Yep, we saw it in the late season make-up game in Brooklyn when Stotts decided to give away HCA by leaving Aldridge, Batum and Kaman back in Portland. In that game BRK went small and put Thad Young on Meyers. Meyers posted up on the block, called for the ball and repeatedly abused the much shorter Young with a combination of low post moves. It's the most aggressive and most polished I've seen him look in the low post. Meyers, with his unique combination of size, athleticism, disciplined shot selection and accurate 3-point shooting, creates a damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don't mismatch challenge for opposing coaches. We saw what happened when MEM put Marc Gasol on Meyers in the play-offs. Gasol refused to come out on him and Meyers knocked down 10 of 13 3-pointers. Go small ball to cover the perimeter, and he can abuse a smaller defender, like Thad Young in the low post. Remember when certain posters (Hi Mags!) went absolutely ape shit when Meyers made an off-the-cuff remark at the end of an interview about working on his 3-point shot during the off season? Well, that work has paid off and created a unique player who will only continue to improve. Plus, it's fun to cheer for a likeable, hard working kid that so many (you know who you are) had written off way, way too early. Some were calling him a bust on draft night. Some waited until after his second season. Some wanted to outright waive the guy. Glad to see sentiment has turned. BNM
Yeah, he doesn't have that "enforcer" vibe. Dirk Nowitzki used to sing "Mr. Jones" by Counting Crows to himself while shooting free throws in games. Now tell me you can't imagine Leonard doing that.
Okur is the guy I think of as well. Not that they have the exact same game, but to the OP point, how do you defend it? It changes the other team's normal game plan to the point where they have to put a long wing in the game to cover a 7 footer 24 feet from the basket. But as pointed out the game is changing and it is not as much of a rarity anymore. (Same reason I am not concerned with playing CJ at SG. as guards are getting smaller/quicker too) But against teams like Utah where they want both Gobert and Favors in the game at the same time, I assume it took them out of their comfort zone. As pointed out Meyers is a good passer, and that opens up other options.
Personally, I think Biebs closest comparator is Brad Lohaus. Lohaus, like Biebs, would bank mad $$ if he were in today's NBA.
This is Meyers Leonard..I pegged him as this guy long ago and it's the best comparison Tom Chambers is who Meyers reminds me of more than anybody
Because it was originally given to him as a joke, it is a name that is impossible to live up to, and gives way too much ammunition to fans to make fun of when he has a bad night.
Not a perfect comparison either.... But of course you probably can't find one. I go with Okur as well but Leonard being more athletic.
I call him "Meyers Damage" because he gets hit accidentally every game and on the other hand he always give opponents an elbow to the face and then he denies he even touched anyone + he punishes you if you leave him open from 3.
I'm becoming more of a Belieber in his passing game. He had a couple of really nice passes in that last game. Maybe he has always had it, but just lacked opportunity.
I think I have read that he played point guard in HS. Now I dont expect to see a Sabos like no look one handed, behind the back pass to a cutter, but he does have nice fundamentally sound passing skills.
