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

By Nate Mann

Portland Trail Blazers Meyers Leonard (Photo by Cassy Athena/Getty Images)
Portland Trail Blazers Meyers Leonard (Photo by Cassy Athena/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 05: Julius Randle #30 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks against Meyers Leonard #11 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half of a basketball game at Staples Center on March 5, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 05: Julius Randle #30 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks against Meyers Leonard #11 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half of a basketball game at Staples Center on March 5, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

Improve rim protection

In his second and final season at Illinois, Leonard averaged 1.9 blocks in 31.8 minutes per game. His per-36 block averages from any of his six NBA seasons haven’t come within 0.7 of that sophomore mark.

Want more? In 254 minutes played last year, Leonard failed to block a single shot. At 7 feet 1 inch tall with a max vertical of 32.5 inches, he can reach 11 feet 8.5 inches in the air, but can’t block a single shot in over five full games worth of minutes.

It doesn’t stop there. Opponents shot 61.2% within five feet of the hoop against him last season; Lillard held his opponents in that range to 54.5% shooting.

All in all, Leonard needs to improve his rim protection, especially as the team’s potential reserve center in the upcoming campaign. Leonard’s verticality should make this improvement attainable, and it might be his best bet at ousting Caleb Swanigan for the spot.

Feasible averages for him in 2018-2019 are:

  • Opponents shoot under 55% from within five feet against him
  • Record over 1.5 blocks per-36 minutes