Blazers: 5 goals for Jake Layman to achieve in his contract season

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BOSTON, MA – FEBRUARY 04: Jake Layman #10 of the Portland Trail Blazers warms up before the game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on February 4, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /

Shooting confidence

Nearly every game Layman gets playing time in, the outcome is already decided. He comes off the bench cold to run around for a few minutes while the Blazers lead or trail by a significant margin.

With the game not on the line, he should be hoisting up shots left and right to show that his three-point shooting is worthy of rotation minutes. However, Layman plays passively off the ball and doesn’t take advantage of his limited opportunity.

In his first two NBA seasons, he attempted 12.0 shots per 36 minutes. Other wings who rely on catch-and-shoot threes, like Trevor Ariza and Robert Covington, shoot around 11 shots per 36 minutes, but they play alongside their respective starting units.

Like in Summer League, Layman should shoot with less hesitation when Portland’s other end-of-the-bench players join him.

Besides improving his off-ball movement to generate open looks, Layman also needs to exhibit more confidence once he has the ball in his hands. Last season, he didn’t shoot any three-pointers with a defender closer than four feet to him.

Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum don’t attract enough attention to consistently provide the wings with that wide open of threes. When Layman plays with the bench unit, he needs to feel comfortable attempting shots with a contesting defender, as he did in Summer League.