Meyers Leonard

[MadeFromDust]

is going to be a heckuva player for us. He still has a lot to learn obviously but watching him play over the last few weeks has me really excited. He has a very good chance of being our starting center for the future.

 

[MickZagger]

Well, duh.

I've been saying this for a while now and I was mocked for it. He's far from a finished product, though. Needs lots of work. Every time he goes to the bench he needs to park his big ass next to the assistants and soak it in.

He has traits for a big man that can't be taught though.

 

[Shooter]

Agreed. Leonard has a big upside. You can see his confidence growing every game.

 

[magnifier661]

Well, duh.

I've been saying this for a while now and I was mocked for it. He's far from a finished product, though. Needs lots of work. Every time he goes to the bench he needs to park his big ass next to the assistants and soak it in.

He has traits for a big man that can't be taught though.

Stop taking credit! Everyone knows I was telling you chumps how good Leonard is all season long. Stop stealing my thunder!

 

[MickZagger]

Stop taking credit! Everyone knows I was telling you chumps how good Leonard is all season long. Stop stealing my thunder!

You just need to give your fingers a rest and listen to me every once in a while.

 

[magnifier661]

You just need to give your fingers a rest and listen to me every once in a while.

I've been trying to tell you all season long. Glad you are finally catching up.

 

[Jayps15]

He's got offensive tools and touch that alot of young bigs just never develop, I've thought all year that those are a good base for him to get on the court and I'm glad Stotts is finally giving him the minutes. He's still out of position alot, with some plays just going way to fast for him, but I'm hopeful that the coaching staff can sit him down this offseason and just have him study a ton of film. Basically I'd have him study every Tyson Chandler game from Dallas and New York, similar size and athleticism, and if he can pick up even alittle of Chandler's game on D I think he'll be very nice for us next year.

 

[Sinobas]

He's renewed my interest in the season. But he really needs to work on his awareness on defense, getting into position to make the block, rebound, or affect the shot. Maybe the Blazers can hire Joel to mentor him during the offseason. Joel was great at all those things.

 

[KingSpeed]

Still think we need McGee or Pekivic?

 

[magnifier661]

Still think we need McGee or Pekivic?

Not pek; but I would love me some McGee!

 

[Pinwheel1]

I have faith that he will keep getting better. As noted he possess a lot of things that can't be taught. Now he just needs time and experience to add the things that can be taught. And most importantly stay healthy.

 

[drexlersdad]

ive been hyping this white american center all season

nice to see him get some steady minutes

 

[Boob-No-More]

I've been trying to tell you all season long. Glad you are finally catching up.

Dude, seriously, you've been trying to trade Leonard all season long. I'm glad you're not our GM. I've asked you several times why you're willing, anxious even, to give up on a 20-year old 7'1" athletic freak. Now do you see what I was talking about? Sure, Leonard has a long way to go, but he has so much potential. He could fall far short of that potential and still end up an above average starting center.

And god no, I wouldn't trade him straight up for JaVale McGee - not in a million years.

BNM

 

[Natebishop3]

Well, duh.

I've been saying this for a while now and I was mocked for it. He's far from a finished product, though. Needs lots of work. Every time he goes to the bench he needs to park his big ass next to the assistants and soak it in.

He has traits for a big man that can't be taught though.

You should really track your predictions so we can see how many hits and misses you've had. Actually, I would love to see how Fez has done as well.

 

[MickZagger]

You should really track your predictions so we can see how many hits and misses you've had. Actually, I would love to see how Fez has done as well.

I do track them every time I let you guys know about them. Over the years I've been pretty damn accurate, with the exceptions of being totally wrong about Noah, Morrison and Westbrook as my really bad blunders. Maybe Alec Burks as well, but I still think he has a chance to be a good player if given opportunity. I remember when the old board was salivating over Gerald Green and I insisted we stayed the fuck away. Thank goodness we did.

I though Westbrook was way unproven and an idiots BBIQ.

I thought Noah was unskilled and just a garbage player, I hated the thought of drafting him high. Now he's one of my favorite bigs.

 

[Natebishop3]

I do track them every time I let you guys know about them. Over the years I've been pretty damn accurate, with the exceptions of being totally wrong about Noah, Morrison and Westbrook as my really bad blunders. Maybe Alec Burks as well, but I still think he has a chance to be a good player if given opportunity.

Actually, I would love to have a sticky thread where people keep track of their predictions... think anyone would have the balls to use it?

 

[THE HCP]

I've been wrong only twice......... on Kevin Love and Evan Turner.

 

[drexlersdad]

Actually, I would love to have a sticky thread where people keep track of their predictions... think anyone would have the balls to use it?

not many of us have time to watch alot of college bball

 

[MickZagger]

Actually, I would love to have a sticky thread where people keep track of their predictions... think anyone would have the balls to use it?

That such a variable thing. There's players that I'd want, but wouldn't want them at a certain pick. Like Drummond and Barnes, I liked them just not where we were picking. Then, you got guys like Blaze01 who said he would rather draft Marquis freaking Teague than Lillard.

I was huge on Lillard and Leonard before they were even discussed on this board as potential Blazer picks. I remember posting a video of him and saying he'd should be the PGOTF or something like that.

 

[mgb]

I've never been wrong.

 

[MickZagger]

But yeah, I wouldn't have a problem doing that. Everyone should already know the guys I really like from this draft class. Olynyk, Smart, Zeller, Otto Porter, Oladipo, Bennett, CJ Leslie and a couple others.

I think Mohammed will be good, but not a superstar like people think. I don't buy McLemore as a legit #1 pick, I think all the Kentucky guys are overhyped, Burke will be a good sparkplug type off the bench, I don't like Carter-WIlliams, Isaiah Austin, or McCollum.

Alex Len can kinda go either way. Not sure.

Now your turn.

 

[drexlersdad]

13.3/6.3 on 73% shooting the last 3 games

in 18 mpg for easy per36 extrapolation

 

[Mediocre Man]

This thread is awesome.

Love that the kid put up good numbers, but he is lost on defense and two of those games were against teams with no centers.


And Eric, yes. We still need a center, but not nor ever Pek

 

[magnifier661]

Dude, seriously, you've been trying to trade Leonard all season long. I'm glad you're not our GM. I've asked you several times why you're willing, anxious even, to give up on a 20-year old 7'1" athletic freak. Now do you see what I was talking about? Sure, Leonard has a long way to go, but he has so much potential. He could fall far short of that potential and still end up an above average starting center.

And god no, I wouldn't trade him straight up for JaVale McGee - not in a million years.

BNM

That was zags hacking my account. He's been wanting Leonard dealt from day one. Said it reminds him too much of the stash. You should know better!

 

[magnifier661]

Next time forum listen to me when I try and give Bball knowledge. You guys might learn a thing or two!

 

[Boob-No-More]

Love that the kid put up good numbers, but he is lost on defense and two of those games were against teams with no centers.

Give the kid a chance. He just turned 21, has exactly 700 minutes of NBA experience and has already shown tremendous improvement. We all knew he was raw and a big project, but with less than 12 hours of on the job training, I think he's doing great, as well as expected, maybe better.

Compare him to Biyombo, another very young, very raw project taken in the lottery. Biyombo was picked 7th in the 2011 draft, is in his second season and has nearly 3000 minutes of PT. Leonard was picked 11th, is a rookie with 700 minutes of PT. And Leonard has shown much more improvement and is already better than Biyombo. Young big men take time to develop. I have always been happy with the Leonard selection at 11. There wasn't anyone on the board that was clearly better, Leonard fit a need, and has a very rare combination of size and athleticism. I don't care where he was born or what color his skin is. He has the tools to be a very successful NBA center. He's not there yet, and won't be for a while, but he's making progress.

In his last five games he has EFF = 13.00. That's not enough to challenge for ROY, but if he'd been playing that well all season, he'd be in the running for first team all rookie. I'll take that for an 11th pick who clearly wasn't NBA-ready at the beginning of the season.

BNM

 

[Mediocre Man]

Another fun fact about Meyers Leonard's breakout last three games

Portland is dead last vs opponents points in the paint at 46.1 for the season

The last three games with Leonard getting do much playing time we are at 49.3

 

[magnifier661]

Another fun fact about Meyers Leonard's breakout last three games

Portland is dead last vs opponents points in the paint at 46.1 for the season

The last three games with Leonard getting do much playing time we are at 49.3

So hickson is a good defender now?

 

[Mediocre Man]

So hickson is a good defender now?

Not at all. See dead last in the NBA in points in the paint against.

 

[B-Roy]

Another fun fact about Meyers Leonard's breakout last three games

Portland is dead last vs opponents points in the paint at 46.1 for the season

The last three games with Leonard getting do much playing time we are at 49.3

Correlation =/= causation.

That number is HIGHLY skewed by Denver's 72 points in the paint. Denver is the best in the league at getting points in the paint.

Best vs. worst = Incredibly high number of points in the paint.