Rookie Leuer can help Milwaukee
If a 91-86 defeat to Denver was any indication, Milwaukee’s collection of inefficient scorers and defense-only cast-offs are destined to yet again be an instant channel-change-team by League Pass owners across the country. A team that ranked dead last in offensive efficiency behind a depleted, D-League filled, 19-win Cavs team will do that to a fan. Head coach Scott Skiles, known for his defense-first (and second, and third) approach, could find his Bucks on the outside looking in come playoff time if he doesn’t find a way to make the offense rise from the depths of their basket-making futility.
It’s pretty much a given that Skiles isn’t going turn his valuable practice time offense-only endeavors, so the only option seemingly left for the Bucks is to cross their fingers and hope Andrew Bogut or Brandon Jennings make “the leap” to a number one scoring option. While that outcome would certainly make fans in Milwaukee happy, it’s not only unlikely, but perhaps not the only thing that can save their offense.
The Bucks may not need a player to become a superstar scorer overnight. A series of minor improvements could make their offensive production move from “horrendously awful” to the much more palatable “not terrible”. Then to make the playoffs, they just have to let their defense do the rest.
One of those is small tweaks could be playing rookie Jon Leuer more. Leuer, an unheralded second round pick, has been incredibly efficient through his first four games and definitely seems like he has a solid future in this league. Despite limited time, Leuer is showing the Bucks he could provide what they thought they were getting when they threw their mid-level exception at the well-traveled Drew Gooden two summers ago; a four man that could pair well with the block-based Bogut.
Despite the Bucks using him as a back-up center at points this season, Leuer has still been able to showcase his high skill level. However, just because he possesses a smooth jumpshot doesn’t mean it’s accurate to slap the label of “face-up four” on him. In fact, the most impressive part of Leuer’s brief offensive displays has been his post-ups. Here is an example from last night:
Let’s look at what that play shows us about Leuer. The first thing to notice is that when he moves to screen down for Stephan Jackson in triangle (screen the screener) action, he actually slides (legally) to put his body in front of Jackson’s man. With the dearth of willing and effective screeners in the NBA, this is actually a very positive trait.
The next thing is that on Leuer’s catch there is a small sliver of space for him to put the ball down and attack the baseline. Most young players would make this catch without scanning the floor first (unlike how Leuer makes his catch), feel the space and dribble to the opening without thinking. Leuer exercises great patience and instead waits for the baseline help defender (Koufas) to retreat back to his man.
His pace is particularly impressive because he doesn’t just aimlessly hold the ball. Instead, he holds briefly then quickly and aggressively attacks Danilo Gallinari before he gets back into a good defensive position (Gallo hangs out on Leuer’s high side). Leuer then executes a picturesque post sequence. He takes a counter dribble toward the middle, makes a quick baseline spin to create space (in balance) and nails a silky turnaround jumper. Here is the play again slowed down:
Leuer also flashed a skill that no other four man on the Buck’s roster posses; the ability to execute a quick, efficient pull-up jumper. That type of attack is valuable in creating good shot opportunities in isolations or attacking closeouts.
Late in the first quarter of the Denver game, Leuer is trailing on a controlled push out of a make. He catches the pass inside the arc near the top of the key, issues a freeze fake and takes one attacking dribble into a pull-up before his defender (Al Harrington) is able to contest. Here is the clip:
Now whether Leuer can make these shots consistently against starting fours in the NBA, no one can say for sure due to the small sample size at our disposal (we can certainly bank on the fact he won’t continue to shoot a blistering 68% from the field though). However, if the Bucks want to make the playoffs this season, Skiles might want to relent on his all-defense or no-play approach and give the rookie a chance to see if he can add an offensive element for twenty to thirty minutes a night that the offensively-challenged Bucks currently lack.
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