Meyers Leonard's added routine paying off

Meyers sounding...mature. I think his voice finally changed.

http://www.csnnw.com/blazers/meyers-leonards-added-routine-paying

Have we witnessed the transition from Leonard being a "project" to becoming a serviceable NBA player? Look, at 7'1", for him to have that kind of shooting range and athletic ability is just freakish. Even his biggest detractors saw the potential of this kid, and IMO, he's only still scratching the surface. If during this upcoming offseason he can bulk up about 15 pounds of muscle and work on a lowpost game, I think that he could become an above-average NBA Center.

chris_in_pdx said:

Have we witnessed the transition from Leonard being a "project" to becoming a serviceable NBA player? Look, at 7'1", for him to have that kind of shooting range and athletic ability is just freakish. Even his biggest detractors saw the potential of this kid, and IMO, he's only still scratching the surface. If during this upcoming offseason he can bulk up about 15 pounds of muscle and work on a lowpost game, I think that he could become an above-average NBA Center.

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I agree

if he makes 5 of his next 7 shots, and next 3 FTs, he'll be in the 50/40/90 club. :MARIS61:

He still has a long way to go, but is making steady progress. When we drafted him, I said it would be 3 - 4 years until he was a solid rotation player. He may get there, yet. I have never been disappointed in Meyers, because my expectations have always been realistic and remain so.

Personally, I don't care if he is a center, or a stretch 4, as long as he is productive and contributing, Stotts will figure out how to use him. With Rolo, Kaman and Freeland on the roster, we don't need Leonard to be a center right now. Ideally, he can get some minutes as a back up stretch 4 for the next two years and eventually, after Kaman leaves, develop more of an inside presence on both ends. If he could play both positions, it will eventually help the team and help his career. For now, I'll just be happy if he can play one position and do it fairly well.

BNM

if you change "fairly well" to "not-like-a-dumpster-fire", I totally agree. And I think he's there.

Boob-No-More said:

He still has a long way to go, but is making steady progress. When we drafted him, I said it would be 3 - 4 years until he was a solid rotation player. He may get there, yet. I have never been disappointed in Meyers, because my expectations have always been realistic and remain so.

Personally, I don't care if he is a center, or a stretch 4, as long as he is productive and contributing, Stotts will figure out how to use him. With Rolo, Kaman and Freeland on the roster, we don't need Leonard to be a center right now. Ideally, he can get some minutes as a back up stretch 4 for the next two years and eventually, after Kaman leaves, develop more of an inside presence on both ends. If he could play both positions, it will eventually help the team and help his career. For now, I'll just be happy if he can play one position and do it fairly well.

BNM

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Exactly this! All I ask is for his head to be in the game. When that time comes, he could play SG for all I care, just as long as he's giving us positive results!

chris_in_pdx said:

Have we witnessed the transition from Leonard being a "project" to becoming a serviceable NBA player? Look, at 7'1", for him to have that kind of shooting range and athletic ability is just freakish. Even his biggest detractors saw the potential of this kid, and IMO, he's only still scratching the surface. If during this upcoming offseason he can bulk up about 15 pounds of muscle and work on a lowpost game, I think that he could become an above-average NBA Center.

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That muscle needs to be in his lower body. He works on his guns enough,

Why don't you all think of it this way. Before last season everyone thought he was a total bust. Before this season most still thought he was a total bust. Now he has a thread here saying a number of positive things about him. This is way more progress than most all expected. The kid will be just fine and because they picked up his option he will most certainly have another year to prove what he can do in a Blazer uniform.

chris_in_pdx said:

Have we witnessed the transition from Leonard being a "project" to becoming a serviceable NBA player? Look, at 7'1", for him to have that kind of shooting range and athletic ability is just freakish. Even his biggest detractors saw the potential of this kid, and IMO, he's only still scratching the surface. If during this upcoming offseason he can bulk up about 15 pounds of muscle and work on a lowpost game, I think that he could become an above-average NBA Center.

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He's not a center and he won't ever be able to become one. Could he become a rotational deep shooting big man? Sure, maybe a Matt Bonner type of player. That could add value to a team and his shooting was very helpful against the Lakers.

Eastoff said:

That muscle needs to be in his lower body. He works on his guns enough,

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That was my thought reading that piece: "I hope he's spending most of his weight room time on strengthening that base."

Don't skip leg day.

Meyers has had performances like this before and has shown no ability to string together games of good play.

I'll believe it when I see it.

RipCity71252 said:

Meyers has had performances like this before and has shown no ability to string together games of good play.

I'll believe it when I see it.

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I don't know...he's only had 19 or more minutes in 4 games since his rookie year...
12/12 last night on 4-5 shooting (3-4 from 3)
13/4 against HOU (5-11 shooting, 3-7 from 3)
7/12 against BKN (3-7 shooting, 1-3 from 3)
8/10 last year v. CHA (4-7 shooting, 0-2 from 3)

When he's earned more than 19 minutes in a game since his rookie year, he averages 10/9 on 54% shooting (7-16 from 3). Now, chicken or egg? He gets more minutes b/c he's playing well that day? Or if he got more minutes he'd do better?

BrianFromWA said:

I don't know...he's only had 19 or more minutes in 4 games since his rookie year...
12/12 last night on 4-5 shooting (3-4 from 3)
13/4 against HOU (5-11 shooting, 3-7 from 3)
7/12 against BKN (3-7 shooting, 1-3 from 3)
8/10 last year v. CHA (4-7 shooting, 0-2 from 3)

When he's earned more than 19 minutes in a game since his rookie year, he averages 10/9 on 54% shooting (7-16 from 3). Now, chicken or egg? He gets more minutes b/c he's playing well that day? Or if he got more minutes he'd do better?

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I believe that he got those minutes because he was playing well on that particular day. I think there's a reason he has only played more than 19 minutes 4 times in 3 years.

But we'll see. It's not like I'm rooting against the guy, I just haven't seen an extended period of good play from him.

RipCity71252 said:

I believe that he got those minutes because he was playing well on that particular day. I think there's a reason he has only played more than 19 minutes 4 times in 3 years.

But we'll see. It's not like I'm rooting against the guy, I just haven't seen an extended period of good play from him.

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Like he said "Chicken or the egg" to each his own.

BrianFromWA said:

I don't know...he's only had 19 or more minutes in 4 games since his rookie year...
12/12 last night on 4-5 shooting (3-4 from 3)
13/4 against HOU (5-11 shooting, 3-7 from 3)
7/12 against BKN (3-7 shooting, 1-3 from 3)
8/10 last year v. CHA (4-7 shooting, 0-2 from 3)

When he's earned more than 19 minutes in a game since his rookie year, he averages 10/9 on 54% shooting (7-16 from 3). Now, chicken or egg? He gets more minutes b/c he's playing well that day? Or if he got more minutes he'd do better?

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Really doesn't capture his lack of defense and rim protection. I can't understand how a guy that tall and long completely fails on blocking shots. But he is young I suppose and everyone says big men take a while to develop. I was in the camp that was willing to waive him last year -- now, I'm okay with him sticking along on the roster for another year.

I'm also totally okay with Stotts' handling of his PT.

He fails on blocking shots because he lacks any instinct for it and he's still hesitant in making contact. He's improving but I doubt he'll ever be a viable center. Stretch 4 sure

I think part of his problem is that he doesn't know how to "own" the space. He's reacting to the player and trying to use his athleticism instead of making the player react to him. You don't need to try to block every shot, just dictate the direction the player is going and make it a tougher shot, and the blocks will come organically.

I recall reading that Meyers played PG (through high school?) until he hit a growth spurt. I think that explains why he doesn't have the instincts of a Center. But the kid is clearly determined to make it in the league, and given his work ethic and the progress we've seen to this point, I think he'll stick. While he's a long way off from being a C, I wouldn't be surprised if he eventually developed the ability to play the position. But it'll be a long process. I'm perfectly happy letting him develop from the outside in, as a stretch-big. With Freeland we saw the ability to learn rim-protection in a single off-season. There's no reason Meyers can't learn how to go straight up, and I expect that within the next couple years we'll see it happen.
I didn't expect this to be the case, but I have more long-term hope for Meyers than I do CJ.

Also, IF he does learn the C fundamentals imagine how good he could be. He already has the basic understanding and skill set of a PG. Combine that with the skill set of a C and you've got a very versatile and dangerous C!

blue9 said:

I didn't expect this to be the case, but I have more long-term hope for Meyers than I do CJ.

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Agree there. I would even put Crabbe ahead of CJ. I would have no problem trading CJ. He played 4 years in college, I don't see the upside with him. He's not a good shooter, at all.

I was also about to bring up the "late growth spurt" thing, but it doesn't seem to affected Anthony Davis much.

Scalma said:

Agree there. I would even put Crabbe ahead of CJ. I would have no problem trading CJ. He played 4 years in college, I don't see the upside with him. He's not a good shooter, at all.

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He's 44% from 3...not at all?

He played 4 years in the Patriot League. He scored against guys from Navy. He's not even 60 games into his pro career. >700 minutes.

I think we're getting a bit too impatient. And anecdotally, he's not scared of taking a shot, he shows decent handles, and can do many of the things (spot up, come off picks, drive and stop-and-pop) that SGs should be able to do. Again, 59 games into playing against pro-caliber athletes for the first time in his life.

BrianFromWA said:

He's 44% from 3...not at all?

He played 4 years in the Patriot League. He scored against guys from Navy. He's not even 60 games into his pro career. >700 minutes.

I think we're getting a bit too impatient. And anecdotally, he's not scared of taking a shot, he shows decent handles, and can do many of the things (spot up, come off picks, drive and stop-and-pop) that SGs should be able to do. Again, 59 games into playing against pro-caliber athletes for the first time in his life.

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Couldn't agree more. CJ knows how to play and is worth the wait.

Meyers may never overcome his lack of instinct. He may become a Bonner type guy but only if he learns to not give back the points he just scored by making a defensive mistake. Bonner isn't afraid of contact either. Eventually, 7'1" isn't going to mean much if he doesn't toughen up.

BrianFromWA said:

He's 44% from 3...not at all?

He played 4 years in the Patriot League. He scored against guys from Navy. He's not even 60 games into his pro career. >700 minutes.

I think we're getting a bit too impatient. And anecdotally, he's not scared of taking a shot, he shows decent handles, and can do many of the things (spot up, come off picks, drive and stop-and-pop) that SGs should be able to do. Again, 59 games into playing against pro-caliber athletes for the first time in his life.

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I'm not saying he doesn't have skills - I just don't think they're going to translate well enough to the NBA game...for a winning team. But I DO think he could average 20ppg on a losing team.
I don't see a role for him on our team. A lot of that has to do with the fact that he's a tweener, and I generally dislike tweeners. But beyond that, he doesn't fit any of our needs and isn't nearly as polished or game ready as a 4-year player, on a contender/pretender, should be.

I like Meyers. I think he'll develop into a productive NBA player. It may take time, but you just don't find 7-1 guys that are that athletic. I also think he's a good locker room guy. He brings levity to the team.

On a different team, one needing a stretch 4 and one where the star pf hasent stated repeatedly that he likes playing alongside a banger, meyers might be able to get a consistent roll and succeed daily.

This is just a very tough team for meyers to stick on and succeed. But I like him, and hope he manages continued growth.

illmatic99 said:

Really doesn't capture his lack of defense and rim protection. I can't understand how a guy that tall and long completely fails on blocking shots. But he is young I suppose and everyone says big men take a while to develop. I was in the camp that was willing to waive him last year -- now, I'm okay with him sticking along on the roster for another year.

I'm also totally okay with Stotts' handling of his PT.

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Quoting myself from the Lakers game thread (and agreeing with blue9):

"I'm more concerned about him being in proper defensive position and going straight up than blocking shots. The blocked shots will come later. It's obvious Leonard has been working on it - trying to learn what Freeland learned last season. Leonard and Freeland were rookies together, and in spite of being 5 years older and having 6 years of experience playing professionally in Europe, Freeland looked every but as lost as Leonard as rookies. Then Freeland worked hard in the off season to improve his defensive fundamentals. Last year, Freeland became very good at getting good defensive position and going straight up and became a solid NBA backup big man. Now that he has the positioning down, Freeland is challenging and blocking more shots (from 0.8 to 1.1 to 1.3 BLK/36). The younger, less experienced Leonard is learning the same lessons Freeland learned, but is a year or two behind."

At this point, if he tried to block more shots, he'd just rack up more fouls. Let him learn fundamental defensive rotations, positioning, and going straight up. Once he has those things down, he can get more aggressive at attempting to block shots. At 7'1" with good leaping ability, going straight up is enough to alter a lot of shots, even if he doesn't block them.

Freeland has proven to be a solid, Nick Collison type, contributor. He's 5 years older with a lot more professional experience than Leonard, but he's also a couple inches shorter, less athletic and not nearly as skilled offensively. Right now, Joel gets minutes because of his defense and Meyers gets minute because of his offense. If Leonard can become a solid, if unspectacular defender, he'd be a great asset capable of more than replacing Kaman a couple years down the road. And who knows, if he continues to work hard and develop, 5 or 6 years from now, he may even replace Aldridge as our starting PF. Hey, a guy can dream...

BNM