peachbucket wrote:ManualRam wrote:just because you see leonard do something once or twice in a span of a number of games does not make it a part of his regular arsenal, skill set or considered a strength in his game. meyers has only shown flashes, duncan at the same stage was a master.
no, those stats dont compare favorably. there is a pretty big gap there.
What part of my description of Meyers skill set that I mention above do you consider to be an exaggeration or not a strength of his game because of sample size? Length, athleticism, touch, hands, passing or basketball iq? These are traits that I recognized in his game the first 10 minutes I ever saw him play, let alone the near dozen games that I have watched him since that he has continued to show these over and over.
Also, which stats don't compare favorably? I hope your adjusting for the 7.2 extra minutes per game that Duncan averaged...Duncans only distinct edge is rebounding (about 2 rebounds/40 minutes) and shot blocking where Duncan is a block per 40 minutes higher. Again, I think this discrepancy is mostly due to lack of lower body strength which Duncan already possessed as a sophomore...but Duncan also wasn't still growing (literally) when he came to wake. Anyway, for me it doesn't take too much imagination to imagine Leonard with an additional 20 lbs of muscle (that I think we can both agree is a fairly trivial exercise considering his frame) and increased lower body strength and the impact that it will have on his game...
Also, the similarity between the two goes beyond their physical attributes. It think they are both highly intelligent and have a very similar demeanor on the court.
I stand by the comparison, if you have a better one I would like to hear it.
There are gradations to every skill level. Its not about if youve seen this player do this or that, its about how proficient they are in that area. For example, just because leonard flashes an ability to turn and shoot over his right shoulder does not mean he is proficient at it. Just because hes shown an ability to pass out of the post does not make his the same level of passer than TD was at the stage.
Like as has already been said in this thread, if youre just comparing physical characteristics, there're plenty of guys who have fit TDs description. Athletically i dont think theyre similar. Meyers is springier, less fluid and more of a gatherer than TD. What i mean by gatherer is that when he catches the ball or before he explodes, he has to power up before he explodes, which allows that extra second for the defense to recover. TD was much less reliant on his jumping ability, he kept the ball high (which meyers struggles to do) and had numerous quick releases around the rim.
Although he can make plays out of the post and flashes some heady play, he also shows his lack of experience in the post. like in yesterday's game, how to counter getting fronted in the post (like walking his man up the lane or holding his position and waiting for the ball reversal so his teammates can either high/low pass or attack the weakside). I mentioned another example earlier, the weakside doubles off the fronted post would not be as effective if he just kept the ball high and hit the weakside. Instead, he'd catch the ball, bring it down to power up and subsequently got stripped or effectively doubled by the help defender. Although he is a good decision maker, he's not a quick decision maker like TD was, which goes back to my original point of gradations of skill.
I could go on but i wont. As for the stats, i dont think theyre comparable. Yes TD played more minutes, but meyers could play as many minutes if he was as good as TD at the same stage. Its not like the illini arent reliant on meyers and its not like they have a competent back up C who's deserving of minutes. Meyers currently doesnt have the stamina, ability to play mistake free ball or defensive awareness to avoid foul trouble, to play that many minutes. The fact that TD was able to play that many minutes, while being the dominant paint/rim protector that he was, is a testament to his defensive awareness, ability and intelligence...which happens to be another huge difference b/t the 2.
As for the comparison, a springier pau works for me as does the more athletic roy hibbert comparison. Meyers is tough to compare, i just dont see the TD comparison unless like i said in a previous post, if you strip TD's game down to its bare essentials with no regard to the level (or grade) of skill.