Meyers mandate to shoot swish3s

[swish3]

To win the upcoming string of games against the Jazz, Heat, Spurs, Mavericks, Thunder, and Warriors, the Blazers need to run plays that get shots from the high % swish3 shooters. In particular, there needs to be a pregame team plan that features kick out and perimeter passing to an open Meyers at the arc, and at least 5 swish3 attempts. Meyers is the only Blazer in the 10 player rotation averaging less than 5 FG attempts per game, despite his TS% of 0.666 and eFG% of 0.636 (as of Jan 27) leading the Blazers and his swish3 % is now 44.8%. He has an ORtg of 126, also leading the Blazers.

Despite making every shot (3 of 3 in just 9 min) in the win over ATL, and now averaging 1.455 points/FGA (again leading the Blazers, as Wizenheimer also noted), adding the dunk threat to his excellent swish3 shooting, excellent screens and assists, rebounds, defense (including blocks), off ball movement, and hustle, we are not using Meyers to bring the additional scoring that is needed for wins against the strongest opposition. This season we are ready to win in the playoffs and the possibility grows stronger for the NBA Championship. If the coaches can recognize and optimize a bench consisting of Meyers, Seth, and Jake to reach the 15+ swish3s needed to win against the top scoring teams, this can be the year!

In many posts, I have been calling for at least 6 swish3 attempts from the highest % swish3 shooters that can combined provide 8 or 9 power scores, but the minutes and the plays have not existed to capitalize on the talent. When a Blazer is hot, especially if he has made every shot, that is not the time to have him back on the bench. When the Blazers have at least 5 players who score 14+ points in a game, winning probability is high, and that is what can make the difference this year. Let's get Meyers to an average of at least 5 FGA per game, and aim for 6 or more swish3 attempts. When Meyers is hot, the Blazers can pour in the points and win in these next 6 games and in the playoffs where he (with that NBA 76.9% record) has been the best!

 

[CupWizier]

False. I've been a closet (perhaps quiet) Meyers fan for some time and it is 100% fact his directive is to shoot threes with any bit of daylight.

Exactly. What we have seen is that all players essentially have the green light to shoot when they are open. That's on the players. Stotts has never spoken like a coach that restricts players from shooting.

 

[swish3]

Exactly. What we have seen is that all players essentially have the green light to shoot when they are open. That's on the players. Stotts has never spoken like a coach that restricts players from shooting.

This misunderstanding is that I referred to this plan as a mandate, meaning that there is a practiced off ball floor rotation that is a pregame plan, rather than a green light to shoot. There should be a team coordinated flow of screens and passing as kick outs and passes around the arc to find the open man, and Meyers (44.8%) and Seth (48.1%) are the Blazer leaders. At present, Meyers is the only Blazer of the 10 starters and bench who is averaging less than 5 (4.1) FGA per game despite having the highest FG% of 53.4%. With the Meyers mandate game plan, not only would Meyers be making the great assist passes that we have seen to Dame, Seth, CJ, Jake, and others, but also be receiving assist passes from them at planned sweet spots on the arc to allow featuring his swish3 shooting and for dunks.

The misunderstanding is that the mandate necessarily includes the plan for rotations and passes that facilitate swish3 shots, as well as dunks when they are open, from the most efficient scoring threat on the Blazers, as Meyers is now at 1.455 points/FGA. What is counterproductive is anyone shouting or waving at Meyers to shoot, which simply distracts and slows him. Instead, we should be quietly visualizing him scoring that swish3 and cheering him on when he makes it, just as we do for Dame.

And the notion that there is a green light for all players to attempt swish3s is not part of a winning plan. Swish3 attempts need to be limited to those who have achieved at least 33% success to avoid wasting shot opportunities. While Terry does encourage shooting when open, Blazers such as Nurk, Evan, and Simons need to avoid these attempts because of low season 3P%. Also, Blazer coaches need to observe who has the hot hand by watching for the number of consecutive swish3s made in warmups and in the game. This Meyers mandate can help carry us through the payoffs.

 

[swish3]

Although some in this RipCity2 Forum predicted that the UTA Jazz game was a scheduled loss because the Jazz soundly beat us 120-90 on home court Dec 21, and were on a 9 of 10 win streak, the Blazers soundly beat the Jazz Jan 30 132-105 without Nurk providing undeniable support for the proposed mandate to game plan with plays for Meyers to shoot at least 6 swish3s per game. This was an excellent game for Meyers who now as of 3 Feb has a TS% of 68.2, and eFG of 65.4, 3P% of 46.7, FG% of 54.5, and points/FGA of 1.485. The first 2 and last 2 of those stats lead all Blazers.

Meyers 16 points, screens, passing, spacing, dunking, and defense is especially noteworthy because he was matched against Rudy Gobert, the NBA 2018 Defensive Player of the Year, and yet Meyers outscored him. For the 1st time since December, Meyers shot 5 swish3 attempts, making 4 of them. And he embarrassed Rudy on the fake and drive for the highlight Hammer dunk! Meyers furthermore had 0 turnovers in 25 min.

The proof is in the records. Meyers can substitute for Nurk at Center to provide superb offense and solid defense for wins against strong opponents and will play a major part in the success of this year's Blazers that will take us deep into the playoffs, and bring the NBA Championship to within reach. Onward Blazers to 54+ wins and the Playoffs!