Kim Hughes: A frank assessment of Meyers Leonard

[Blazinaway]

This seems very real/honest to me from the new big man coach

http://www.csnnw.com/pages/landingb...-about-the-devel=1&blockID=785897&feedID=5212

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Sounds like a whiner with a low motor. :MARIS61:

 

[Blazinaway]

Sounds like a whiner with a low motor. :MARIS61:

or sounds like a very young guy who will grow up and mature but there will be growing pains

 

[dviss1]

Great Post. This is exactly what I wanted to know. I also have MUCH respect for Kim Hughes now (didn't know who he was).

I love his give it to you straight with no chaser attitude.

 

[Blaze01]

Similar concerns to what I have about him.....

and not easy to overcome against NBA level competition....

 

[blue32]

Oh well, if he doesn't work hard he wont play much. Not a big deal.

 

[PapaG]

Similar concerns to what I have about him.....

and not easy to overcome against NBA level competition....

You must not have read the entire article.

With all that said, Hughes did have some good things to say as well.

“Meyers is probably the best passing big man, possibility, I've worked with,” Hughes said. “Now he will throw crazy passes and he'll try to be too creative. But if he can tone it down, he has vision which you can't teach. So, he's by far the best passing guy I've been with.”

When asked how good Leonard can become, he surprisingly responded by saying, “He can become an All-Star, without question. Now will he? Probably, but I can't guarantee that. What I can guarantee is I think he'll play hard and I think he'll get it at some point. He'll fully comprehend what we're trying to do here because he has the physical structure to do it. I think he wants to do it. Now, in his heart and his will and desire, if that never wanes, there's no reason why he can't be an All-Star.

”

 

[Pinwheel1]

Good article. Coach Hughes sounds like a smart coach. He knows how to handle a young player. We knew Leonard was not ready for big minutes when he was drafted. Bring him along slow and teach him the fundamentals. He sounds just like Jerry Sloan when he talked about most of his young players.

 

[PapaG]

Good article. Coach Hughes sounds like a smart coach. He knows how to handle a young player. We knew Leonard was not ready for big minutes when he was drafted. Bring him along slow and teach him the fundamentals. He sounds just like Jerry Sloan when he talked about most of his young players.

How many games until the first "Coach Stotts doesn't play the rookies!!" thread? 5?

 

[BlazerCaravan]

How many games until the first "Coach Stotts doesn't play the rookies!!" thread? 5?

My guess? 0.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

or sounds like a very young guy who will grow up and mature but there will be growing pains

Oh sure, have a reasonable take, why don't you!

 

[Natebishop3]

Obviously Lillard will start right away, but I wouldn't expect to see Leonard get starters minutes until, possibly, midway through the season. Barton is a bit of a mystery. He might not play at all this year, or he might play right off the bat. I don't know what to expect from that kid.

I also expect to see Freeland right away.

 

[illmatic99]

Olshey took care of any potential anti-rookie movement. He has so few established vets on the team to begin with, and Stotts has no pressure on him to win early.

 

[dviss1]

Obviously Lillard will start right away, but I wouldn't expect to see Leonard get starters minutes until, possibly, midway through the season. Barton is a bit of a mystery. He might not play at all this year, or he might play right off the bat. I don't know what to expect from that kid.

I also expect to see Freeland right away.

If Barton is healthy, he'll get some time. We are thin at SG.

 

[Natebishop3]

If Barton is healthy, he'll get some time. We are thin at SG.

I actually really liked what I saw from him in the summer league. I hope he gets a little bit of burn. Obviously he won't start, but it would be nice to see him for a couple minutes here and there.

 

[julius]

Olshey took care of any potential anti-rookie movement. He has so few established vets on the team to begin with, and Stotts has no pressure on him to win early.

Nates head would've imploded.

There are 5 rookies that potentially could see regular rotation minutes with this team.

Lillard, Leonard, Claver, Freeland and Barton.

Did I miss a rookie?

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Oh well, if he doesn't work hard he wont play much. Not a big deal.

No big deal the #11 pick doesn't work hard and gets benched?

If that happens, really it's a huge deal.

 

[Drttimmy]

Refreshing article. A truly objective assessment of a young Blazer. When is the last time someone associated with team told it like it is in such pinpoint fashion? Nate would be critical but only in vague terms. Gotta play harder, gotta make shots, gotta share the ball, etc. If Hughes had been around for Oden, maybe he wouldn't have sugarcoated over his work ethic and commitment. Who knows, maybe Oden would have taken it to heart.

 

[MARIS61]

Since he's the only real center we have, and obviously has more talent than any PF we have except maybe LaMarcus, I expect him to start and to play as long as he can stay in the game.

It wiould be a waste of Lillard's development time to have him playing with Hickson or Freebrit.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

According to Courtside, Meyers is at the Bieber concert at the RG and is a true fan of his.

 

[THE HCP]

According to Courtside, Meyers is at the Bieber concert at the RG and is a true fan of his.

This is why you don't draft white players!!!!!!!

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Good article. Coach Hughes sounds like a smart coach. He knows how to handle a young player. We knew Leonard was not ready for big minutes when he was drafted. Bring him along slow and teach him the fundamentals. He sounds just like Jerry Sloan when he talked about most of his young players.

Refreshing article. A truly objective assessment of a young Blazer. When is the last time someone associated with team told it like it is in such pinpoint fashion? Nate would be critical but only in vague terms. Gotta play harder, gotta make shots, gotta share the ball, etc. If Hughes had been around for Oden, maybe he wouldn't have sugarcoated over his work ethic and commitment. Who knows, maybe Oden would have taken it to heart.

I liked the article and now I really like Kim Hughes. I'm glad the organization decided to replace Buck Williams with this guy.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I expect Leonard to have a struggling rookie season and be a starter in his third. As to seeing Claver & Barton getting rotation minutes, that tells me how little talent we have.

 

[blazerboy30]

No big deal the #11 pick doesn't work hard and gets benched?

If that happens, really it's a huge deal.

I think perhaps you're overestimating how much should be expected from the #11 pick. Take a look back and see how many non-impact players have been taken at 11.

 

[THE HCP]

3pts/6rebs/5.9 fouls/15 min

 

[Denny Crane]

3pts/6rebs/5.9 fouls/15 min

This.

I think he may look really good out there, but he's going to have lots of foul trouble until he learns the speed of the game.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

3pts/6rebs/5.9 fouls/15 min

You realize that no player has ever averaged more than 5 PF/g, right?

 

[Mediocre Man]

These were the same concerns scouts had of Leonard coming out of college, so it's really no surprise.

 

[Blazer4ever]

You realize that no player has ever averaged more than 5 PF/g, right?

Demarcus Cousins led the league in PF per game last year with 4.02 FPG
http://www.teamrankings.com/nba/player-stat/fouls-personal

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

I think what I'm hearing is that he is hardworking and has the desire to get better; but that (as in college) if he gets a little discouraged or begins to doubt his abilities, he kind of fades away. It should be interesting, if he and the coaches can work through this; can he become consistent?