Celtics Central

It is always fun to watch a player develop.

Leon Powe had the ball and headed to the hoop for a throw down. Delonte West leaped with extended arm to block it. Leon climbed air to go just above West’s reach and Wham. Throw down with emphasis complete. Instant poster.

But it isn’t that part of his game that is emerging.

Right before our eyes, 24 year old, 6′ 8″ Leon Powe is filling out his game. Inch by inch, shot by shot. Until recently, he was known more for his rebounding and dunking. His nick name is “The Show.” It’s tough to put on a show as a role player on a star laden championship team. But Doc Rivers is letting Leon show more of what he can do as time goes on.

Another bonifide 2nd round treasure drafted by Danny Ainge (drafted by Denver at #49 and traded to the Celtics), Leon seems more comfortable than ever in the Celtics’ rotation this season.

Great Beginning to 2008-9
Powe scored 13 points in 23 minutes on 5 of 7 shooting with 3-4 from the line, and tied for team high with Paul Pierce with a +12 scoring advantage while he was in the game. He’s adding variation on his shot making and making them count against tough competition.

Before that, he had an excellent preseason, scoring 10.6 points in just 19.6 minutes while shooting .50%. That was good enough for 2nd on the team in scoring per 48 minutes at 25.99. Only Eddie House was more prolific. Leon is a respectable foul shooter for a big man, averaging .73% in the preseason, right in line with his career stats.

He culminated a solid preseason with 19 points in 25 minutes against David Lee and the Knicks. But his performance against the Cavs was more impressive.

The Cavaliers are known to defend the middle well, yet Leon worked effectively against their inside defense. He is also adding a little distance to his shooting range. He has always been aggressive to the hoop with dunks and contact heavy lay-ups.

Now he gets even harder to defend with a short mid-range game, a spin move, and a bit of a fall away after first establishing contact. Where’d all that come from?

Like a lot of NBA players he was a scoring star in high school. Leon averaged 27 points as a high school senior. Could he light it up? You bet. Leon poured in 40 points for three straight game including the HS league title game, and averaged 33 points and 14 rebounds in the state play-offs in California.

One HS rating combine had Leon as the 4th best HS player in the country. His basketball resume was among the best. Parade All American, MacDonald’s All-Star game and he was part of the Oakland Soldiers, an elite travel team made up of some of the best national talent including LeBron James and DeMarcus Nelson (Golden State Warriors).

Before high school, he first drew coaches’ attention when he scored 44 points twice in a row in middle school.

Leon went on to lead the Pac-10 in scoring and rebounding with 20.5 and 10.1 becoming only the 6th player in league history to do so. He recruited current Washington Wizard Dominic McGuire to play with him at California.

Along the way Leon was often double and triple teamed. That experience comes in handy now in the pros as Leon is comfortable putting the ball back up in traffic.

Always considered a ‘tweener, neither tall enough for power forward nor quick enough for small forward, Leon is carving his playing time in the NBA at power forward and occasionally at center. Long arms, skill, and toughness have allowed Leon to overcome that label.

But, back to that jump shot shot we are starting to see more of…a Leon Powe archeology dig finds that an old assessment on collegehoops.net says….

Great hands. Decent mid range jumper. Is a 20 point, 10 board threat every time he walks onto a college court.

So the mid range jumper was part of his game all along.

And for your amusement….

Too short to play power forward in the NBA – may actually only be 6’7”. Injury worries – has already had two knee surgeries. Inexperienced – is 22 years old but has only played 2 years in college. Needs to get range on his jumper back beyond the college three point line to show he has the potential to play the three spot in the pros.

Psssst…please don’t tell Leon or the NBA that. They both are finding out that he can play the power forward position…those crazy people. Three point shot not required.

But it was those multiple knee surgeries that scared everyone off but Dr. Danny Ainge. It is Danny’s success with Leon that has him scouring the medical scrap heap of former big potential players for another bargain or, if you will, leap of faith. Enter Darius Miles (and exit) and Bill Walker who may yet prove to be a worthwhile, low risk gamble.

Leon is still proving to Doc, his team mates, himself and their NBA opponents what he can consistently be relied on to do. His individual defense is solid, his team defense is improving, and now he is increasing his range and his value as an effective scorer against most defenders.

More important, he is doing it within the framework of the team. That is the only way anyone is allowed to develop on this goal driven team.

Leon’s emerging game is a pleasure to watch. Tune in to Celticvision and watch the Leon Powe Show. You will be glad you did.