Though Meyers Leonard has been better than in years past, his indecision on both offense and defense are hurting the Portland Trail Blazers.
Rooting for Meyers Leonard is like riding a roller coaster. He gives you so much to be excited for; the ups of his tremendous shooting, his seven-foot size, his ability to capitalize on opportune dunks. But there’s just as many frightening downs, too; his lack of rebounding, his inability to keep guards in front of him, very little semblance of a post game. Still, although Leonard has his pros and cons, he has had one of his best seasons for the Portland Trail Blazers this year.
Currently averaging 5.6 points, four rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game, these are all his highest totals in three years. He is also draining his patented flame balls from deep at an impeccable rate of 45.6%. Where he was unplayable last year and was eventually taken out of the rotation, Leonard figures to be a consistent minutes-getter in the regular season.
However, because he is gaining some consistency in his role as a floor-spacing big man again, that means there’s now room to demand more (we will never be satisfied). My demand is simple, but it’s one that I think would pay major dividends: play more confidently.
Admittedly, this sounds like the most popular kid at school advising someone to “just be cooler.” But Leonard has shown a hesitancy when shooting the three-ball and indecisiveness when guarding the pick-and-roll.
With his impressive three-point percentage and reputation as a shooter, Leonard has proven that he is not the type of deadeye to drill shots in a close-out’s face – or, at least, he doesn’t have the confidence to do this. All too often, Leonard will too deliberately check his surroundings to ensure he is open to launch a three. Occasionally he’ll get cold feet and swing the ball back out so the Blazers offense has to find an open shot all over again, or to a more contested shot on the other wing.
Leonard’s averaging about two three-point attempts per game, which, when compared to other seasons in a per-36-minute context is right around where he’s always been. With only 13 minutes each night, it will be difficult for Leonard to reach a true title of “volume shooter,” but if he displayed the same confidence that someone like Jake Layman has in letting his three-ball fly when he feels he has space, then Leonard may begin connecting on more shots per game.
Taking more threes, even when they aren’t 100% completely open, will help Leonard establish a rhythm sooner and keep the offense moving more naturally rather than stopping and starting.
Defensively, Leonard will never be a plus-guy. He lacks the lateral quickness and type of aggressiveness that makes one an impact player on that end of the floor. However, his length should still provide him an ability to contribute as a rim-defender.
Right now though, opponents are shooting six percent better than their average field goal percentage when Leonard defends them within six feet of the rim. There’s a multitude of reasons and situations that would lead Leonard’s defensive field goal percentage to be so disappointing, but I want to point to his indecision when guarding the rolling man on pick-and-rolls.
Once his guard has been picked by his opponent, Leonard will continue giving up ground to the dribbler, all while backing up in no-man’s land, providing little pressure to the ball-handler and an easy angle for the roller. For the most part, he seems more decorative than defensive.
Perhaps, this is happening because the Blazers opt for a drop-big defense. They want their big to continue dropping with the offensive player until they put up a shot, so that there’s always a hand in their face. The only problem is, this hand-in-the-face becomes less practical when guards can give a floater just a few feet away from the basket or drop it to their rolling man because Leonard continues backing up.
He is not choosing either player to defend. He is on an island in between.
While he isn’t getting embarrassed and blown by, he is doing little to stop opponents on defense, and I think could’ve been a culprit of the bench’s squandering leads quickly against heavy pick-and-roll teams (Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies).
Everyone knows Leonard has the talent to be a sharpshooter in the league, and he clearly has the length to defend at the rim. Now, maybe he just needs to convince himself.