PORTLAND — Before the Portland Trail Blazers embarked on a four-game road trip, some questions still remained about the play of their starting lineup.
Those questions proved to be moot, as head coach Terry Stotts has confirmed that he will continue bringing Meyers Leonard off the bench, according to multiple reports.
Even after three rough starts this week, Portland’s starting lineup with Noah Vonleh in place of Leonard has outscored their opponents by 2.6 points per 100 possessions, which is just marginally better than the starting lineup with Leonard.
The Leonard or Vonleh question has basically been a wash. And Vonleh has had more flashes of brilliance playing alongside better players in the starting unit.
The questions have also overshadowed something that has become increasingly apparent: Opposing team’s second units have trouble against the combination of Leonard and Ed Davis coming off the bench.
Statistically, there is no argument that this combination has been anything but positive for the Blazers.
In 171 minutes, the Blazers have outscored opponents when the Leonard-Davis duo play, by 4 points per 100 possessions according to NBA.com.
And personally, the two guys are really starting to enjoy their time together on the court, as they’ve learned what one can do for the other.
“It’s been awesome,” Leonard said. “I’ve been messing with Ed and I said, ‘I hate it when I miss shots but every time I miss it you’re right there for the rebound.’ I think this second unit and everyone in general is figuring things out.”
One of Davis’ best assets is his energy, in particular on the offensive glass. Few in the NBA have a knack for his own team’s misses like he does, ranked fourth in the NBA in individual offensive rebound percentage according to Basketball-Reference.
Leonard’s offensive skills — particularly his scoring — is sometimes squandered at the start of games.
Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum and even Al-Farouq Aminu all rank ahead of him in the pecking order.
Leonard has made things easier for Davis to do what he does best.
“I like playing with Meyers, he spaces the floor, he makes things easier on me,” Davis said. “Most teams play a power forward and a center. I have a 1-on-1, man-on-man for an offensive rebound. And it’s easy down there especially when he’s out there spacing the floor, guys so scared of him.”
It would be naive to think that playing against opposing team’s second units hasn’t had anything to do with their success as team’s generally perform worse with fewer starters on the floor. But this duo isn’t just limited to that. It can also be used to finish games as in Saturday’s win at Minnesota.
Davis prides himself on being able to play with anybody.
“I honestly just get in where I fit in,” Davis said. “No matter who I might be out there with. I’m just going to play my role, play hard and bring energy man.”
After Leonard’s injury, Stotts was forced to experiment, but it has put Leonard in a very suitable role as a more featured offensive player on the second unit.
Leonard has scored in double-figures in three straight games and his 3-point shooting percentage is slowly recovering after a brutal start to the season.
But he and Davis haven’t been the only ones to contribute to wins lately. Allen Crabbe has been a scoring machine off the bench and Gerald Henderson has had some nice moments.
“Gerald coming up with energy, veteran presence,” Leonard said. “Allen is knocking down shots and being confident. Just our ability to space the court and understand what each guys is trying to do, it’s been awesome.”
The only disappointment lately has been the amount of wins the Blazers have to show for it.
“It hasn’t shown all the wins I wish and we wish we had,” Leonard said. “I look back at these games man and our record could virtually be flip-flopped. But, you know what, it’s growing pains, it sucks to lose but you learn from that.”
The Blazers are also learning what is working.
Just a game out of the eighth seed in the West, the new found competence off the bench and injuries on teams in the West, could have the Blazers hanging around longer than most thought.
