Robinson hasn't done a lot this year to cement his role as a bench player. I'm pretty happy to see Stotts address this fact by throwing Leonard back in the mix. And frankly Leonard did pretty well last night. Not fantasitic. But I'm glad the coach is willing to show that if you aren't carrying your weight your job is up for grabs.
I expected that last sentence to say 'defense', not 'offense'. But since it's 'according to Stotts', I shouldn't be surprised.
I just want the Kid to rebound. With maturity I think the rest of his game will come. He's big enough, and strong enough to get it done, but his lack of court awarness is alarming! Every time Portland would play Freeland and Leonard together against the Pelicans, New Orleans would go on a momentum changing run because of the 2nd chance points they were getting. Thomas Robinson also lacks serious basketball IQ at this point in his career, but dude rebounds the basketball. He should continue to get Meyer's minutes until Leonard can improve.
Hmm, are you sure? They played together for the first 5 minutes of the 2nd quarter, during which time NO outscored Portland 13-11, getting exactly two second chance points (Davis free throws at 7:30 left in the 2nd). Then they played together for 5 1/2 minutes to start the 4th quarter, during which time Portland outscored the Hornets 16-13. There were four second chance points there, at the beginning of the quarter, interspersed between 8 Blazers points. Oh, and during that 4th quarter stretch, when NO admittedly got several offensive rebounds, Leonard got three rebounds of his own, scored, and blocked a shot. What did Freeland do? Nothing. So no, though it's the common storyline, Leonard's rebounding was not particularly problematic during his last game. As mentioned several times, he got 4 boards in 10 minutes, which is an excellent ratio. Freeland was actually responsible for some of the offensive rebounds that NO did get, as much if not moreso than Leonard.
He can do both. If he's jacking up 3s, he can easily be the first one back on defense. I'm not sure how shooting threes makes you a bad defender.
That's easy to explain. Most the time you shoot threes, your man has the best opportunity to run out. While you are up in the air, they can go towards the basket. If they get a defensive board, because you are a center and aren't in position to rebound, you can't get back on defense. Dunk for opposing center It's basketball 101
It's Christmas Eve and I have music on. Yea, lo Meyers. Meyers, Meyers, oh Meyers. Meyers the lion. The lionlike. The lithe leonine. Pray for the cub. The claws to grow. Oh Meyers, one more year. One more. You will save Israel. Yes you will, yes you will. Ohh wahooooo wahoooo wahooooooooooo (repeat 99 times)
