Blazers: 5 goals for Meyers Leonard to achieve in the 2018-2019 season

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Portland, USA – October 3: Portland Trail Blazers forward-center Meyers Leonard (11) looks to pass the ball during the preseason game against the Phoenix Suns in Portland, Ore., United States, on October 2, 2017. (Photo by Alex Milan Tracy/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) /

Rolling after setting a screen

This has always been the primary criticism of Leonard in his time with Portland – it stems from his avoidance of physicality.

He’ll set a solid screen thanks to a 7-foot 1-inch, 245-pound frame, and fade out to the three-point line. If the ball handler finds him open on the perimeter, Leonard hesitates to shoot the three allowing a defender to collapse, forcing him to pass it away and wasting a possession.

In 2015-2016, the season he played the most minutes per game, only 26.3% of his three-pointers had a defender within six feet. Despite the minimal attempts, Leonard shot below 20% in the attempts with a defender that close.

This lack of confidence, plus a new frontcourt teammate who also stretches the floor in Collins, means the six-year center needs to roll on his screens to help the offense operate in pick-and-roll scenarios.

The Blazers will miss Davis’ physicality down low, and only Leonard has the size and strength to replicate it. However, Stotts needs to drill the rolling aspect of a pick-and-roll into his head. If he fades to the perimeter and joins Collins there, no one will be in the paint and ball handler will get swarmed on any penetration attempt.