Meyers on the radio this afternoon

[THE HCP]

Might want to check it out.......

Meyers Leonard will be a guest on Wheels at Work today at 3:15 PM on Fox Sports Radio 620 AM or online at foxsportsradio620.com.


Sent from my baller ass iPad FAMS!

 

[mook]

Hope somebody posts a summary. He's grown on me after watching him in Summer League.

It occurs to me that his primary flaw (shitty defense) wouldn't be so glaring if we had a decent defensive starting center. He could come in off the bench, make a jumper, set a hard pick, get a dunk, make a nifty pass, get torched by everybody, and come out without too much damage being done.

Playing behind Hickson, though, it was like substituting diesel for gasoline on the bonfire that was our interior defense.

 

[mook]

One thing I will say about Leonard--there are a lot of young, tall, shitty centers that somehow just vanish on the court despite being over 6'10.

You rarely say with Leonard, "Huh, I didn't even notice him out there." Sometimes it's for something awesome (dunks, nifty shot), sometimes it's for something pathetic (missed switch, missed easy rebound, getting abused in the post.)

My wife, who only glances a couple times a night at the game, has said more than once, "Who's that white guy?" It's never Babbitt or Freeland.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I actually think he might turn out to be a decent stretch 4. He's got a good shot and, like Channing, he can work on expanding his range. He'll never be a "rim protector" but if we get a decent defensive center then he could be useful alongside him.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I actually think he might turn out to be a decent stretch 4. He's got a good shot and, like Channing, he can work on expanding his range. He'll never be a "rim protector" but if we get a decent defensive center then he could be useful alongside him.

I thought this towards the end of last year as well. He looks a lot like a stretch or high post 4.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I thought this towards the end of last year as well. He looks a lot like a stretch or high post 4.

Indeed; he'd be a good backup for LMA (better than Fish N Chips was)

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I actually think he might turn out to be a decent stretch 4. He's got a good shot and, like Channing, he can work on expanding his range. He'll never be a "rim protector" but if we get a decent defensive center then he could be useful alongside him.

I disagree. He's still growing into his body and he loves to workout. I think when he adds more muscle and bulk he is going to love to bang down underneath. He just has that attitude. Last year was a huge learning year for him. Spacing and timing in the paint for a young big man is hard to learn. He's a 4 or 5 year project but one that I think will eventually pay off.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

We'll see. He's already pretty buff - I don't think that's the problem. He's a bit top-heavy. Some players just have strong legs (Kevin Love, for example) and it gives them a huge advantage. The main problem is that he doesn't have any defensive instincts.

 

[jlprk]

It occurs to me that his primary flaw (shitty defense) wouldn't be so glaring if we had a decent defensive starting center.

You could say the same about Aldridge, Hickson, Outlaw, Webster...

One thing I will say about Leonard--there are a lot of young, tall, shitty centers that somehow just vanish on the court despite being over 6'10.

You rarely say with Leonard, "Huh, I didn't even notice him out there." Sometimes it's for something awesome (dunks, nifty shot), sometimes it's for something pathetic (missed switch, missed easy rebound, getting abused in the post.)

My wife, who only glances a couple times a night at the game, has said more than once, "Who's that white guy?" It's never Babbitt or Freeland.

Maybe one of the female cheerleaders will quit and a position will open up for Leonard to be noticed more. Olshey should consult your wife before the draft.

 

[jlprk]

He's a 4 or 5 year project but one that I think will eventually pay off.

That's about right. Lie back and enjoy what will be done to you for the next 4-5 years. Then we'll feel lucky to trade him to Minny for a Babbitt.

 

[oldmangrouch]

I disagree. He's still growing into his body and he loves to workout. I think when he adds more muscle and bulk he is going to love to bang down underneath. He just has that attitude. Last year was a huge learning year for him. Spacing and timing in the paint for a young big man is hard to learn. He's a 4 or 5 year project but one that I think will eventually pay off.

Cool. We can draft Adams/Gobert and the (distant) future will be so bright we will have to wear night vision goggles.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

When Fez becomes the voice of reason....

Look the fuck out!! So yeah, watch out!

 

[tlongII]

I like Meyers. I think he'll become a decent starting center. Just gonna take time.

 

[JDC]

For those saying he might transition into more of a PF...no chance. He has a hard time keeping centers from going around him if they face up and would get abused by 4's in the same situations. He has a really hard time changing directions quickly.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

For those saying he might transition into more of a PF...no chance. He has a hard time keeping centers from going around him if they face up and would get abused by 4's in the same situations. He has a really hard time changing directions quickly.

In that respect, it really doesn't matter what position he plays on defense; he sucks on defense. However, his offensive game is more like a 4/5 than a pure 5.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Leonard is no PF. I guess he can play it against some teams, but there are too many stretch 4's these days and he has no chance of guarding most of them on the perimeter. And why would we want him to? We have the Clavers of the world who can do that. We need at center.

IMO offensively he fits in well with LMA similar to how we used Camby, but with a better shot. With time he can be a good passer as well.

 

[MARIS61]

One thing I will say about Leonard--there are a lot of young, tall, shitty centers that somehow just vanish on the court despite being over 6'10.

You rarely say with Leonard, "Huh, I didn't even notice him out there." Sometimes it's for something awesome (dunks, nifty shot), sometimes it's for something pathetic (missed switch, missed easy rebound, getting abused in the post.)

My wife, who only glances a couple times a night at the game, has said more than once, "Who's that white guy?" It's never Babbitt or Freeland.

Well, she's probably noticing him for something other than his basketball prowess.

 

[magnifier661]

Well, she's probably noticing him for something other than his basketball prowess.

Good point

 

[Further]

I love what I've seen so far in the kid. On O, I think we can all agree that he should be good. On D, he is very active and more than athletic enough to do well, he has the tools. He just seems to completely go to the wrong spot and bite on an offensive players reuses. But he has not been a center for long, and he seems to put in the work. I suspect he will get incrementally better for a year or so, then things will come into focus for him, and he will make a leap. Meyers will end up a pretty good, perhaps occasional all-stat center, we just need to wait.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Meyers will end up a pretty good, perhaps occasional all-stat center, we just need to wait.

Paging Dr. Freud?

 

[maxiep]

I like Meyers. I think he'll become a decent starting center. Just gonna take time.

This. It really would have helped him to keep Joel around. Someone nice and Midwestern to show him how to play dirty.

 

[Eastoff]

Meyers likes to work out a lot, but he wants the guns, he doesn't have the strong legs. I think he likes to look cut.

 

[mook]

Never skip leg day.

 

[mook]

I remember how much discussion Oden always got on how his frame just seemed built to pile on muscle mass. Leonard struck me the same way when I saw him in Summer League. Dude has huge shoulders for a guy that tall. Seems a little funny to me how little discussion this ever gets. I guess it gets overlooked because he just doesn't have Oden's instincts or talent. And his legs were kind of twiggy.

Hope he's spending more time on squats than his biceps this summer.

 

[Eastoff]

hopefully that image shows up. I think it shows that Meyers has a really strong upper body, but his legs look fairly normal to me. his waist is pretty narrow as well. He needs to work on his lower frame.

 

[Pinwheel1]

hopefully that image shows up. I think it shows that Meyers has a really strong upper body, but his legs look fairly normal to me. his waist is pretty narrow as well. He needs to work on his lower frame.

Without fucking up his knees please.....

 

[Eastoff]

Without fucking up his knees please.....

I think "Without getting hurt" is always assumed in Portland (and every team really)

 

[HailBlazers]

I thought he did a fairly good job of holding his ground against some real centers this year, he didn't show an ounce of fear and seemed to command some respect (physically). Usually when a rook comes into the league, veterans will really abuse them. The only abuse Meyers really took came from being out of position and not knowing where to be.

Here's to Leonard becoming a force to reckon with!

 

[Pinwheel1]

I think "Without getting hurt" is always assumed in Portland (and every team really)

I know, but it seems like building up the the lower body is tougher than the upper body. Easy to put undo stress on the knees. Either you have a big trunk or you don't.