Simons is legit

[e_blazer]

Meyers his first season played extensive minutes

The Blazers starting "center" that year was JJ Freakin' Hickson. The reserves, in addition to Meyers, were Pavlovic, Nolan Smith, Luke Babbitt, Joel Freeland, Jared Jeffries, Victor Claver and a rookie Will Barton. So, yeah, Meyers played more than a typical rookie under Stotts.

 

[THE HCP]

Name a rookie under Stotts who played extensive minutes his first season BESIDES Dame? When it comes to players like GT, Simons, etc. they all sit their first year and Stotts and his staff develop them pre-game, post-game and throughout the year.

We have one of the best player development staffs in the league, a majority of our draft picks turn into NBA caliber role players. I'll gladly take some of Stotts' shortcomings for his ability (along with the staff) to turn late 1st/early second round players into contributing guys.

Oh by the way....we don't get out of the 2nd round if Stotts doesn't play ET.

We get it Bones...you've got a YouTube channel and played basketball thus you know more that a seasoned NBA coach. Doesn't mean every thread needs to turn into a Stotts-bashing bonanza.

Quality Post Alert!

 

[THE HCP]

Meyers was so lost early on, cringe worthy. Glad he has stuck with it and has gotten to where he is at now.

Hope you feel the same in mid November after a month of him being our starting center. I really do.

 

[kjironman1]

Hope you feel the same in mid November after a month of him being our starting center. I really do.

I believe Meyers will be fine. Huge confidence builder this year.

 

[riverman]

Hope you feel the same in mid November after a month of him being our starting center. I really do.

He's really made strides the last two seasons....I guess a 5 year rookie wall may be an nba record

 

[riverman]

Quality Post Alert!

actually you can add Joel Freeland to the list of rookie rotation players under Stotts...

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

I believe Meyers will be fine. Huge confidence builder this year.

It's his defense that I think he's really gotta focus on this summer. I believe he's made some strides and gotten much better, but he's still got a lot of work to do on that end of the court in my opinion.

 

[kjironman1]

He's really made strides the last two seasons....I guess a 5 year rookie wall may be an nba record

I don't know about a 5 year wall. He had shoulder problems for 2 years. You go to years that he was injury free and his numbers and minutes are okay.
He's a backup center in the NBA. Gonna have a great career and have a great time. Might end up as a coach from what i see? Really sharp and as i understand is an encyclopedia of knowledge about teams and players.

 

[tlongII]

I believe Meyers will be fine. Huge confidence builder this year.

He'd be fine as a reserve, but if he's our starting center for a few months we are gonna be hurting!

 

[kjironman1]

He'd be fine as a reserve, but if he's our starting center for a few months we are gonna be hurting!

Might be surprised. But lets see how this all shakes out? At this point a have no idea who will be in a Blazer uniform and who won't? We might see just small tweaks and players making concessions to stay here? We may see huge trades that bring a total different look? I believe Olshey called it cap gymnastics.

 

[BBert]

He did play quite a bit. Maybe more so because of the lack of centers on the roster. JJ Hickson and Meyers at center with Freeland and Aldridge as PF's.
The Blazers had 7 guards that year. They seriously were playing small. They also played Victor Claver quite a bit as a rookie though he was a euro and had more experience.

Well that was a painful walk down memory lane.

How about you pour some lemon juice on this paper cut I got. Maybe it will help me forget.

 

[kjironman1]

Well that was a painful walk down memory lane.

How about you pour some lemon juice on this paper cut I got. Maybe it will help me forget.

You didn't like watching JJ go for numbers every game so he could get paid and pretty much never work out again?

 

[riverman]

You didn't like watching JJ go for numbers every game so he could get paid and pretty much never work out again?

Last I heard he was involved something like a burglary in Colorado and arrested if I remember correctly...never heard anymore about him...before that he played in China for a stretch

 

[kjironman1]

Last I heard he was involved something like a burglary in Colorado and arrested if I remember correctly...never heard anymore about him...before that he played in China for a stretch

Yeah. Armed Robbery
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23821199/ex-nba-player-jj-hickson-charged-robbery

Dude made about $27 million over 9 years and ended up in jail for robbery?

 

[BBert]

Yeah. Armed Robbery
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23821199/ex-nba-player-jj-hickson-charged-robbery

Dude made about $27 million over 9 years and ended up in jail for robbery?

Another MENSA member gone bad.

So sad.

 

[PCmor7]

Look at how long it takes most bigs to develop, especially when their game is more about skill.

Meyers actually is a really good athlete, and he'll battle down low. But he hadn't been playing the game that long, his defensive instincts were lacking and his offensive potential wasn't enough to overcome his defensive drawbacks. His offensive game was built around being able to shoot, not pound.

I think the guy was hurt also because we were so close to being able to get Drummond, whose bull-in-a-china-shop style translated more quickly to the pros. And Dame made the transition look so easy, too. Meyers looked bad in comparison, because a lot of our fanbase thought the 11th pick in the draft should be an instant contributor, not a developmental player.

 

[riverman]

Look at how long it takes most bigs to develop, especially when their game is more about skill.

Meyers actually is a really good athlete, and he'll battle down low. But he hadn't been playing the game that long, his defensive instincts were lacking and his offensive potential wasn't enough to overcome his defensive drawbacks. His offensive game was built around being able to shoot, not pound.

I think the guy was hurt also because we were so close to being able to get Drummond, whose bull-in-a-china-shop style translated more quickly to the pros. And Dame made the transition look so easy, too. Meyers looked bad in comparison, because a lot of our fanbase thought the 11th pick in the draft should be an instant contributor, not a developmental player.

short answer here...he stopped closing his eyes when he's in the paint and when he's being guarded. this and he stopped mentally pausing when he got the ball...sped up his jump shot

 

[Boise Blazer]

 

[Wizard Mentor]

View attachment 26424

Guns!!!!!

 

[James lamphear]

Looks like he been in the weight room.

 

[riverman]

He's really built like Will Barton...he got some upper body muscle...little definition in his calves, but he needs lower core muscle...he's probably still growing at 19

 

[Eastoff]

View attachment 26424

Somebody skipping leg day?

 

[Orion Bailey]

Somebody skipping leg day?

So. Im all about Simon’s in the gym and its great!!!
Defense usually comes from the waist down though. Strong legs to move quicker side to side and keep up with your guy.
I agree. Id rather see him doing leg strengthening workouts and defensive skills workouts.

 

[dviss1]

Somebody skipping leg day?

Not with Damian "every 30 foot jumper I make is because of leg day" Lillard as a mentor.

 

[BonesJones]

So. Im all about Simon’s in the gym and its great!!!
Defense usually comes from the waist down though. Strong legs to move quicker side to side and keep up with your guy.
I agree. Id rather see him doing leg strengthening workouts and defensive skills workouts.

Strength doesnt mean more lateral quickness.

 

[HailBlazers]

That's at least 20 pounds of muscle.

 

[illmatic99]

That's at least 20 pounds of muscle.

Thanks for the assessment, Mike Barrett.

 

[HailBlazers]

Thanks for the assessment, Mike Barrett.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Strength doesnt mean more lateral quickness.

Certainly doesnt mean slower lateral quickness. Picking semantics again bro. Point being he should be strengthening his bottom half. Not his top half. My opinion.

 

[dviss1]

Certainly doesnt mean slower lateral quickness. Picking semantics again bro. Point being he should be strengthening his bottom half. Not his top half. My opinion.

I liked you post, but you did just insinuate that:

Strong legs to move quicker side to side and keep up with your guy.

I think he needs to get those legs stronger so he can shoot.