Is Meyers Leonard For Real?

[Scalma]

Last night (maybe it was against Phoenix) there was a play where Meyers got the ball in the post and a wing/guard was switched onto him. He proceeded to go with a fadeaway. Dude hasn’t changed. He’s just hitting shots, and even there he’s still hesitating. Why some continue to fall for it, I don’t know. For the sake of the team, I hope everyone on his wagon is right, but at this point for me it’s literally insaaaane.

 

[oldmangrouch]

I don’t know why people are shitting on Meyers for finally showing he can be a rotation player. Sure he’s not amazing or anything, his defense is still mostly a mess, but he’s actually been quite good on offense. There is literally nothing bad that can come from Meyers playing well.

Seriously? We have *6 years* of data proving Leonard won't contribute when the games actually mean something. You could make a case that he is worth the vet's minimum to sit at the end of the bench - but when you factor in his contract, he is a ridiculous waste of resources. Furthermore, he is a constant reminder of the flaws in the Blazer braintrust.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Jeezus, nobody is saying he's worth his contract, but you can say the same thing about most guys signed in the Summer of 2016. He looks less shitty, and that's a good thing.

BNM

 

[JoshuaHall]

Looks so much better than Zach so far this preseason. I'd give Meyers all of the backup C minutes and cut down on Collins' time wherever possible.

Is your goal to see how slow we can develop players?

This makes literally no *sense* at all...

 

[42N8Bounce]

Is your goal to see how slow we can develop players?

This makes literally no *sense* at all...

My goal would be to play the players that are playing the best. Make the players earn their minutes. I don't want to go thru a losing season all for the sake of player development. Goal number one should be to win every game. Look at the finish to last season. Every game counted.

 

[BBert]

Last night (maybe it was against Phoenix) there was a play where Meyers got the ball in the post and a wing/guard was switched onto him. He proceeded to go with a fadeaway. Dude hasn’t changed. He’s just hitting shots, and even there he’s still hesitating. Why some continue to fall for it, I don’t know. For the sake of the team, I hope everyone on his wagon is right, but at this point for me it’s literally insaaaane.

He used his height advantage to shoot over a shorter player? What a dolt.

 

[Scalma]

He used his height advantage to shoot over a shorter player? What a dolt.

A center shooting a fadeaway 5 feet from the basket, against a guard, is a pussy.

On a more analytical front, it’s also a lower percentage shot.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Jeezus, nobody is saying he's worth his contract, but you can say the same thing about most guys signed in the Summer of 2016. He looks less shitty, and that's a good thing.

BNM

The point is, people aren't "shitting" on Leonard. There are perfectly valid reasons to be critical of him.

 

[BBert]

What I keep noticing about Meyers is that he seems primarily focused on being unselfish and facilitating and executing the offense, usually at the expense of being aggressive offensively. That's sometimes good, sometimes not so good. He even often just defers to his teammates for rebounds, where I'd like him to want to own every one.

On a side note, some one drilled into him early in his career the concept of maintaining verticality on defense contesting shots, to keep from fouling. Not only does he sometimes look goofy doing it, but it's why he never blocks any shot

 

[Boob-No-More]

The point is, people aren't "shitting" on Leonard. There are perfectly valid reasons to be critical of him.

Calling him a pussy isn't shitting on him? Yes, people are shitting on him, right here in this thread.

I agree there are perfectly valid reasons to be critical of him. We've been hearing those same reasons for six years. Repeating them ad nauseum isn't telling us anything we don't already know. He's far from perfect, even far from good, but even if he's only less shitty than in the past, it's a good thing.

He's never going to be a great (or even average) defender. We all know that, but given our lack of depth up front, if he can offset his woeful defense with some efficient scoring and creating space for others on the offensive end, that's better than nothing.

BNM

 

[Scalma]

Calling him a pussy isn't shitting on him?

BNM

Not if it’s the truth.

 

[Boob-No-More]

On a side note, some one drilled into him early in his career the concept of maintaining verticality on defense contesting shots, to keep from fouling. Not only does he sometimes look goofy doing it, but it's why he never blocks any shot

I mentioned this in another thread yesterday - it hasn't actually reduced his rate of committing fouls, just his rate of blocking shots. As a rookie he he blocked 38 shots, and committed 5.0 PF/36. Last year, he blocked 0 shots and committed 5.1 PF/36.

BNM

 

[oldmangrouch]

Calling him a pussy isn't shitting on him? Yes, people are shitting on him, right here in this thread.

I agree there are perfectly valid reasons to be critical of him. We've been hearing those same reasons for six years. Repeating them ad nauseum isn't telling us anything we don't already know. He's far from perfect, even far from good, but even if he's only less shitty than in the past, it's a good thing.

He's never going to be a great (or even average) defender. We all know that, but given our lack of depth up front, if he can offset his woeful defense with some efficient scoring and creating space for others on the offensive end, that's better than nothing.

BNM

Fair enough. If he actually contributes, good for him. (and for the record, while I have compared him to sculpture, I have never used a term like "pussy" to describe him! )

 

[James lamphear]

If gives the same effort that he did last night then you play him. He already watch films where he closed his eyes on almost everything due to he was loosing his contacts. He was thinking about wearing googles. Yes he will never be big time rim protector but as long he is aggressive on the boards and he is scoring I say play him.

 

[noknobs]

He's playing with confidence for the first time in seven years.

No, he played with this type of confidence last year during the preseason, when he shot 54% (71% from three) and averaged 8.4 ppg/5.8 rpg (compared to this years 10 ppg/3.2 rpg).

 

[LuckyShot]

LOL. I was watching the game last night and my wife walked by the TV and literally said "why do they still have Meyers Leonard on the team?" She doesn't follow the team too closely, obviously.

 

[Blazers Roy]

Some high praise for Meyers from the toughest of critics. Well done Meyers!

 

[Boob-No-More]

Some high praise for Meyers from the toughest of critics. Well done Meyers!

View attachment 22723

High praise indeed!

Seriously, it's like the haters STILL want him to fail so they can be proven right. Honestly guys, how much more proof do you need? Six years not enough for you?

How about we all just accept Meyers for what he is (and isn't) and consider anything positive he does on the court an unexpected bonus?

Anything negative he does shouldn't come as any surprise. After six years we are all painfully aware of his shortcomings, but go on haters, feel free to remind us for the millionth time what we can all see with our own eyes.

BNM

 

[DreamKillah]

The dude looks huge and cut too . . .

 

[Scalma]

High praise indeed!

Seriously, it's like the haters STILL want him to fail so they can be proven right. Honestly guys, how much more proof do you need? Six years not enough for you?

How about we all just accept Meyers for what he is (and isn't) and consider anything positive he does on the court an unexpected bonus?

Anything negative he does shouldn't come as any surprise. After six years we are all painfully aware of his shortcomings, but go on haters, feel free to remind us for the millionth time what we can all see with our own eyes.

BNM

Oh, the irony here from the Crabbe crusader is too good. Thanks for the laugh.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Oh, the irony here from the Crabbe crusader is too good. Thanks for the laugh.

Still having trouble admitting you were wrong about Crabbe? You need to let it go and move on.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

The dude looks huge and cut too . . .

The Hammer!!!

BNM

 

[Scalma]

Still having trouble admitting you were wrong about Crabbe? You need to let it go and move on.

BNM

Ok hypocrite, don’t deflect.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Ok hypocrite, don’t deflect.

Lol, right. You're the one that went totally off topic to try to get in a dig at me.

It's ok, Crabbe is gone. No need to relive your past humiliation. Just let it go. You'll feel better.

BNM

 

[Scalma]

Lol, right. You're the one that went totally off topic to try to get in a dig at me.

It's ok, Crabbe is gone. No need to relive your past humiliation. Just let it go. You'll feel better.

BNM

1. Not about to rehash another Crabbe argument. I know you’d love to, but it’s irrelevant to my point, which is your hypocrisy.

2. You get humiliated when you’re wrong? That sucks.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I still can't believe that he didn't block a single shot last year.

 

[jlprk]

I still can't believe that he didn't block a single shot last year.

And now...the Official Blocks per Minute Database!

In which we find which 7-footers had seasons in which their Blocks per Minute was below .01.

For those numerically challenged...that means less than one block per 100 minutes. The biggest perpetrator was Bill Cartwright.

http://bkref.com/tiny/eOuQq

 

[calvin natt]

I posted part of this in the game thread but it applies here too:

Leonard is so comfortable on offense. Aside from his shooting I just feel comfortable when he receives a pass. He has a high bb IQ on that one side of the ball. He also looked decent on the boards tonight. Bottom line is he is good enough for our 3rd string center. I do not feel scared when he enters the game because he is not a turnover machine. He is what he is....an extra big body with offensive skills. Overpaid yes, but aside from that he can fill in when needed.

You lost me at “high basketball IQ”

 

[Boob-No-More]

1. Not about to rehash another Crabbe argument.

Then you probably shouldn't have brought it up in a thread that had nothing to do with him, Einstein.

2. You get humiliated when you’re wrong? That sucks.

No, I don't. I have no problem admitting when I am wrong. I did so earlier today in a thread you started (my comment about Bruno Caboclo not being 2-way eligible) You're the one still butt hurt over some disagreement that happened two years ago. You just can't seem to let it go.

BNM

 

[BonesJones]

You get humiliated when you’re wrong? That sucks.

It's funny, you used this against me too. Out of all 3 of us, you're the dude who can't stand being wrong and posts snarky comments like this over differences of opinion. And you're calling other people hypocrites? Yikes.