One impressive feature of the high praise comparison that Shaq made of Meyers Leonard and Arvydas Sabonis is the percentage shooting that stands out on the Basketball Reference site. Meyers has made 87.5% of his 3 pt shots in this 2015 playoff series! And he is 73.3% for FG shooting, and shows about 14 rebounds/36 min. Has there been better playoff series shooting by any Blazer in history (who has taken at least 5 shots)? With that level of success, do you think that Dr. Jack would have Meyers in the game >40 min, and ask him to take at least 16 shots in Game 5? Wouldn't we see Meyers scoring 30 points or more?
He's shooting well because he has something half the rest of the roster doesn't: good shot selection. It's very likely his efficiency dips if you force him to take more shots. But then again, Meyers isn't the type of player to shoot step in twos, fadeaway threes, pull ups in the face of Marc Gasol, etc. It would be nice for him to shoot a bit more, even if not all of his shots are pristine looks, but I'm okay with what he's doing so far. Another unheralded part of Meyers's game is his passing. He's great at hitting cutters, open shooters, and finding guys open. He's also solid in terms of just moving the ball around. It pains me so much when the ball has to run through RoLo on a play, but he ends up holding it for 8 seconds because of ball pressure. You never seem to have that issue with Meyers.
You're high again. His % is great because he gets awesome looks from his team, takes great shots, and isn't scouted by the other team nearly as much as the starters.
Yes, Meyers has the luxury (and the wisdom) of only taking shots he has a very high confidence of making. I like his decision-making. Plus: The dude is a really really good shooter!
No Dr. Jack wouldn't want to do anything to take a player out of his comfort zone that played so well the game before. No coach, or basketball mind would... That's the other teams job... Why make their job easier? Let Nards do what he does. Also Nards played 35:01 in game 4. I'd be on board with you if he gets minimal time tonight. But i doubt that'll happen.
This is the big thing. Push the pace and attack after every rebound every made shot ect. Smash into the paint before the Grizz can set their D and if CJ or Lillard or whoever has the ball sees there is no lane to the basket kick it back out for ab open three
EVER!!! I said it before the series even started, all of MEM's bigs (Zach, Gasol and Koufas) are slow footed plodders. Aldridge and Leonard are gazelles compared to those guys, but it's not even about our bigs beating their bigs down the court. It's our guards that need to beat their bigs up the floor. Lillard and C.J. have both shown that as long as Marc Gasol isn't camped under the rim, they can get to the basket and score with ease. So do it, and do it often. Turn this into a track meet. Sure, MEM will still walk it up and try to slow things down, but that shouldn't stop us from pushing the tempo when we have the ball. With Afflalo back, Nic, C.J., Dame, Frazier, etc. we have plenty of guys who can bring the ball up the court. Forget the rigid substitutions, EVERYONE in the game should be busting their ass up the court on EVERY possession. When they get tired, get fresh legs in the game immediately so we can keep pushing the pace. We started the series deeper up front than MEM and with Conley out, we're also deeper at guard. Let's use that depth and our superior team speed to our advantage. Scoring on MEM when you allow their defense to get set is damn difficult. They are the best half court defensive team in the league, but beat them down the floor before they get set and scoring becomes infinitely easier. BNM
Need to get defensive stops to effectively push the ball. I demand defensive stops! Courtney lee/Udrih/The other white PG have to have a game off eventually right? Why not tonight.
