Great Meyers Leonard interview after tonight's game (link)

[KingSpeed]

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/i...nard_rejoins_trail_blazers_rotation_says.html

I love that Earl Watson has been helping him. So much goes on behind the scenes that us fans/critics don't see.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Midrange shots or three-point shots?
“Yesterday, they had me play kind of like (Pelicans forward) Ryan Anderson and I think I was like 5 of 6 from three-(point range) in practice. Just had a lot of confidence. I think if I continue to be positive with myself, play the game right and just be solid, my offense will continue to improve. I feel that yesterday in practice, and tonight, I got a little better with my verticality. That’s just what it’s about; every day learning and getting better in some aspect of the game. Just have to continue to grind it out and hopefully I stay in the rotation.”

I like this.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I like this.

I would like to see us try out Leonard as a stretch 4 ala Frye or Anderson. That could give us a missing ingredient in the bench's offense.

 

[PHXBlazer1]

Trade him for Ryan Anderson ASAP..we'll throw in an autographed Sabonis poster and $300k

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

He has been at the end of the bench for so long I had completely forgotten that he has a real nice touch on his jumper - with a quick release to boot! That could be a real weapon, especially at his size.

 

[Mediocre Man]

This team needs defense, not 7'1" guys jacking up 3's

 

[jlprk]

Midrange shots or three-point shots?
“Yesterday, they had me play kind of like (Pelicans forward) Ryan Anderson and I think I was like 5 of 6 from three-(point range) in practice. Just had a lot of confidence. I think if I continue to be positive with myself, play the game right and just be solid, my offense will continue to improve. I feel that yesterday in practice, and tonight, I got a little better with my verticality. That’s just what it’s about; every day learning and getting better in some aspect of the game. Just have to continue to grind it out and hopefully I stay in the rotation.”

I like this.

I don't. He has learned from a bad example, Aldridge, that big men exist to shoot. Also, I don't like his perpetual lack of confidence.

 

[jlprk]

Why is he back in the rotation? I figured it was insurance for 1 game, in case Lopez got the willies against his team of last year, New Orleans.

But a comment after the article says that Olshey is increasing Leonard's value for the Asik trade. Hmm. Maybe.

 

[B-Roy]

This team needs defense, not 7'1" guys jacking up 3's

These two things aren't mutually exclusive.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I don't. He has learned from a bad example, Aldridge, that big men exist to shoot. Also, I don't like his perpetual lack of confidence.

It's what he is though - a shooter. Trying to turn him into something (banger) that he is not is a recipe for disaster and will certainly stunt any kind of growth.

With his skill-set I think he could be a very effective pick-and-pop/roll guy.

 

[magnifier661]

This team needs defense, not 7'1" guys jacking up 3's

Did he try a 3 last night?

 

[Mediocre Man]

Did he try a 3 last night?

No, but that's not the point

Midrange shots or three-point shots?
“Yesterday, they had me play kind of like (Pelicans forward) Ryan Anderson and I think I was like 5 of 6 from three-(point range) in practice. Just had a lot of confidence. I think if I continue to be positive with myself, play the game right and just be solid, my offense will continue to improve. I feel that yesterday in practice, and tonight, I got a little better with my verticality. That’s just what it’s about; every day learning and getting better in some aspect of the game. Just have to continue to grind it out and hopefully I stay in the rotation.”

 

[GriLtCheeZ]

Did he try a 3 last night?

No. He had 4 boards, 1 block, 2 points in 10 minutes. He looked alright.

 

[magnifier661]

No, but that's not the point

I don't want him launching threes either, but I think we need a center to space the floor more.

I 100% that Leonard still needs to rebound the ball better. He doesn't box out well and gets pushed out of position still.

I've done my fair share of complaining about Leonard, but there was nothing I could really complain about last night. I mean I just want our center to at least keep the defense honest. I don't want him to be abused down low. Last night Leonard wasn't being abused in the paint.

 

[magnifier661]

No. He had 4 boards, 1 block, 2 points in 10 minutes. He looked alright.

I wasn't complaining about him last night. He did enough to not look exposed last night and that's all I'm asking for right now.

Still needs to work on his rebounding and help defense, otherwise he wasn't bad.

 

[jlprk]

It's what he is though - a shooter. Trying to turn him into something (banger) that he is not is a recipe for disaster and will certainly stunt any kind of growth.

With his skill-set I think he could be a very effective pick-and-pop/roll guy.

Then we should trade him fast, while the rest of the league thinks he can become a real center.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

This team needs defense, not 7'1" guys jacking up 3's

Yes and no.

To be sure we need more defense. But we also heed a low post scoring threat. If he could develop a little jump hook or something it'd go a long ways.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Yes and no.

To be sure we need more defense. But we also heed a low post scoring threat. If he could develop a little jump hook or something it'd go a long ways.

If he could, then yes. He didn't in college, last year or over the summer.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

A slightly more skeptical wag would think we're playing him to increase his trade value.

 

[tlongII]

This team needs defense, not 7'1" guys jacking up 3's

If he makes them we need him.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

A slightly more skeptical wag would think we're playing him to increase his trade value.

If this were the scenario, hypothetically the coach would know to let Leonard play to his current strengths: hitting wide open jumpers, good FT shooting, enthusiastic if uncoordinated rebounding.

 

[Sinobas]

It's what he is though - a shooter. Trying to turn him into something (banger) that he is not is a recipe for disaster and will certainly stunt any kind of growth.

With his skill-set I think he could be a very effective pick-and-pop/roll guy.

I've been saying this for so long. Why did it take the coaching staff so long to see? So we all know he's not a rim protector, but he can make up for it by hitting shots off the bench. We just need our bench to keep even. It's tough for defenses to guard 7'1 shooters, Meyers should get a lot more shots off the bench as opposed to the crap Mo Williams throws up.

 

[dviss1]

This team needs defense, not 7'1" guys jacking up 3's

Quoted For Truth

 

[dviss1]

I also call bullshit on all the stretch 4 shit people are talking about. The kid is big (7'1" 250 lbs), Long (7'3" reach), and athletic (32 inch Vert).

I don't give a crap what his "skill set" is. Um... newsflash, the doesn't have a skillset! He is not skilled (His jump shot is his only skill). Sooooo, since we knew he was a project from the beginning, force him LEARN to get in and fucking bang and rebound because that's what ALL centers do. Even the ones who have good jumpers out to 3pt range (Sabonis). If he can't learn to bang, rebound, and defend, SHIP HIS ASS.

Meyers Beiber has no experience doing much of anything. Repetition will make him better.

This whole "he is what he is" bullshit is so shortsighted. It's his 2nd year and he is still a kid.

 

[e_blazer]

I also call bullshit on all the stretch 4 shit people are talking about. The kid is big (7'1" 250 lbs), Long (7'3" reach), and athletic (32 inch Vert).

I don't give a crap what his "skill set" is. Um... newsflash, the doesn't have a skillset! He is not skilled (His jump shot is his only skill). Sooooo, since we knew he was a project from the beginning, force him LEARN to get in and fucking bang and rebound because that's what ALL centers do. Even the ones who have good jumpers out to 3pt range (Sabonis). If he can't learn to bang, rebound, and defend, SHIP HIS ASS.

Meyers Beiber has no experience doing much of anything. Repetition will make him better.

This whole "he is what he is" bullshit is so shortsighted. It's his 2nd year and he is still a kid.

Hack up that bone, dawg, it's causing you too much aggravation!

Look, Leonard has a LOT to learn to be an effective NBA center. He's already said that he knows he blew some box outs last night and his rebounding isn't where it should be. He's a work in progress and we're not going see the finished product this season, or likely next season. That said, I find the whole notion that 7 footers shouldn't shoot perimeter shots, if they have that skill, to be silly. Just because most big men can't shoot from the perimeter doesn't mean that those who can should be forced to play the game the same way as those guys who can't hit a shot from more than 5' from the basket. Stotts has a great talent for innovation on offense and I'm pretty confident he'll find ways to make use of Meyer' abilities to make perimeter jumpers. I'm equally confident that if Meyers doesn't improve at doing the grunt work on the boards and setting picks, he's not going to continue to be in the rotation at all.

 

[dviss1]

Hack up that bone, dawg, it's causing you too much aggravation!

Look, Leonard has a LOT to learn to be an effective NBA center. He's already said that he knows he blew some box outs last night and his rebounding isn't where it should be. He's a work in progress and we're not going see the finished product this season, or likely next season. That said, I find the whole notion that 7 footers shouldn't shoot perimeter shots, if they have that skill, to be silly. Just because most big men can't shoot from the perimeter doesn't mean that those who can should be forced to play the game the same way as those guys who can't hit a shot from more than 5' from the basket. Stotts has a great talent for innovation on offense and I'm pretty confident he'll find ways to make use of Meyer' abilities to make perimeter jumpers. I'm equally confident that if Meyers doesn't improve at doing the grunt work on the boards and setting picks, he's not going to continue to be in the rotation at all.

We have enough players who can shoot the 3. We are #1 in the league at it. The team doesn't need it because no team will beat us in that stat this season. What we do need is what MM said: Rebounding and Defense. Since that's the primary reason we brought him in, he should be focused like a LASER on doing that. It seems to me that he is not.

 

[e_blazer]

As I see it, Stotts is looking for ways to avoid the offensive letdown that comes whenever the second unit goes in. Basically, when Aldridge sits down, there's no longer the threat of a big man sticking a shot from range so teams collapse their defense and our offense grinds to a halt. If Meyers can add a bit of what LMA offers, it keeps Stotts' offensive game plan working. It's not classic basketball, but it's been pretty darned effective.

 

[BBert]

Someone really needs to tell Ryan Anderson that he's a Power Forward, and he has no business shooting three pointers . I don't give a fuck how good he is at it (4-8 last night), it's just not right. Same with Channing Frye (4-6 last night). And Kevin Love. Get your azzes under the basket where they belong, and stop hurting your teams by making the most efficient shot in basketball at a high rate.

 

[Natebishop3]

Someone really needs to tell Ryan Anderson that he's a Power Forward, and he has no business shooting three pointers . I don't give a fuck how good he is at it (4-8 last night), it's just not right. Same with Channing Frye (4-6 last night). And Kevin Love. Get your azzes under the basket where they belong, and stop hurting your teams by making the most efficient shot in basketball at a high rate.

It's difficult to rebound the basketball when you're out at three point line.

 

[BBert]

It's difficult to rebound the basketball when you're out at three point line.

Granted. And it's difficult for the guy guarding him to do the same. It's also difficult for any shooter to offensive rebound most times (unless you are doing the Moses Malone/Zach Randolph bit). LaMarcus isn't getting any on his fade-aways. Anybody besides Brian still want him to stop shooting those? Certainly you don't want your big guys jacking up shots without a game plan to have someone else in position for a board.

Lest I be misunderstood: I'm not a big proponent of big guys playing away from the basket in general. I'm sure Stotts is more comfortable with it than I am. But this notion that any player should never do the things they do best, just seems illogical. Meyers is a good shooter. If he's open, he should shoot. That's basketball.