Why is Meyers struggling?

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I said the other day that if Meyers Leanard didn't have his shot he'd be a garbage player. And that's putting it nice.
 
And I'll also say that he'll be out of the NBA in 5 years, then go on to win a bronze medal in Olympic 2 man sand volleyball.
 
I said that Damian drinks like a fish. And that's being nice.

Wait, I didn't say that.
 
TBpup said:
He's playing almost exclusively PF so he is being guarded by a more mobile player. Often time, other teams will switch defensively and put a SF or even a G on him so he has no time to get his shot off. He is shooting or trying to shoot much more quickly than last season. You can tell it was a point of emphasis to get his shot off sooner without such the long wind up. Between those things, his percentages have gone down significantly.
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Starting a player at forward who's as tall as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won't work unless the player is tops at all PF skills, not just one, shooting, the least needed skill at PF. This is why thousands of years ago, someone invented the word "gimmick." As Honest Abe (I voted against him) said, you can fool all the league for your rookie year, and you can fool some of the league for 3 games in the playoffs, but you can't fool the whole league for your whole career.

TBpup said:
Also, everything is at the arc. The Blazers don't run a single play on the block anymore so everything starts where Meyers shoots from. The guards may penetrate but if they've beaten their man off the dribble, they shoot. If not, they pass out mostly to the wing. The big men start at the top which is where all the defenders were and it takes a 2nd pass to get the ball back to them from the wing and the Blazers just aren't rotating the ball very quickly yet.
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As I said in the game thread last night, Lillard passed to Leonard in that situation at least twice that I saw. Both times, Leonard wasn't ready for the pass. He's an aircraft carrier when he tries to turn to receive then shoot. He wasn't aware of what Lillard was doing only 8 feet from him anyway, but even if he had been, when he realized he was getting a pass he couldn't turn to receive it and caused a turnover possession both times.

The guy is a center, and he'll have to learn how to be a center, even if it takes him 10 years. Maybe he should jump to the Spurs so he'll get a real coach who yells and demands and doesn't put up with the Aldridges who won't play their natural position.
 
jlprk said:
Starting a player at forward who's as tall as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won't work unless the player is tops at all PF skills, not just one, shooting, the least needed skill at PF. This is why thousands of years ago, someone invented the word "gimmick." As Honest Abe (I voted against him) said, you can fool all the league for your rookie year, and you can fool some of the league for 3 games in the playoffs, but you can't fool the whole league for your whole career.



As I said in the game thread last night, Lillard passed to Leonard in that situation at least twice that I saw. Both times, Leonard wasn't ready for the pass. He's an aircraft carrier when he tries to turn to receive then shoot. He wasn't aware of what Lillard was doing only 8 feet from him anyway, but even if he had been, when he realized he was getting a pass he couldn't turn to receive it and caused a turnover possession both times.

The guy is a center, and he'll have to learn how to be a center, even if it takes him 10 years. Maybe he should jump to the Spurs so he'll get a real coach who yells and demands and doesn't put up with the Aldridges who won't play their natural position.
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these comments say it all! Myers cannot ply PF, if he plays it needs to be as a C, the experiment is a failure
 
They need to use him more in pick and pops. I'm not too concerned with his slow start. A couple nice games and everyone will be riding his jock again. Kinda figured thats how this season would go.
 
He's playing against first stringers this season.

Maybe Stotts has the team working on defense too much.
 
Ah, the old Batum/Aldridge unannounced injury until everyone complains how shitty he's playing technique. Then suddenly, the injury that's supposedly been around for awhile is announced.

Every player has some little pain at any time of the season that they can call upon when necessary as an excuse.
 
I think Meyers is getting beat in training camp and practice by bigs who take it to him..Cliff Alexander probably took the wind out of Meyers sails right after the San Diego trip...we now have a lot of bigs who want the starters job he's inherited
 
jlprk said:
Ah, the old Batum/Aldridge unannounced injury until everyone complains how shitty he's playing technique. Then suddenly, the injury that's supposedly been around for awhile is announced.

Every player has some little pain at any time of the season that they can call upon when necessary as an excuse.
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I thought it happened just last game when he started grabbing his hand.
 
Porzingis seems to doing fine at PF at 7'3.

His handle is something to behold at age 20 and height.
 
Leonard's defense away from the basket isn't ideal, but I've seen a lot of good defensive plays from him closer to the basket, sometimes making the play himself, and other times making a good defensive play that leads to a teammate getting the steal, or block, or forcing the missed shot. I've been pleasantly surprised by that aspect of his game.

Other than that, all he's supposed to do is make shots and spread the floor. His threes are all too long, hitting the back of the rim. That's nerves. He's on the big stage, and he's pressing. His shot will come back. The best way to do that is to keep having him shoot those foul line shots in the flow, then move him back to the three point line when his rhythm and confidence are back (aka: he's not overthinking his shot).
 
Because scouting works. Because LaMarcus, Wes, and Nic are gone. Because being a fourth or fifth option on offense is much easier than being a second or third option.
 
yuyuza1 said:
Porzingis seems to doing fine at PF at 7'3.

His handle is something to behold at age 20 and height.
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He's shooting .370 and just .167 from 3pt (7 of his 9 FGA are 3pt).
 
Yeah I thought he hurt his hand, etc. But if they tried to change his mechanics, well fuck that's probably the reason.
 
Small sample size. If this is still this case heading into the second month of the season, we can revisit it.
 
I think it's all mental, trying to step into a bigger role and lead guys who may be better than he his at basketball..the point is that unless you are Ray Allen or Steph Curry, the 3 pt shot is a streaky go to move for any basketball player..unless you're Pete Marovic or Mark Price, it's going to be there some nights and not there others. Meyers is growing up and we get to watch him do that.
 
Before reading through the thread I thought I'd voice my opinion. Meyers is struggling because he's a C, not a PF. But Stotts defines his players by the player that preceded them:

Dirk >>> LMA
LMA >>> Meyers
Lopez >>> Plumlee
Nic >>> Aminu
Dame >>> CJ

Meyers should be playing as a high-post Center, picking/popping with Dame/CJ. As he starts to rebuild confidence in his jump shot he can then start faking the shot and putting the ball on the floor, using his above-average dribbling and passing to create scoring opportunities closer to the hoop. He should also be guarding the opposing C - he's much better at guarding Cs than PFs.

Stotts done fucked up by playing Meyers at PF along with Plumlee. Meyers needs to be moved to C, and put Davis at PF, and bring Plumlee off the bench. That's not a slight against Plumlee - I really like what he brings to the table. But for this roster, and what we want to do this season (develop key players, like Meyers), it makes much more sense to start Meyers/Davis and bring Plumlee off the bench (with CJ once Henderson is back).
 
TBpup said:
Also, everything is at the arc. The Blazers don't run a single play on the block anymore so everything starts where Meyers shoots from. The guards may penetrate but if they've beaten their man off the dribble, they shoot. If not, they pass out mostly to the wing. The big men start at the top which is where all the defenders were and it takes a 2nd pass to get the ball back to them from the wing and the Blazers just aren't rotating the ball very quickly yet.
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I don't think this is any different than last season. The only perimeter shot that originated from the block was a corner 3 - and those were for Nic/Wes, not Meyers. Otherwise all of those LMA pick/pops were initiated above the arc.
 
Okay, read through the thread. A common theme seems to be that the majority of us see Meyers as a C rather than a PF. So, who else wants to join @Strenuus on my Stotts Hate Train? :)
 
If he really does have an injured hand that is affecting his shooting, why the hell is he playing? All he's doing is hurting the team.
 
TBpup said:
He's playing almost exclusively PF so he is being guarded by a more mobile player. Often time, other teams will switch defensively and put a SF or even a G on him so he has no time to get his shot off. He is shooting or trying to shoot much more quickly than last season. You can tell it was a point of emphasis to get his shot off sooner without such the long wind up. Between those things, his percentages have gone down significantly.

Also, everything is at the arc. The Blazers don't run a single play on the block anymore so everything starts where Meyers shoots from. The guards may penetrate but if they've beaten their man off the dribble, they shoot. If not, they pass out mostly to the wing. The big men start at the top which is where all the defenders were and it takes a 2nd pass to get the ball back to them from the wing and the Blazers just aren't rotating the ball very quickly yet.
Click to expand...

I was about to make this exact point while watching the Suns game at the Rose Garden... it was almost EVERY time... I think I saw 2 post up plays... but both times they looked like secondary plays rather than called plays. This is going to be a huge problem down the road if not rectified... and is a clear indication that, without LMA, Stotts think it's mid-range and further only, unless you're CJ or Dame.
 
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