Portland Trail Blazers: 5 goals for Meyers Leonard in 2017-18

5. Shoot 55 percent on 2-pointers

Meyers Leonard shot 87.5 percent from the free throw line and 34.7 percent on 3-pointers in 2016-17. However, the source of his 38.6 field goal percentage came when he took shots inside the perimeter. Leonard’s 2-point production fell off of a cliff in 2016-17. He shot 43.6 percent, a 9.1 percent drop from the previous season.

Specifically, it came on mid-range jumpers. According to Basketball-Reference, Leonard shot 70.6 percent within three feet of the rim. By contrast, he shot 36.6 percent on 2-pointers from three feet and out. That was a 15.6 percent drop from the previous season.

A big man with a good shooting touch is great for stretching the floor. So it’s nice that Leonard is able to shoot at about league average (35.8 percent) from three. However, it’s also important to be able to shoot from closer in. Considering he was healthy for most of the season, it’s hard to tell what caused him to struggle from mid-range.

However, it will be important for him to get back to his old self. Doing so will allow him to become an offensive weapon that can stretch the floor. It can also leave defenders guessing if he’ll fade or roll in screening situations.