How to right the Meyers ship?

[magnifier661]

I don't know the answer to that. Probably not. But the wrath of the fans is much harder to handle for a young player. They don't know any better.

Wow if fans have that much influence on the kid, then why even bother keeping him? That is a sign of a mental midget. If you can't take pressure like that, then you have no business being in the NBA.

 

[Hobbesarable]

Wow if fans have that much influence on the kid, then why even bother keeping him? That is a sign of a mental midget. If you can't take pressure like that, then you have no business being in the NBA.

Yeah, like he's spending more time on twitter than working on his game.

 

[RR7]

I see a player who has put his focus on shooting outside shots.

TO be fair, maybe that's smart for him to do, for HIMSELF. Not for the Trail Blazers. But for himself, maybe he realizes he doesn't have the intensity and drive to mix it up really, isn't the most physical guy, and likely won't develop a post game. BUt he can watch guys like Channing, Ryan Anderson, Hawes all get 5-10 million a year and realize ok, I can do that, find a niche, and contribute, somewhere.

Now, I don't care for that, personally, but I also hated the pick at the time. Not to say that's at all what he is doing, by any means.

 

[Minstrel]

If he can shoot, he should shoot from outside. Big men with range are great for spacing.

To me, the problem is not where he puts his focus. His problem is that he hasn't proven to be good at anything yet.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

He has so many things going against him in his development.

*Two years of HS ball.
*Two years at Ill where the coaching staff was in "turmoil" his entire time there according to the Sun Times.

Bigs take longer to develop as it is. He's a project who's a year or two away still. But I think it's clear that he's a PF and not a C.

I see his future role as a P&P/P&R guy. He'll never be a guy that you ISO.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

From my Leonard draft thread:

Athletically, for a seven footer, he's off-the-charts. He is very mobile with both feet in the post, above average lateral quickness, and runs like a deer in the open court. He throws down dramatic dunks to display his vertical ability and simply honing his athletic skills should get him six points a game in the NBA.

This year, Illinois was as dysfunctional as any team (including UCONN). He was severely misused in Bruce Weber’s motion offense. At the end of their season, Illinois was blowing it to a Nebraska team and Meyer’s was crying before the game was over. Many fans would question if he was soft, but after witnessing how dysfunctional this team was, many would state this as frustration that boiled over. Meyers is known as a player that puts everything into what he has and sometimes his emotions get the best of him.

Overall, Meyers has a high skill level. He can shoot efficiently from mid-range, already developed solid post moves already developed, and plays well in transition.

He has the skillset of a Brooke Lopez (not as quite developed offensively and I don’t know if he ever will but better defensively and not quite as soft) with more athleticism (athletic similar to Javelle McGee, but not quite as fluid), but a lot of rawness and gets frustrated too easily. To me, it is about placement with Meyers and how he is developed.

Meyers would have been better off staying another year in school and becoming a top 3 pick in next year’s weak draft class, but situations propelled him to enter this year.

LINK​

 

[SlyPokerDog]

From my Leonard draft thread:

LINK​

Where are these solid post moves you posted about?

 

[craigehlo]

It's a cliche, but the NBA game is too fast for him. He's shown poor timing or rebounding and blocks, and looks lost often in transition. He's had enough run at this point.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Yeah, they missed that one.

Bump-bump-baby hook is his only move.

....like Oden's post game.

 

[MickZagger]

Bruce Weber's always been a shitty coach.

But, I'm just not sure on Leonard. He has things that you can't teach (size, athleticism, build, soft touch), but he doesn't have some things that you can't teach (instincts, feel for the game, desire???)....

I've always been a fan of the pick. I'm not ready to give up on him, yet. A year from now and he still looks like dog shit then I will write him off.

He was a gamble, oh well, it happens. If he doesn't pan out he will just be another in a long line of big men drafted for potential that didn't pan out. Remember Patrick O'Bryant, Olowakandi, Rafael Araujo, Cole Aldrich, Robert Swift, Thabeet, Epke Udoh.....etc.

GM's want to find the next gem of a big man. Sometimes you got to swing for the fences. Sometimes it doesn't pan out. Oh well.

 

[BBert]

I don't know why his confidence is shot. There has been zero pressure on him.

Maybe he reads the official forum of the Portland Trail Blazers.

 

[ripcityboy]

This will be his third year. If it doesn't happen next season, then it never will.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Current chance Leonard will succeed: 8% and dropping.

It should be rising as he gets more experience, but it's not.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

It's a cliche, but the NBA game is too fast for him.

That's exactly it. He's always thinking and confused, and never simply reading and reacting. The ship is never going to be "righted" until he gets extended PT, and that's never going to happen here.

If he's ever going to be successful, he needs to find a tanking team who will give him minutes and let him work out his issues.

 

[MickZagger]

5 years from now Meyers will probably be a guy on another team that we clamor to bring back in free agency.

 

[Natebishop3]

5 years from now Meyers will probably be a guy on another team that we clamor to bring back in free agency.

It's more likely than him having success here. He most likely won't get the chance to really succeed here.