Meyers Must Go

[Nikolokolus]

His projected date to return from shoulder surgery was right about now, so you might want to factor that into your thoughts about how he's played so far this season.

That might explain his up and down shooting, but if he wasn't healthy enough to play he never would have been cleared by doctors.

 

[e_blazer]

I'm on record as having completely thrown in the towel with regards to Meyers. He's just never going to be what we need from that position and even at his best he projects to be a so-so, offensively oriented role player. I've been ready to move on from him for quite awhile now.

I can appreciate that his shoulder could be factoring into his terrible offensive play this year, but the fact is that he's still suiting up and going out there every night, and his defense has been consistently terrible regardless. And if the shoulder is in fact an issue then I don't see how that plays into our favor when it comes to finding a trade partner for him.

I just see people using Meyers as a great big scapegoat for overall crappy defensive play by the Blazers as a whole. Meyers is what he is, a relatively soft player who just doesn't seem to be able to understand how to use his big body in the way a big man needs to play. That said, does anybody think that he's really responsible for the fact that we have zero really good defenders suiting up for the Blazers?

 

[Scalma]

I just see people using Meyers as a great big scapegoat for overall crappy defensive play by the Blazers as a whole. Meyers is what he is, a relatively soft player who just doesn't seem to be able to understand how to use his big body in the way a big man needs to play. That said, does anybody think that he's really responsible for the fact that we have zero really good defenders suiting up for the Blazers?

I agree. First it was turner, then it was Crabbe, and now it's Meyers. There always needs to be someone to take out the majority of the frustrations on, but when you're this bad defensively it's literally the whole teams fault.

 

[e_blazer]

That might explain his up and down shooting, but if he wasn't healthy enough to play he never would have been cleared by doctors.

Being healthy enough to play isn't the same as having your timing and court-awareness at anywhere near peak efficiency. Look, Meyers sucks. He's being paid way more than he's producing. I hope that he will begin to produce better as the season goes along, but that's strictly hope at this point. I really HOPE that Olshey can find a good deal that he can plug Meyers into where it brings back a talented BIG center. I'm really tired of seeing undersized Plumlee and Davis getting abused by the bigger centers of the league.

 

[Five Second Violation]

I just see people using Meyers as a great big scapegoat for overall crappy defensive play by the Blazers as a whole. Meyers is what he is, a relatively soft player who just doesn't seem to be able to understand how to use his big body in the way a big man needs to play. That said, does anybody think that he's really responsible for the fact that we have zero really good defenders suiting up for the Blazers?

Leonard has always been an easy target because of his size, and because more and more he's been bringing no offense to the table either. Obviously it's Olshey's job to emphasize the importance of finding defenders when choosing our team's personnel, and he hasn't made much of a case for that.

 

[Scalma]

I get the frustration though. We all know this team (including Meyers) is better than they've shown. How much is debatable, but better for sure. If they weren't, there wouldn't be any reason for anyone to get so frustrated. It's like when coaches yell at players. They don't yell at the shitty ones, because, well, they're shitty. They only yell at the ones they expect more out of.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I agree. First it was turner, then it was Crabbe, and now it's Meyers. There always needs to be someone to take out the majority of the frustrations on, but when you're this bad defensively it's literally the whole teams fault.

I might be alone in this, but I see him not as a scapegoat, but as the epitome of this team's struggles -- he's everything the Blazers suck at during their slump, so it's easy to make the association between him and the team writ large.

You're right though, there's plenty of blame to be spread around. The only player I see playing with any level of hustle or heart on a fairly regular basis is Harkless, and even then he's nothing to write home about defensively.

 

[Jade Falcon]

I think for me it was really telling how, a few games back, the camera focused in on Meyers as he was sitting down. And he was arguing with someone next to him (a coach?), and you could see people nearby roll their eyes and look away.

That's when I knew for certain. His teammates are as tired of him as this fanbase is.

I think he has the skills to play in Europe, but that's it. I don't think he's an NBA-caliber Big.

 

[BBert]

I've had shoulder surgery similar to Meyers, and I can tell you it's no picnic. I'm not expecting him to set the world on fire this year. He clearly has significantly less muscle on his arms and shoulders than he had last season before his injuries. His contract is based on his contributions to the team last season, pre-injury. Yes, he is playing significantly worse than last season. I think Boob did a pretty good job last year explaining how much better the Blazers played with Meyers on the court than off last year. So far this season is shaping up to be a bust for the team and for Meyers. I don't think he's ready at all, and won't be fully recovered until next season. While I agree his play mostly stinks this year, I don't think his contract is the Albatross most people fear it is. He needs to get his strength and his confidence back. In a couple of years his contract will be peanuts, to whatever team he's playing for.

 

[Blazers Roy]

Cousins releasing a MyLe diss

That's the Kings' director cutting out the mic before it's too late lol

 

[Denny Crane]

I just see people using Meyers as a great big scapegoat for overall crappy defensive play by the Blazers as a whole. Meyers is what he is, a relatively soft player who just doesn't seem to be able to understand how to use his big body in the way a big man needs to play. That said, does anybody think that he's really responsible for the fact that we have zero really good defenders suiting up for the Blazers?

What happened to Ed Davis? And Plumlee?

This year:



versus last year:

 

[e_blazer]

What happened to Ed Davis? And Plumlee?

This year:

View attachment 11386

versus last year:

View attachment 11387

That's a really good question. Wish I had the answer. I know that the Blazers have played a bunch of teams lately who have talented and large centers. That hasn't helped, but I think that overall nobody is performing at last year's level defensively. I don't know what to make of it.

 

[Hobbesarable]

What happened to Ed Davis? And Plumlee?

This year:

View attachment 11386

versus last year:

View attachment 11387

From Basketball-Reference.com

Out of necessity (owing to a lack of defensive data in the basic boxscore), individual Defensive Ratings are heavily influenced by the team's defensive efficiency. They assume that all teammates are equally good (per minute) at forcing non-steal turnovers and non-block misses, as well as assuming that all teammates face the same number of total possessions per minute.

 

[Denny Crane]

That's a really good question. Wish I had the answer. I know that the Blazers have played a bunch of teams lately who have talented and large centers. That hasn't helped, but I think that overall nobody is performing at last year's level defensively. I don't know what to make of it.

I think that's on Stotts. It's his job to see to it the players are ready to perform for each game.

 

[Denny Crane]

From Basketball-Reference.com

I know, but we basically have the same players and replaced Hendo with Turner, a defensive upgrade.

Something has happened to the scheme or the combination of players who're playing together.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I know, but we basically have the same players and replaced Hendo with Turner, a defensive upgrade.

Something has happened to the scheme or the combination of players who're playing together.

People aren't playing for their next deal. I think that's part of the slippage.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Cousins releasing a MyLe diss

That's the Kings' director cutting out the mic before it's too late lol

Meyers Leanard a defensive stopper?

 

[selloutking]

Meyers Leanard a defensive stopper?

That's what Stotts seems to think he is to DMC, that's what he was referring to.

 

[KingSpeed]

In the history of the game, has anyone ever been outscored by their man 55-0?

 

[Denny Crane]

In the history of the game, has anyone ever been outscored by their man 55-0?

Guys who guarded Wilt, likely.

Maybe guys who guarded Shaq or Kareem.

EDIT: or MJ or (ick) K*me.

 

[TBpup]

In the history of the game, has anyone ever been outscored by their man 55-0?

It gets worse. Cousins outscored the entire starting and bench front line (Centers/Power Forwards) of the Blazers combined....55-36. Plumlee had a career high and Cousins had DOUBLE the amount of points.

His season high before last night was 38 points. He had that with 4 minutes to go....IN THE 3RD QUARTER.

 

[e_blazer]

In the history of the game, has anyone ever been outscored by their man 55-0?

I just went through the play by play on ESPN of last night's game. By my count, 19 of Cousin's points were scored while Meyers was in the game. The other 36 points came when Davis and/or Plumlee had the assignment of covering him.

 

[Five Second Violation]

The problem last night with covering Cousins was on Stotts.

I don't for the life of me understand how you can expect any of our guys to shut him down 1 on 1. It's absolutely insane to expect that from Plumlee/Davis and certainly from Leonard. The lack of aggressive trapping and doubling of Cousins was the main problem, and is a common thread in Stotts' passive defensive schemes. Players who get in a zone will be able to lock in that much more.

 

[Boob-No-More]

In the history of the game, has anyone ever been outscored by their man 55-0?

Define "their man". Meyers only played 19:13 to Cousins' 40:35. So, Cousins spent more time guarding Mason Plumlee, who had a career highs 27 points, than Meyers Leonard.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

I hereby declare this thread stoopid. So much teeth gnashing and finger pointing over a guy who is 9th on the team in minutes played. Seriously, stop wasting your time pointing out Meyers Leonard's flaws. They are so glaringly obvious, anyone can see them form mile away. If you think you're a basketball genius because you can pick apart Meyers Leonard's game, you're wrong.

Because Leonard's mistakes and shortcomings are so obvious, it makes him an easy target. But, he's not even close to our biggest problem (more like our 9th biggest problem - at most). Time would be better spent pointing fingers at the Coach, GM and 8 other players that all matter more to the success of this team than Meyers.

BNM

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I hereby declare this thread stoopid. So much teeth gnashing and finger pointing over a guy who is 9th on the team in minutes played. Seriously, stop wasting your time pointing out Meyers Leonard's flaws. They are so glaringly obvious, anyone can see them form mile away. If you think you're a basketball genius because you can pick apart Meyers Leonard's game, you're wrong.

Because Leonard's mistakes and shortcomings are so obvious, it makes him an easy target. But, he's not even close to our biggest problem (more like our 9th biggest problem - at most). Time would be better spent pointing fingers at the Coach, GM and 8 other players that all matter more to the success of this team than Meyers.

BNM

We're only allowed to make fun of the white players.

 

[Chris Craig]

I agree he needs to go, but there aren't going to be many buyers...its like that Shel Silverstein poem "For Sale" where the kid tries to sale his sister...no one wants a crying girl.

 

[Orion Bailey]

****...Sniff...**** (Wipes tear away)

Its been fun Meyers... but. Its time for us to split and move on with our lives...
Don't think this has anything to do with the rest of our family issues. This is just simply the fact that I don't think we can grow old together and be happy. I am sorry. I am putting your stuff out on the sidewalk, if you want your Jersey....

*Wipes another tear away, hangs head and walks slowly into the cold dark night...*

 

[Chris Craig]

****...Sniff...**** (Wipes tear away)

Its been fun Meyers... but. Its time for us to split and move on with our lives...
Don't think this has anything to do with the rest of our family issues. This is just simply the fact that I don't think we can grow old together and be happy. I am sorry. I am putting your stuff out on the sidewalk, if you want your Jersey....

*Wipes another tear away, hangs head and walks slowly into the cold dark night...*

Yeah Meyers it's us not you (which really means it's you)

 

[BBert]

What happened to Ed Davis? And Plumlee?

This year:

View attachment 11386

versus last year:

View attachment 11387

It's all Meyers Leonard's fault.