Summer League Game Two: Blazers vs Lakers

Missed the game, but I have to say the game thread was very entertaining.

 

I like that they are going against better competition. How can that not be beneficial?

 

Thoughts on Meyers Leonard:

He definitely looks more alert on defense. It's obvious the coaching staff has been preaching defense with him and obviously he knows it as well. Is he better though? That....is kind of hard to say. The main problem I see is that he tries to jump and block everyone that comes to the rim, particularly driving guards. What ends up happening is that he leaves his feet, the guard passes to Meyer's man, who has an open layup/dunk. Bleh. He's still got a lot of work to go.

On offense, it's really funny/awkward watching a guy of his size/athleticism throw up bunnies and tiny push shots. I think the natural reaction most people have to a 7 footer of his ability shooting push shots is of disgust. But you know what? He was 6/9 for 12 points. In other words, he gets it done. It may not look pretty, but he scores at a decent rate and on pretty good percentages. I know offense isn't a focus for him right now so the fact that he's still effective despite his obvious misuse of his talents is a positive thing. I look forward to seeing how he progresses. He's still a work in progress, but there is some improvement.

As for rebounding though....GRAB THE DAMN ball. His first instinct is to bat any ball that comes flying towards him, usually to the other team.

 

on the whole, the thread was more entertaining than the game.

 

I guess it's fine. It's just that the Laker roster was full of experienced players who are in their mid-to-late 20s, while the Blazers were mainly playing youngsters. You're right on the competition level, though. Nothing wrong with it, but it just seems like some teams like the Lakers are signing a bunch of borderline veterans to play against some rookies. The odd thing is that Josh Selby, last year's co-MVP with Lillard, barely played for the Lakers today. Maybe he's too young?

 

* McCollum has some real NBA skill, not most athletic, but his change of pace will translate well.

*I like what little we have seen of Crabbe - hope he gets more aggressive/involved

*Unfortunately Freeland just isn't an NBA player

*Meyers Leonard is looking lost and is frustrating to watch 'attempt' to play center.

 

Leonard is still like 4 years away. Just shoot the threes. At least we can have some value of possibly spreading the floor

 

What does Leonard do that Channing Frye didn't do better?

I really would cut both Leonard and Freeland and offer a contract to this guy.

 

There is this pesky thing called cap space...

and I'm not surprised at all that is some no-name from the Greek League that you advocate signing.

 

When you live in a country where a grown man can chase down a young boy
(WHO STOOD HIS GROUND) and after the child defends himself and starts getting
the best of the man it's ok to kill the boy. In the same state, a black woman, who has
a restraining order against the man who beat her, (STANDS HER GROUND) fires a warning
shot in the air and hurts no one GETS 20 YEARS.....

It will never be funny...

 

Technically he took 9 shots and only 1 was a three.

 

Hopefully as Leonard matures physically into his man physique - his brain matures along with it. (hoping for some semblance of BBIQ)

At the very least he'll be a physical beast in a year or two with his adult physique.
Hopefully he can develop some IQ to drive that NBA body properly.

 

Btw, I say mosgov at the Wynn and he looked tall; but skinny.

 

Oh ffs...

Read the actual testimony and statements. Ignorance is a horrible thing. Stand your ground had nothing to do with the Martin tragedy.

 

Repped! Truth be told.

 

Because its summer league and he is trying to work on driving the ball?

 

I think Robinson has the tools to become pretty capable at driving the ball to the basket

Like everything else in his offensive game, though, it's pretty ugly right now.

 

Play basketball.

 

He has a better handle than I anticipated, though. My worry is that he's a SF without a shot who is supposed to play PF.

Basically, the Tweener I thought he was going into last year's draft. He has trouble finishing at the rim, so he needs to learn to be patient and use his body to score. His rebounding is already decent, though.

 

I thought TRob said he was going to focus on the things he was good at? (ie. Rebounding, beast down low)