to be a phenomenal two way player and I hope he stays a Blazer

 

[swish3]

Basketball is a game of confidence, and Jake having increased confidence is the most likely explanation. This may be an ideal example of why it is important to build the confidence of every Blazer, which we fans can and should do for all of them.

 

[JDC]

Am I the only one that was bullish on this guy from way back?

Based on my first Layman related post - he is still not where I expect him to be:

http://www.sportstwo.com/posts/3999398/

Here's some of my pre-draft comments on him...

Jake Layman's skill set intrigues me. Seems like he checks a lot of the 3 and d boxes. Although their skill sets are a bit different, he's very parsons-esque, and could return similar value with an early 2nd rd. pick.

Jake Layman is a guy I liked early on in the draft process. Not a high upside guy, but has great role player potential.

To be honest though, I was lower on him they more I watched his college tape and wasn't much of a believer before this year.

 

[hoopsjock]

Here's some of my pre-draft comments on him...





To be honest though, I was lower on him they more I watched his college tape and wasn't much of a believer before this year.

You really soured on him if you read the "Jake Layman" thread from this past summer.

 

[kjironman1]

Jake is also a 4 year college player. He is head and shoulders more mature than a one and done player.

 

[Orion Bailey]

What the hell! Who is this guy?? I’ve never seen this kind of transformation in a player. He’s gone from a tentative, uncertain guy to an all-star overnight. Ok, “all-star” is too much, but I don’t even recognize him on the court anymore. It’s like another player has crawled inside of his body. He used to stand around the three-point line and miss every shot he took, sometimes horribly, but now he’s a scoring machine with a variety of very deft moves and playing with total confidence.

Anybody know how this happened? Was it counseling, a new fitness regime, a pep talk from Lillard or Stotts? I haven’t seen Layman address the change, but I’d be curious to hear other people’s opinions.

Ive said it many times. All nba players are talented. What separates the good from the great is more often in thier head than in thier body. Confidence is a huge factor in excelling and one of the reasons i have faith Collins will turn into a solid player on a contending team(us).

But self confidence is as important to me as anything else when grading an nba player.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Jesus has returned to Earth.

You just pissed off a bunch of religious folk...

Im not one of them.

I was typing in confidence when you post this. I think it gets lost at times but almost every NBA player is a great athlete, a lot of what makes a guy go or not happens in there head.

Beat me too it but i firmly believe this is to be true. Its just rare to see confidence boom so much, so quick.

 

[JDC]

You really soured on him if you read the "Jake Layman" thread from this past summer.

Yeah, I didn't think we'd be able to defend w/ Layman at the four as well as we have. Not having Nik around has really helped with that (105.7 DRTG w/ Nik OFF).

Still think he's a pretty limited offensive player, but he's not asked to do a lot (and doesn't need to) and what he's good at is perfect for Stotts system. His quick trigger from 3 and speed and athleticism off the ball has been a huge reason for the offensive surge lately.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Confidence? The biggest difference now is that it looks like Layman doesn't give a shit who is on the floor. He's gonna attack regardless.

This is probably it. Over the last several years, I've noticed rookies and 2nd year players defer to Lillard and McCollum too much. For crying out loud, Vonleh wouldn't even look at the basket unguarded, he'd try to get it to someone else. My guess based on nothing is that Stotts WANTS them to defer when they're young. But too much of that and you're out of the league. It seems to me that Layman isn't deferring.

 

[Scalma]

Just wait until he starts showing the stuff he did in the g league when he had complete freedom. The post ups. The playmaking. Taking more risks defensively. There’s more in his toolbox. He was used as a complimentary piece in college, and so far in the NBA. But I really believe he’s built for more responsibility. He’s never going to cross anybody over but he can get his own shot. He’s got size. Hes got a good first step. He’s coordinated.

It’s funny, looking back on his predraft interviews, he was asked where he saw himself in five years. His answer was simple; “all star.” It’s not looking so ridiculous anymore.



That shot at :45...that barely even touched net!

 

[TBpup]

Thanks for posting @Scalma

 

[Hoopguru]

3rd year leap - it's not all that uncommon. He was getting a lot of good looks before this year, and sometimes he'd really impress. However, there were way too many 2-12 games, so Stotts had to bench him. His shooting is now way more consistent. In addition, he's getting a lot of dunk, alley-oop and otherwise, increasing his FG%.

I'm pretending like I'm answering your question, but the truth is, I want to know, too! Stotts credit? Unlikely, on these boards

Stott's deserves some credit as he has Jake moving without the ball and playing to his strengths. He's not the type of player where you tell him to go stand in the corner or up top. He can get a shot off many ways too.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

It seems that we don't really know how it happened, do we? I do know that the thing that struck me when he was in D league a couple years ago is that he played kind of fearlessly; he played very fast and he seemed not afraid to try anything, dribbling, passing on the move, shooting from anywhere. He wasn't so successful a lot of the time. Maybe his skills caught up to his enthusiasm; maybe it helped when he began playing with better players? We haven't heard from him or from a coach whether they told him to start moving more and trying everything or if he just decided on his own, but it does seem that his confidence came from himself and not from the coaches.

 

[Binx]

It seems that we don't really know how it happened, do we?

Right. Everybody says it’s a new confidence, and I get that, but what triggered the confidence? And why did it seem to happen so quickly, overnight almost? It’s like someone flipped a switch.

 

[jlprk]

Am I the only one that was bullish on this guy from way back?

Based on my first Layman related post - he is still not where I expect him to be:

http://www.sportstwo.com/posts/3999398/

Layman Laid in wait for the first 3 games of his rookie season, then played his first game ever, 8 minutes in garbage time in a blowout against...Golden State. In my posts in this thread, the links don't produce his name now, but they were impressive that day:

http://www.sportstwo.com/posts/4002469/

box score
https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/201611010POR.html

 

[kjironman1]

Still think he's a pretty limited offensive player,

Wow? Not sure where that came from?

 

[jlprk]

Anybody know how this happened?

He now makes the shots he used to miss.

Hope that analysis wasn't too deep. I can write it without the technical terms if you'd like.

 

[kjironman1]

He now makes the shots he used to miss.

Hope that analysis wasn't too deep. I can write it without the technical terms if you'd like.

Did he practice at all?

 

[TBpup]

Limited/Unlimited?

• Driving layup over 2 defenders (probably an And-1)
• Spot up '3'
• Jump hook of a scramble
• Jump hook of a cut (over Draymond)
• Turn around jumper in the post
• Kick out '3' (over Draymond)
• Relocation spot up '3'

Unlimited - About the only way he didn't score this game was in transition or off a lob dunk. Since we know he's got that down pretty darn well, I'm actually quite impressed with the variety of ways he scored in this game. That might be the most varied offensive repertoire on the Blazers roster.

Limited - But there is one area where he is quite lacking.....ability to create his own shot. His handle isn't such he can really get his own if the shot clock were winding down. That said, he has been able to create his own on the few post ups he's received. But he needs work on his handles and the power 1 or 2 dribble pull up along with a step-back.

He gets PLENTY of arc on his shot so it's just a matter of creating just a little space to get his shot off and be comfortable with it. What is different with Jake than almost any player I've seen is when he misses, most of his misses are straight on, but 'long'. So it's not that he isn't getting a good shot, just needs to develop his touch a little more and work on the handles. That in turn should get him more assists or opportunities to create for others or get the hockey assist because he has shown to be a willing passer....just doesn't get/create many of those opportunities.

 

[James lamphear]

Maybe Layman actually running through the offensive like it is attend to be. Harkless does the same thing but does it half ass and Layman does full speed.