Swanigan and Ed's replacement

[Rastapopoulos]

...or if we want to go the grizzled veteran route, there's David West.

 

[Natebishop3]

Okay, so I have a question: why is Caleb looking so much worse this SL than last (when he made the all-tournament top five)? Suggestion: after Zach and Pat C. went down in the first SL game (that we lost, right?), the team was re-constructed with Swanigan as the focal point. Add to that the fact that he had a veteran PG who was ready to feed him the ball (Gutierrez) and everything was set up for him to look good. But he still had the same flaws, it was just that (a) he got lots of touches, and (b) he was playing the 5, which he is only slightly too slow for rather than the 4, which he is totally slug-like for.

ALSO: he got a lot of jump shots, which he is pretty good at, rather than all post ups, which he lacks the lift for.

THAT SAID: he actually isn't hurting us as much as you'd think, given the complaints. He's part of the starting line up and that's been dominant. He hustles, gets rebounds, passes unselfishly. When he sets a pick, it's a fucking PICK. It's just that he can't score and he's a turnover machine.

What does this mean for him?
I think he'll be kept (he's got a guaranteed contract) and told: look, you have the Summer to lose a bunch more weight (hey, we know you can do it because you've done it before) and work on moving your feet, or you're a training camp cut.

He's not going to replace Ed Davis. So who is? Presumably the idea is Zach Collins. Well, but he seems a bit fragile, and that leaves us with 2 useable bigs (given that Stotts has just given up on Leonard, probably for good reason).

I had a thought that maybe it could be Tristan Thompson, in a switch of terrible contracts for Evan Turner. But (a) Stotts and Olshey are certainly talking up a big role for Turner this year, and (b) Thompson doesn't just have the whole Kardashian thing, he also regressed horribly last year, the suggestion being he has recurring leg injuries and has lost his lift. If so, we want no part of him. So... who? Who's a mobile big who can switch on guards and set picks and rebound?

Caleb has no excuse this year. Baldwin is a better point guard than Gutierrez. He’s getting looks. He’s getting touches. This team is probably the most big man friendly summer league team I have ever seen, and yet he’s not performing. Not at all. And that’s why we didn’t see him really at all last season. He’s not good.

 

[riverman]

yet he’s not performing. Not at all

He's been a monster rebounder....top ten in summer league....you were expecting Lamarcus Aldridge elbow jumpers? Sure he's got holes in his game but that's not all he does….the dude is a rebounding machine...and we've won all four games he's played in for what it's worth

 

[riverman]

Especially since the so many opposing stretch 4's have no desire, or the skill, to post up.

Layman has never shown me any fear of bangin in the paint..hell he even keeps his eyes open when he's down there

 

[Scalma]

observation...original thought...what does it matter to you where I get my opinions from?...announcers have compared him to Barry all through summer league...you are welcome to your opinion...if you have one. I own my views about Layman...and stand by my comparison...disagree if you like...Layman can play 3 positions..Barry could too...as to arguing about it...waste of time...you can compare Layman to someone that fits your narrative and I won't be saying...where do you get this stuff....I take these posts of yours with a grain of salt dude...get over it...add to a topic for a change instead of playing the detractor of other's views for a change...enough with your disrespectful quoting of my posts wouldn't you say? Just do us the favor of not engaging my take with some watering down response that is aimed at discord...classic crap bait

 

[Hobbesarable]

The light just might come on for Meyers?
If he's still playing summer in LA and getting more comfortable down low against bigs, who know?
I remember it took Illgoskus (?) at least 5 years to develop any inside game.

I see you're still waiting for the magical unicorn to appear. Each to their own I guess.

 

[riverman]

I see you're still waiting for the magical unicorn to appear. Each to their own I guess.

He played way better last season...people who diss him are referencing two season's ago...with Ed he didn't get much court time...now he will

 

[riverman]

View attachment 21566

 

[GriLtCheeZ]

Caleb needs to read:
The Nick Collison Guest Blog, Vol. 4: How To Survive in the NBA When You're Not a Superstar

 

[Natebishop3]

He's been a monster rebounder....top ten in summer league....you were expecting Lamarcus Aldridge elbow jumpers? Sure he's got holes in his game but that's not all he does….the dude is a rebounding machine...and we've won all four games he's played in for what it's worth

Okay.... in a summer league where there aren't many big men and everyone wants to shoot the three. Most of his boards are on the defensive end.

He's averaging 7.5 ppg, He's shooting 27.6% from the field and 28.6% from three.

He's handing out 4 assists per game, but he's also turning the ball over 4 times per game, which is horrible.

Look at these stats and tell me he's playing well

His PER is half what it was last summer. His offensive rating has tanked. His TS% and eFG% are abysmal. And this is contrast of everyone else looking significantly better with Baldwin at the point.

 

[hoopsjock]

“SHUT THE HELL UP NO I CANT DO BETTER.”

When I first glanced at this post I read NO as Neil Olshey and laughed at the thought of Olshey heckling Meyers from the crowd and then Meyers telling him to shut up.

 

[GrandpaBlaze]

Okay.... in a summer league where there aren't many big men and everyone wants to shoot the three. Most of his boards are on the defensive end.

He's averaging 7.5 ppg, He's shooting 27.6% from the field and 28.6% from three.

He's handing out 4 assists per game, but he's also turning the ball over 4 times per game, which is horrible.

His PER is half what it was last summer. His offensive rating has tanked. His TS% and eFG% are abysmal. And this is contrast of everyone else looking significantly better with Baldwin at the point.

So.....what you are saying is that Caleb plays better with a bad PG? Perhaps we should team him with CJ at the point...

 

[riverman]

Leonard intends to work as hard as last summer with Hanlen, focusing on his body and offensive game. He hopes that the coaching staff receives him with an open mind.

My hope is that there will be open minds to who I am as a player when I come back at the end of the summer with the opportunity to earn minutes, a spot in the rotation…”

Sitting on the bench for a majority of the season is difficult for a player with potential. Leonard would do it again to benefit the team, but rather wants to help on the floor.

He explained his improved confidence in the limited time this season. Leonard also spoke about his stats, “I know there was a progression…If I look at all of my numbers compared to the past, I think every statistical category, minus blocks for some reason, were up.”

 

[Scalma]

Leonard intends to work as hard as last summer with Hanlen, focusing on his body and offensive game. He hopes that the coaching staff receives him with an open mind.

My hope is that there will be open minds to who I am as a player when I come back at the end of the summer with the opportunity to earn minutes, a spot in the rotation…”

Sitting on the bench for a majority of the season is difficult for a player with potential. Leonard would do it again to benefit the team, but rather wants to help on the floor.

He explained his improved confidence in the limited time this season. Leonard also spoke about his stats, “I know there was a progression…If I look at all of my numbers compared to the past, I think every statistical category, minus blocks for some reason, were up.”

Which offseason was this written?

 

[riverman]

Which offseason was this written?

article from this summer...read the first line...work as hard with Hanlen as he did last summer

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Which offseason was this written?

All of them

 

[riverman]

All of them

Well he's only known Hanlen through Wes Mathews for a year and a half so I beg to differ

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Well he's only known Hanlen through Wes Mathews for a year and a half so I beg to differ

Tasktalking about the overarching premise, not the specific details, obvs.

 

[Natebishop3]

article from this summer...read the first line...work as hard with Hanlen as he did last summer

Whoosh

 

[BlayZa]

i hate to break this to everyone, but there is no light coming on in meyers.

the position we are in with Ed leaving, is mostly due to the fact we have an overpaid player who should be taking Ed's minutes. at least that was the plan. it was a terrible plan and didnt work.
this is a complete - now or never - with meyers, and the cost of that is not putting more $ into another player to ensure he has no chance ie Ed. If Ed was still on the team, it's pretty clear that meyers cant get past that hurdle and emotionally wont make it.

they HAVE to play him or make room for him or give him the 300th chance because they PAID him. combined with the fact every other team in the league knows he's hopeless and massively overpaid, nobody will take him in a trade.

ed and hit minutes were the sacrifice the team made in the last attempt to make it look like meyers is worth it.

yeah. GL with that.

 

[Scalma]

i hate to break this to everyone, but there is no light coming on in meyers.

the position we are in with Ed leaving, is mostly due to the fact we have an overpaid player who should be taking Ed's minutes. at least that was the plan. it was a terrible plan and didnt work.
this is a complete - now or never - with meyers, and the cost of that is not putting more $ into another player to ensure he has no chance ie Ed. If Ed was still on the team, it's pretty clear that meyers cant get past that hurdle and emotionally wont make it.

they HAVE to play him or make room for him or give him the 300th chance because they PAID him. combined with the fact every other team in the league knows he's hopeless and massively overpaid, nobody will take him in a trade.

ed and hit minutes were the sacrifice the team made in the last attempt to make it look like meyers is worth it.

yeah. GL with that.

Just one more year then buy his ass his out. One more year. One more year.

I actually thought Meyers was a nice guy but lately I’ve changed my mind on that as well. From his interactions with people on social media, to his complete lack of self awareness launching his own clothing brand... dude is a meathead.

 

[BonesJones]

I was checking through the DRPM rankings to see if there were any diamonds in the rough we could target and I noticed this (DRPM is the bold #)

Goes to show something (probably that DRPM is not a very good measure).

A small sample size in garbage time isn't a good measure.

 

[Hobbesarable]

He played way better last season...people who diss him are referencing two season's ago...with Ed he didn't get much court time...now he will

To me, he is the weakest link with his extremely low BBIQ and non-existent instincts as a basketball player.

He will hurt our team if he's given all of Ed's minutes from last season.

 

[riverman]

To me, he is the weakest link with his extremely low BBIQ and non-existent instincts as a basketball player.

He will hurt our team if he's given all of Ed's minutes from last season.

I'm not going to project that this season....don't see any reason to keep up the Meyers doubt until he plays himself out of the rotation....he sucked for several years and last year not so much...we'll see.

 

[Hobbesarable]

I'm not going to project that this season....don't see any reason to keep up the Meyers doubt until he plays himself out of the rotation....he sucked for several years and last year not so much...we'll see.

He played less than 300 minutes all of last season. He's got a hell of a lot to overcome in order to change my opinion about his ability as a basketball player.

 

[riverman]

Why we wouldn't want ET and Meyers to gain value before the trade deadline is sort of baffling...they can both only gain value as trade assets come February worst case scenario

 

[riverman]

He played less than 300 minutes all of last season. He's got a hell of a lot to overcome in order to change my opinion about his ability as a basketball player.

you've got a lot of company....I'm giving the whole team a fresh start ...looking back at failures isn't the path to success. we'll see

 

[riverman]

Okay.... in a summer league where there aren't many big men and everyone wants to shoot the three. Most of his boards are on the defensive end.

He's averaging 7.5 ppg, He's shooting 27.6% from the field and 28.6% from three.

He's handing out 4 assists per game, but he's also turning the ball over 4 times per game, which is horrible.

Look at these stats and tell me he's playing well

His PER is half what it was last summer. His offensive rating has tanked. His TS% and eFG% are abysmal. And this is contrast of everyone else looking significantly better with Baldwin at the point.

He's had a shaky start...my post was to point out he has produced something in summer league...rebounds...you said he'd produced nothing....everybody knows he's struggled to shoot in the series so far

 

[riverman]

Whoosh

yeah.....that's sort of the culture about Biggie from detractors...so be it..he rebounds well..it's a skill...you can counter with...but, but....he didn't do this or this or this....sure..we all know that but there's something to like if you take off the blinders for a 3rd string sophmore

 

[riverman]

Tasktalking about the overarching premise, not the specific details, obvs.

I addressed the detail that Meyers has not worked offseason with a coach for his tenure here...obvs....to gauge any progress he's made last summer and this summer is not going to belay the fact that he sucked for the 4 previous seasons....credit where credit is due...people just hate the guy, along with Olshey, Stotts, on and on....for several seasons fans have said Layman, Connaghton, Crabbe, Barton or even early CJ were trash....some guys are slow learners....Chauncey Billups was considered a sub par player for the early part of his career too...I think it's just sort of a need amongst the fan base to have that scape goat at any cost.