What is Meyers Leonard capable of?

[illmatic99]

Remember the jump the diva made from his first to second year? When we were all anticipating Oden's debut in summer league, and Aldridge stole the show? At age 22, he went from 9pts/5rebs a game to 18pts/8rebs a game as the clear #2 on the team next to Roy.

Is it too much to ask Leonard to drop more than 15 a game? He will be 23 to start the season in October, and last April, he averaged 9 and 8 in just 22 mpg. As a starter in 7 games, he put up 13 and 6 in just 26 minutes. Sure his defense will probably suck, but I hope we just let this kid show what he can do in 35 mpg.

(BTW, we won 41 games that year with BRoy and LA in 07-08)

 

[illmatic99]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPEsbANlPeo

www.youtube.com/watch?v=60F1bUz-Mts

www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4raeyJJAL8

www.youtube.com/watch?v=PluwqGW6w5Q

 

[B-Roy]

14/10 on good shooting next year. I can see him averaging more points, but he doesn't really take many bad shots.

He rebounds well though and he'll make a ton of mistakes. A definite growth year for him and MIP candidate.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Meyers is 23 (and will be 24 in February). Thus, the entirety of your post is invalid.

 

[magnifier661]

Leonard looks stronger than Aldridge did when he was 22. I just don't think Leonard has that posting ability or unblockable shot like Aldridge has.

I think he will shoot more efficiently than Aldridge actually but don't think he can create his own shot like Aldridge could. Although, he was mainly the pick and pop player for Roy back then.

 

[illmatic99]

Meyers is 23 (and will be 24 in February). Thus, the entirety of your post is invalid.

Sigh. OK

 

[Sinobas]

14/10 on good shooting next year. I can see him averaging more points, but he doesn't really take many bad shots.

He rebounds well though and he'll make a ton of mistakes. A definite growth year for him and MIP candidate.

He already did that last year per 36. His shooting is off the charges 51/42/94. His problem is that he doesn't shoot enough, he puts up shots at half the rate as LA did.

 

[illmatic99]

14/10 on good shooting next year. I can see him averaging more points, but he doesn't really take many bad shots.

He rebounds well though and he'll make a ton of mistakes. A definite growth year for him and MIP candidate.

Biggest thing I want is to let him play through the mistakes. I'd rather he play 35 mpg than split the PF mins between him and Davis.

 

[TBpup]

Leonard looks stronger than Aldridge did when he was 22. I just don't think Leonard has that posting ability or unblockable shot like Aldridge has.

I think he will shoot more efficiently than Aldridge actually but don't think he can create his own shot like Aldridge could. Although, he was mainly the pick and pop player for Roy back then.

A couple things Meyers has going for him. He is much more athletic, already has a better handle in the ability to put the ball on the floor and is a decent passer. He is also a better outside shooter with nice touch around the basket but no post-up game to speak of. This is his year to double production for sure.

 

[magnifier661]

A couple things Meyers has going for him. He is much more athletic, already has a better handle in the ability to put the ball on the floor and is a decent passer. He is also a better outside shooter with nice touch around the basket but no post-up game to speak of. This is his year to double production for sure.

It would be really nice to see him excell to a status where Blazer fans say "Aldridge who?"

 

[Blazer4ever]

Peyton Siva

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

An athletic Mehmet Okur.

I think his game will revolve around his outside shooting.

 

[B-Roy]

I agree, I don't think Meyers will be able to create shots for himself the same way Aldridge could.

BUT, there are two things that Meyers does better than Aldridge:

1. Put the ball on the floor
2. Passing, Meyers has great vision for a big man

He could be a much more complete player instead of just an offensive tank. A less defensive Noah that can shoot the three.

 

[B-Roy]

An athletic Mehmet Okur.

I think his game will revolve around his outside shooting.

Meyers is already a better rebounder than Okur ever was.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

What is he capable of? Perhaps the better question is, "What isn't he capable of?"

 

[magnifier661]

I agree, I don't think Meyers will be able to create shots for himself the same way Aldridge could.

BUT, there are two things that Meyers does better than Aldridge:

1. Put the ball on the floor
2. Passing, Meyers has great vision for a big man

He could be a much more complete player instead of just an offensive tank. A less defensive Noah that can shoot the three.

I would say he's better at screening and help defense (gasp did I say that?!?!)

 

[magnifier661]

What is he capable of? Perhaps the better question is, "What isn't he capable of?"

Leaving his team for nothing?

 

[illmatic99]

What is he capable of? Perhaps the better question is, "What isn't he capable of?"

Doubt you can run an offense through him. He's got great touch around the hoop, but still needs to develop his post game. I doubt he will draw double teams.

 

[B-Roy]

I would say he's better at screening and help defense (gasp did I say that?!?!)

Eh...if there's one thing I'm down on Meyers for (and I'm REALLY HIGH on Meyers), it's his help defense, which is woeful.

At least Aldridge slapped a lot of balls away. Meyers tends to foul guys a lot when he tries to go for the block.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Doubt you can run an offense through him. He's got great touch around the hoop, but still needs to develop his post game. I doubt he will draw double teams.

How dare you doubt The Living Legend! You will pay...

 

[Blazer4ever]

Doesn't know how to play around the rim, on offense or defense.

 

[rasheedfan2005]

I look for him to do a lot of conditioning and slowly add some big man skills. His biggest problem in playoffs was he was going so hard he was completely gassed. It was refreshing to watch a guy leave it all on the floor and give it his all. Love the way he sky's for quick rebounds. Condition to run and step up the pace. Get it so he can go hard for 8-10 minutes at a time. Instead of 3-5.

A lot of times he was running on pure rose garden induced adrenalin, I fucking loved it.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Interested to see what he does when defenses scheme for him

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Let's kill all those that he holds dear and find out!

 

[Chris Craig]

2K15 capable? jk...anyway I think this guy can give us 20/10 nights....he'll probably average, 16-18/10. He has the defense Aldridge didn't, and without Aldridge and Rolo's presence he is going to break out...beast mode time

 

[magnifier661]

Interested to see what he does when defenses scheme for him

Me as well. That will be the sure sign of readiness. If this cat is actually performing at an efficient level, even being the third or 4th option, we got a damn good player on our hands

 

[HailBlazers]

Biggest thing I want is to let him play through the mistakes. I'd rather he play 35 mpg than split the PF mins between him and Davis.

Yea he'll finally get that chance this year. Hell I think he could play next to Davis.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Interested to see what he does when defenses scheme for him

Memphis did a good job scheming for him, but centers aren't great at running out on shooters at the edges. It's not their game. I would expect to see a lot of switching the guard onto Leonard and making him handle a little guy. I'm not super-confident he can handle that yet.

But here's the silver lining: as long as he eventually learns to handle defensive schemes in a year or two, what happens this year and possibly next year doesn't matter as much. Let him fail until he succeeds.

 

[illmatic99]

We need to bring in a coach who can teach our big guys to set strong picks.

A Dame/Leonard pick and roll, or pick and pop is just deadly. The fact that he can do both well makes him a major weapon. Throw in Davis crashing the hoop for O-boards, and add some shooters on the wings, and that spacing would make our offense unstoppable.

Defense is another story, but that will come.

 

[B-Roy]

Memphis did a good job scheming for him, but centers aren't great at running out on shooters at the edges. It's not their game. I would expect to see a lot of switching the guard onto Leonard and making him handle a little guy. I'm not super-confident he can handle that yet.

But here's the silver lining: as long as he eventually learns to handle defensive schemes in a year or two, what happens this year and possibly next year doesn't matter as much. Let him fail until he succeeds.

This.

A little guy is unlikely to bother his shot much, but he's going to have to start learning how to play inside at some point. Running a lot of failed Meyers post ups should be fine honestly. Maybe Chris teaches him a thing or two.