Meyers Leonard in the dog house?

[Mediocre Man]

Since his return from his ankle injury, he has played 8 games

Wash - 12m/6p/4r/0b
Ind - 18m/8p/5r/0b
LAC - 16m/6p/4r/0b
LAC - 8m/1p/1r/0b
Dal - 2m/0p/0r/0b
Uta - 5m/0p/0r/0b
Uta - 6m/0p/2r/0b
Min - 7m/2p/2r/0b

20 personal fouls over those 8 games, or 1 foul every 3.75 minutes

I would normally chalk this up to getting his groove back after being out, but it's been 8 games and he seems to be getting worse

 

[blazedanugz]

This topic may be the only complaint I have with Scott's so far. Meyers should be playin much more.

 

[Mediocre Man]

This topic may be the only complaint I have with Scott's so far. Meyers should be playin much more.

I have not tried to hide my feelings towards Meyers Leonard the basketball player, so I hope people don't think I am saying this just to say it, but looking at those numbers, why?

 

[tlongII]

I have not tried to hide my feelings towards Meyers Leonard the basketball player, so I hope people don't think I am saying this just to say it, but looking at those numbers, why?

I think it's obvious that Stotts thinks they have a better chance at winning with Leonard on the bench. That said, I think it's a mistake. I think he's a big part of our future.

 

[Blazinaway]

I think it's obvious that Stotts thinks they have a better chance at winning with Leonard on the bench. That said, I think it's a mistake. I think he's a big part of our future.

I guess Freeland is in the pound as well, he's not touched the court. I much prefer Claver to babbit but keep seeing too much babbitt

 

[BlazerCaravan]

It seems to me that in recent games, Leonard has been outplayed on defense by their big guys, and that the right play is to go small and spread out their defense. I wonder too if he is a liability on offense when players like Batum or Price play less and you have guys like Claver and Smith instead who don't pass as well. When he's given the ball on a lob or in perfect position he's good but otherwise is absent.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I've been disappointed with Leonard since coming back from injury. He still seems lost out there, but we are missing those moments he had before the injury.

I don't think he is in Stotts doghouse as Stotts is usually quick to call his number early in the game. It is in the 2nd half, when the game is on the line, that Stotts has a hard time finding minutes for Meyers.

 

[ebott]

Stotts can't afford to play guys like Leonard or Freeland. He's gotta keep winning games so we can keep that 9th spot. No playoffs + No draft pick = AWESOME!!!

 

[magnifier661]

We are in the playoff hunt. Until that isn't a reality; I doubt Leonard gets significant playing time. Also the stretch offense is working pretty good right now: having Babbitt play pf

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

I dont think Leonard has earned more minutes.

 

[magnifier661]

I dont think Leonard has earned more minutes.

Me neither. And putting him in for the sake of playing time sets a negative precedents on the other players. The only reason why others get playing time is they don't have anyone better. Pretty obvious when you see freeland getting zero minutes. Leonard and Babbitt are sharing the back up duties right now.

 

[Mediocre Man]

We are in the playoff hunt. Until that isn't a reality; I doubt Leonard gets significant playing time. Also the stretch offense is working pretty good right now: having Babbitt play pf

We were in a playoff hunt earlier in the season and he was playing more then

 

[magnifier661]

We were in a playoff hunt earlier in the season and he was playing more then

No earlier in the season; we had no idea if we were even a consideration. Now that we have still stayed in the hunt; while playing a much tougher schedule; it's becoming more of a reality.

Also; hickson was really bad on the defensive end. Even more so than he is now. Aldridge was still kicking the rust off him as well. Stotts first year also plays a role too. Now that he understands the players: he's using them with more thought.

 

[Blazinaway]

Me neither. And putting him in for the sake of playing time sets a negative precedents on the other players. The only reason why others get playing time is they don't have anyone better. Pretty obvious when you see freeland getting zero minutes. Leonard and Babbitt are sharing the back up duties right now.

IMO Babbitt has earned NO minutes, a supposed "shooter" who is shooting 35% and 33.6% from 3 and is a liability at everything else should rede the bench - he has "earned" nothing but 100% pine riding

 

[blue9]

 

[magnifier661]

IMO Babbitt has earned NO minutes, a supposed "shooter" who is shooting 35% and 33.6% from 3 and is a liability at everything else should rede the bench - he has "earned" nothing but 100% pine riding

I actually disagree. ALthough he makes me pull my hair out, he is providing more spacing offensively for the actual scorers. It's hard to double when your man actually can hit the outside shot. WHAT I have seen is if you keep him open too many times, he can drain that 3, so even if he misses 2 out of 3 shots; that one that goes in can be a difference maker for the momentum.

 

[blue9]

He (Babbitt) does seem to have a knack for knocking down a 3 when it matters. If he can dial that shot into something a bit over 40% he'd be a keeper - his defense is WAAAAY better than Kyle Korver's ever was. I'm actually pleasantly surprised with Luke's D this season.

 

[noknobs]

I dont think Leonard has earned more minutes.

That can be said for our entire bench. Everytime Leonard is out there Stotts seems to be yelling at him for something, even though to me it doesn't seem like he's playing that bad relative to the rest of our bench. We saw Sarge do this quite often to some young players and it inevitably leads the player to overthink everything, have zero confidence, and never stay on the court long enough to learn anything. This has become one of my main criticisms with Stotts.

 

[BlazerWookee]

I guess Freeland is in the pound as well, he's not touched the court. I much prefer Claver to babbit but keep seeing too much babbitt

Freeland's been sick with a virus, hasn't he?

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Freeland's been sick with a virus, hasn't he?

Don't know but I do know the guy is better than he has shown.

 

[jlprk]

Problem is too many crackers. My 2nd-favorite Blazer Claver shouldn't have to compete for the white minutes. Leonard, Babbitt, and Freeland have basketball IQs of dusty old men.

 

[Blazinaway]

I actually disagree. ALthough he makes me pull my hair out, he is providing more spacing offensively for the actual scorers. It's hard to double when your man actually can hit the outside shot. WHAT I have seen is if you keep him open too many times, he can drain that 3, so even if he misses 2 out of 3 shots; that one that goes in can be a difference maker for the momentum.

as Johnny Mac says, U can't be serious, his shooting is CRAP this year

 

[BrianFromWA]

without seeing the recent games, I'd imagine that Leonard (and Freeland) will take a backseat so that Stotts can "showcase" Hickson and Babbitt, 2 players who will most likely not be here in July and see what he can get for them now (whether a trade for future prospects or taking salary on now). If I had to guess, I'd say that Babbitt as a stretch 4 (w/LMA at the 5) was working pretty well earlier this year and that Olshey's hoping that continued minutes (at the very short-term expense of Leonard's growth) isn't a backbreaker for ML and might be upping Babbitt's value around the league.

 

[tlongII]

I watched Courtside last night and Haynes said that the problem with Leonard is that he doesn't trust his ankle yet. He sprained it pretty bad a few weeks ago and he has to get over the mental hurdle of going all out without fear of hurting it again.

 

[julius]

He's insanely raw, and misses out on a lot off defensive rotations and doesn't box out very well. That's why.

 

[magnifier661]

I don't know what the big deal is with this kid. I don't see a center that will dominate looking at Leonard. He doesn't even look that big to me. But I guess he is a 7 footer and with some weight lifting he could be a strong player. I just don't see it now or even a couple years from now.

He looks like those high school boys that haven't worked into their body, being clumsy and out of proportion.

 

[Mediocre Man]

That's a pretty weak story by Haynes. He played a lot of minutes right after he came back, so not trusting his ankle makes no sense

 

[Blazinaway]

without seeing the recent games, I'd imagine that Leonard (and Freeland) will take a backseat so that Stotts can "showcase" Hickson and Babbitt, 2 players who will most likely not be here in July and see what he can get for them now (whether a trade for future prospects or taking salary on now). If I had to guess, I'd say that Babbitt as a stretch 4 (w/LMA at the 5) was working pretty well earlier this year and that Olshey's hoping that continued minutes (at the very short-term expense of Leonard's growth) isn't a backbreaker for ML and might be upping Babbitt's value around the league.

I think you are right about Babbit and why he is playing as much as he is, it's too bad he's shooting so shitty as IMO he has not at all upped his value

 

[tlongII]

That's a pretty weak story by Haynes. He played a lot of minutes right after he came back, so not trusting his ankle makes no sense

Not trusting his ankle is why he hasn't played well. Not playing well is why his minutes have been reduced. Makes perfect sense to me.

 

[Mediocre Man]

3 minutes tonight