Comments on: John Henson vs. Meyers Leonard: The battle for the direction of the Pistons http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/06/john-henson-vs-meyers-leonard-the-battle-for-the-direction-of-the-pistons/ Your Go-To Source For Pistons Coverage Sun, 19 May 2013 00:43:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: MarkButter http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/06/john-henson-vs-meyers-leonard-the-battle-for-the-direction-of-the-pistons/comment-page-1/#comment-74634 MarkButter Thu, 28 Jun 2012 20:14:50 +0000 http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/06/john-henson-vs-meyers-leonard-the-battle-for-the-direction-of-the-pistons/#comment-74634 I take Leonard.  Even though Henson's father as someone suggested is 6'9", 240, and lets say he's pushing 40, does anyone really believe that he's got at least 10lbs of fat?  having never seen him, don't want to inuslt the guy, but even at 230 isn't a great sell for "Henson can add weight." Meyers may not have averaged a double/double, 14/8 in 32 minutes for a not so very good Illini team. . . . Andre Drummond was 10/8 in 28, though he had more options (Lamb). I take Leonard.  Even though Henson’s father as someone suggested is 6’9″, 240, and lets say he’s pushing 40, does anyone really believe that he’s got at least 10lbs of fat?  having never seen him, don’t want to inuslt the guy, but even at 230 isn’t a great sell for “Henson can add weight.”
Meyers may not have averaged a double/double, 14/8 in 32 minutes for a not so very good Illini team. . . . Andre Drummond was 10/8 in 28, though he had more options (Lamb).

]]> By: gerdz http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/06/john-henson-vs-meyers-leonard-the-battle-for-the-direction-of-the-pistons/comment-page-1/#comment-74102 gerdz Tue, 26 Jun 2012 12:21:04 +0000 http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/06/john-henson-vs-meyers-leonard-the-battle-for-the-direction-of-the-pistons/#comment-74102 agreed with you rick. Leonard's game doesn't scream of Pistons basketball! He is soft and has no any defensive instincts at all. He appears lost on defense too often. agreed with you rick. Leonard’s game doesn’t scream of Pistons basketball! He is soft and has no any defensive instincts at all. He appears lost on defense too often.

]]> By: MarkS http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/06/john-henson-vs-meyers-leonard-the-battle-for-the-direction-of-the-pistons/comment-page-1/#comment-74017 MarkS Tue, 26 Jun 2012 00:52:38 +0000 http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/06/john-henson-vs-meyers-leonard-the-battle-for-the-direction-of-the-pistons/#comment-74017 Rick you make good points but i dont see how you can praise Drummond as a big time prospect and write off Leonard completely.  I don't think the two are that far apart in terms of upside.  Both these guys will be taken in the lottery for the same reason and that is for their upside.  Both were inconsistent.  Both have above average athleticism for their size, although Drummond is more freakish.  But both showed glimpses.  I watched Leonard play against Cody Zeller and Indiana and he looked great.  Of course the very next game vs UM and their 4 guard offense it was almost as if he didn't exist.  But both players were guilty of this all year.  I will agree the Leonard-Bynum comparison is insane.  Best case, if we draft him I hope he can provide the same energy/defense/size that Tyson Chandler can give you.   Bottom line is if Drummond falls somehow we should take him and hope for the best.  But if hes not there, Leonard wouldn't be a bad fallback.  Both are players with upside, athleticism and risk.  But either player could provide what the Pistons need, a big defensive presence in the middle allowing Monroe to slide over to the 4 down the road Rick you make good points but i dont see how you can praise Drummond as a big time prospect and write off Leonard completely.  I don’t think the two are that far apart in terms of upside.  Both these guys will be taken in the lottery for the same reason and that is for their upside.  Both were inconsistent.  Both have above average athleticism for their size, although Drummond is more freakish.  But both showed glimpses.  I watched Leonard play against Cody Zeller and Indiana and he looked great.  Of course the very next game vs UM and their 4 guard offense it was almost as if he didn’t exist.  But both players were guilty of this all year.  I will agree the Leonard-Bynum comparison is insane.  Best case, if we draft him I hope he can provide the same energy/defense/size that Tyson Chandler can give you.  

Bottom line is if Drummond falls somehow we should take him and hope for the best.  But if hes not there, Leonard wouldn’t be a bad fallback.  Both are players with upside, athleticism and risk.  But either player could provide what the Pistons need, a big defensive presence in the middle allowing Monroe to slide over to the 4 down the road

]]> By: koz http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/06/john-henson-vs-meyers-leonard-the-battle-for-the-direction-of-the-pistons/comment-page-1/#comment-73982 koz Mon, 25 Jun 2012 22:19:17 +0000 http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/06/john-henson-vs-meyers-leonard-the-battle-for-the-direction-of-the-pistons/#comment-73982 Dumars will pick henson because of what darko did to his mind. Dumars will pick henson because of what darko did to his mind.

]]> By: rick http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/06/john-henson-vs-meyers-leonard-the-battle-for-the-direction-of-the-pistons/comment-page-1/#comment-73978 rick Mon, 25 Jun 2012 21:42:36 +0000 http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/06/john-henson-vs-meyers-leonard-the-battle-for-the-direction-of-the-pistons/#comment-73978 Yeah but tell me what Perkins provided and Ill tell you how overrated having a shot blocker is. Cmon man it doesnt take a blind man to see that Perk didnt provide the same as he did with Boston because he was the last option in Boston but they also had a Pg who distrubted and gave him a bone from time to time, but he was never counted on. Fast forward to OKC and you can see in that series against Heat it was obvious the bigs could'nt score and I doubt we would have that same problem with Henson next to Monroe. The could feed off one another. I want a team that can run but be efficent in a half court set. I think Henson can blen in perfectly in both scenarios whearas with Monroe and Leonard we will be slow and not very good defensively. Ultimately Defense wins championships and having a player who can come in and contribute towards establishing a defensive identity will help more so down the road. In the end I hope we get Drummond because he is only 18 and has some time to grow. At least you have a trading chip if not anything else. Yeah but tell me what Perkins provided and Ill tell you how overrated having a shot blocker is. Cmon man it doesnt take a blind man to see that Perk didnt provide the same as he did with Boston because he was the last option in Boston but they also had a Pg who distrubted and gave him a bone from time to time, but he was never counted on. Fast forward to OKC and you can see in that series against Heat it was obvious the bigs could’nt score and I doubt we would have that same problem with Henson next to Monroe. The could feed off one another. I want a team that can run but be efficent in a half court set. I think Henson can blen in perfectly in both scenarios whearas with Monroe and Leonard we will be slow and not very good defensively. Ultimately Defense wins championships and having a player who can come in and contribute towards establishing a defensive identity will help more so down the road. In the end I hope we get Drummond because he is only 18 and has some time to grow. At least you have a trading chip if not anything else.

]]> By: vic http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/06/john-henson-vs-meyers-leonard-the-battle-for-the-direction-of-the-pistons/comment-page-1/#comment-73976 vic Mon, 25 Jun 2012 21:30:34 +0000 http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/06/john-henson-vs-meyers-leonard-the-battle-for-the-direction-of-the-pistons/#comment-73976 info on drummond from article linked above: When looking at Big East stats for freshman players who played in the NBA, been drafted, or are prospects in this or next year’s draft, the results have not been overwhelming even for the best and most hyped prep prospects. The other big conferences have had big men find wild success right away in college, but the Big East has been able to neutralize them. Greg Monroe and DeJuan Blair can be looked at as freshman success stories, relatively speaking. Monroe averaged 12.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.9 turnovers, 2.0 steals, 1.2 blocks, and 2.6 fouls per Big East game in 2008-09. DeJuan Blair averaged 11.8 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 2.3 turnovers, 1.2 steals, 0.7 blocks, and 3.3 fouls the year before. Statistically, Drummond’s much maligned freshman season is in their company with 10.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 1.6 turnovers, 0.8 steals, 2.6 blocks, and 2.0 fouls. So Drummond is a bust? but he compares well to other freshman bigs that have found success in the nba, plus had more double doubles than Emeka Okafor? All this while getting a concussion and wearing a mask for a month, losing his coach for a month, his pg getting suspended, in the same year he was supposed to be in h.s., and joined the team late? Yeah if he drops sign us up with no remorse. info on drummond from article linked above:

When looking at Big East stats for freshman players who played in the NBA, been drafted, or are prospects in this or next year’s draft, the results have not been overwhelming even for the best and most hyped prep prospects. The other big conferences have had big men find wild success right away in college, but the Big East has been able to neutralize them.

Greg Monroe and DeJuan Blair can be looked at as freshman success stories, relatively speaking.
Monroe averaged 12.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.9 turnovers, 2.0 steals, 1.2 blocks, and 2.6 fouls per Big East game in 2008-09.
DeJuan Blair averaged 11.8 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 2.3 turnovers, 1.2 steals, 0.7 blocks, and 3.3 fouls the year before.

Statistically, Drummond’s much maligned freshman season is in their company with 10.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 1.6 turnovers, 0.8 steals, 2.6 blocks, and 2.0 fouls.

So Drummond is a bust? but he compares well to other freshman bigs that have found success in the nba, plus had more double doubles than Emeka Okafor?
All this while getting a concussion and wearing a mask for a month, losing his coach for a month, his pg getting suspended, in the same year he was supposed to be in h.s., and joined the team late?

Yeah if he drops sign us up with no remorse.

]]> By: Chris http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/06/john-henson-vs-meyers-leonard-the-battle-for-the-direction-of-the-pistons/comment-page-1/#comment-73974 Chris Mon, 25 Jun 2012 21:25:46 +0000 http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/06/john-henson-vs-meyers-leonard-the-battle-for-the-direction-of-the-pistons/#comment-73974 We need to just trade down, neither of these guys are worth a top 10 pick We need to just trade down, neither of these guys are worth a top 10 pick

]]> By: vic http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/06/john-henson-vs-meyers-leonard-the-battle-for-the-direction-of-the-pistons/comment-page-1/#comment-73973 vic Mon, 25 Jun 2012 21:22:20 +0000 http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/06/john-henson-vs-meyers-leonard-the-battle-for-the-direction-of-the-pistons/#comment-73973 this is a very good insight. There was a nice stat-filled AND logical look at this at this link: <a href="http://www.nbadraft.net/2012-draft-study-results" rel="nofollow">http://www.nbadraft.net/2012-draft-study-results</a> in the midway point of the article, they compare how a defense improves after adding a Coach, versus how a defense improves after adding a "shot blocker": Coaching works a lot better. and Lawrence Frank has one of the biggest year to year defensive improvements in the nba.  So yeah i'd trust Lawrence Frank to work with two near 7 footers to defend the paint more than I'd trust Arnie Kander to put 30 pounds on John Henson. I still think Henson will be a great player, but I think adding a shot blocker is overrated as to its overall effect. Its good to have, but  OKC had the best shotblocker in the League but by the end of the finals KD was saying "the heat's defense is great." and the heat's best shotblocker was DWade. The only way I regret taking Leonard over Henson is if Henson becomes strong enough to defend centers. The article linked above also had some info about how Drummond compares to other freshman bigs in the big east. this is a very good insight.

There was a nice stat-filled AND logical look at this at this link:
http://www.nbadraft.net/2012-draft-study-results

in the midway point of the article, they compare how a defense improves after adding a Coach, versus how a defense improves after adding a “shot blocker”:

Coaching works a lot better. and Lawrence Frank has one of the biggest year to year defensive improvements in the nba. 

So yeah i’d trust Lawrence Frank to work with two near 7 footers to defend the paint more than I’d trust Arnie Kander to put 30 pounds on John Henson.

I still think Henson will be a great player, but I think adding a shot blocker is overrated as to its overall effect. Its good to have, but  OKC had the best shotblocker in the League but by the end of the finals KD was saying “the heat’s defense is great.” and the heat’s best shotblocker was DWade. The only way I regret taking Leonard over Henson is if Henson becomes strong enough to defend centers.

The article linked above also had some info about how Drummond compares to other freshman bigs in the big east.

]]> By: rick http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/06/john-henson-vs-meyers-leonard-the-battle-for-the-direction-of-the-pistons/comment-page-1/#comment-73968 rick Mon, 25 Jun 2012 20:49:17 +0000 http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/06/john-henson-vs-meyers-leonard-the-battle-for-the-direction-of-the-pistons/#comment-73968  Oops.Please dont use the guards jacking up shots as a reason why he didnt get to showcase his skills.  Oops.Please dont use the guards jacking up shots as a reason why he didnt get to showcase his skills.

]]> By: rick http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/06/john-henson-vs-meyers-leonard-the-battle-for-the-direction-of-the-pistons/comment-page-1/#comment-73967 rick Mon, 25 Jun 2012 20:46:22 +0000 http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/06/john-henson-vs-meyers-leonard-the-battle-for-the-direction-of-the-pistons/#comment-73967 Yeah ok. I'm glad you saw enough of him at Illinois to make that very peculiar assessment. He will in no way,shape, or form emulate Bynum. You can book it. The height thing is killing me if for no reason other than him not even being the best big in the Big Ten. Cody Zeller was better than him and I would not be mad if Detroit had a chance to pick him. He actually has game and would be great with Detroit. It's just he chose to go back to school. This kid is the same as Henson, three years away. Will Monroe and company stick around for him to develop? Putting a lot faith in height along with forecasting the future. I'd rather have a defender who knows his role as soon as he steps on the court. Not someone everyone is banking on. Joe D does not have time like that to be wasting on a project. Folks need to stop linking future draft picks to old ones when we compare. Austin Daye is not John Henson and the comparison is awful because they play two different positions. Last time I checked Tayshaun and his skinny frame had a pretty solid run for the Pistons when they were winning. Oh how people forget. Daye was suppose to be a poor mans Rashard Lewis/ Kevin Durant. He's just not hungry enough and doesnt get it. I do not know if you can say the same for Henson, as he is a defender first and foremost. Why not draft the defender and go grab someone like Daniel Orton is a free agent in Orlando? He is still relatively young, and has a big body. Im not all for Myers Leonard because I saw him play and he looked nowhere near intense. Please dont tell me about his team the guards we jacking up shots as reason why he didnt get to showcase his skills. He just is not the player in my opinion everyone thinks he will be. If so he would be getting drafted in the top 3, hell if hes that good number 1. The truth is he is'nt and his body of work does not scream Deeeeeetroooooooit Basketball ! Yeah ok. I’m glad you saw enough of him at Illinois to make that very peculiar assessment. He will in no way,shape, or form emulate Bynum. You can book it. The height thing is killing me if for no reason other than him not even being the best big in the Big Ten. Cody Zeller was better than him and I would not be mad if Detroit had a chance to pick him. He actually has game and would be great with Detroit. It’s just he chose to go back to school. This kid is the same as Henson, three years away. Will Monroe and company stick around for him to develop? Putting a lot faith in height along with forecasting the future. I’d rather have a defender who knows his role as soon as he steps on the court. Not someone everyone is banking on. Joe D does not have time like that to be wasting on a project. Folks need to stop linking future draft picks to old ones when we compare. Austin Daye is not John Henson and the comparison is awful because they play two different positions. Last time I checked Tayshaun and his skinny frame had a pretty solid run for the Pistons when they were winning. Oh how people forget. Daye was suppose to be a poor mans Rashard Lewis/ Kevin Durant. He’s just not hungry enough and doesnt get it. I do not know if you can say the same for Henson, as he is a defender first and foremost. Why not draft the defender and go grab someone like Daniel Orton is a free agent in Orlando? He is still relatively young, and has a big body. Im not all for Myers Leonard because I saw him play and he looked nowhere near intense. Please dont tell me about his team the guards we jacking up shots as reason why he didnt get to showcase his skills. He just is not the player in my opinion everyone thinks he will be. If so he would be getting drafted in the top 3, hell if hes that good number 1. The truth is he is’nt and his body of work does not scream Deeeeeetroooooooit Basketball !

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