The curious case of C.J. Leslie
C.J. Leslie (5) and Coach Gottfried watch as Tyler Lewis takes free throws during the St. Bonaventure vs. NC State game on December 22, 2012 in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Feb 26, 2013
C.J. Leslie was the preseason pick for ACC player of the year. He may not make first team all-conference.
His team was the preseason pick to win the ACC. They may not even make the top four.
Preseason AP voters had NC State sixth in the nation. They didn't get one single vote in this week's poll.
Leslie is a microcosm of the Wolfpack's season. Sometimes both the team and the player are good. Sometimes they leave you scratching your head. The bottom line is Leslie and the Wolfpack are too talented to be in the position they are.
Looking at last year's stats compared to this year, Leslie averages .7 more points, .3 more rebounds, .2 more assists, fewer blocked shots, fewer steals and more turnovers. That's not a great margin of improvement. But moving past the statistical comparison, the most puzzling thing about Leslie is those times when his effort doesn't meet the moment.
He was benched in the game at North Carolina, and his teammates said he apologized at halftime of that game. His coach has gone out of his way not to publicly chastise the guy he calls Calvin. But after the North Carolina game, Mark Gottfried told the world, "He's (CJ) a great player and great players got to step up and play, period. I love him as much as anybody but when you're a good player, then you have to play better."
When referencing rebounding Gottfried said, "Are we expecting Richard (Howell) to get 30 rebounds? I mean, holy mackerel, somebody else has to rebound the ball. Calvin has to step up, period."
That's as direct as the second-year coach can be. Will it work?
I spoke with someone who has known Leslie since he was in the 9th grade and he told me Leslie hasn't heard too much criticism from coaches along his basketball journey. They were afraid if they got too strict with Leslie, he would leave their program and go somewhere else. In some cases, the person told me, Leslie would withdraw from challenging situations.
So how in the heck is he going to thrive in the NBA environment?
I spoke with an NBA scout about Leslie, and he said the junior has improved greatly since his freshman season. He spoke glowingly about C.J.'s incredible first step and ability to get to the rim.
"Did you see him against Florida State?" the scout asked me.
I countered with, "Have you seen those moments when he looks incredibly disinterested?"
"I can't figure that out," the scout responded.
If Leslie turns pro after this season, and I have no reason to believe he will return to NC State, he will be drafted in the first round. A team may be enamored enough by his athleticism to draft him in the lottery.
That organization will know about his talents through scouting. NBA teams have also seen those times of detachment when Leslie, a player of the year candidate, plays with the energy and passion of a turtle.
There is another side of C.J. that NBA teams may not know about. In the preseason, he often communicated with a young girl from Granville county who was battling ill effects of a brain tumor. In the midst of his greatest celebration after beating Duke, CJ saw that NC State student Will Privette had fallen out of his wheelchair. Leslie lifted him to safety and they continued to celebrate together.
All of the elements, from the top of this page to the bottom, go into the curious case of C.J. Leslie.
Most Recent Comments
Posted Feb 27, 3:29 p.m.
Rank: Sports Legend Posts: 19428
Joined: Dec, 2006
Location: Raleigh, NC
RE: The curious case of C.J. Leslie
- Posted by Hammerhead- Posted by evenpar29- Posted by jgunnI love reading these post from all you arm chair coaches and anyalysts. You guys are in the wrong business. Keep up the good work since you're all hall of fame coaches in waiting. Since ya'll know what Gottfried needs to do to be a better coach. Maybe he will read this and take your advice. I have even seen some of you want to give Roy advice. Man I wish I had all the wisdom I see on here I could write a bestseller and retire. Kind of reminds me of all the great coaches in the stands at Richmond County football games.- Posted by evenpar29
The purpose of this forum is for fans to express their opinions, and that's all we're doing.
I agree totaly its all about opinion. Personaly I was just having some fun with that post. Did not want to offend anyone. I did it on a dare from Tarheel fan I work with. We have some good dicussions about everything State and Carolina. The big problem I have is when she goes to google and slides the results under my door. Yes Hammerhead I played baseball and have coached both girls and boys. Do I think Gottfried was right in calling him out? Still up in the air, but I saw the frustration on his face. Jgunn I like reading yours you seem to put some thought into your post. Keep it up. Its what makes these forums fun.
Evenpar, I was comparing you to another frequent poster on here, in jest. Also, noting the irony of your Richmond County statement. I honestly come here for comic relief, I am a diehard fan (UW and the Packers), but don't take any of this too seriously and try to keep it in perspective. Gunny, my motto is, if you have to act cool, you ain't. I am blissfully ignorant of popular culture, and spend most of my free time getting dirty in the woods, pretending I'm 25 still, or playing with my hands.
Hammer, if you come here for comic relief, you've come to the right place! I, too would rather be active - playing in the dirt, anything like that. Give me jeans and sneakers any day. BTW: How was the roller derby last week?
Posted Feb 27, 1:57 p.m.
Rank: Sports Legend Posts: 22486
Joined: Dec, 2007
Location: Southern Pines, NC
RE: The curious case of C.J. Leslie
CJ has the talent and skills to anything on the court. I think that he will bounce back.Posted Feb 27, 11:32 a.m.
Rank: Towel Boy Posts: 6
Joined: Apr, 2007
Location: Raleigh, NC
RE: The curious case of C.J. Leslie
- Posted by caseofthefoo"Mobile geek," you are quite comedic. Can you advise me as to why then NC State is ranked lower than UNC academically? The NC State cliche, (clown think), has exploded in your A & M face once again. "It is harder to get into UNC but it is harder to graduate from State." When analyzed that means it is harder to stay in State because they admit students that are less prepared for top line academics therefore it is harder to stay in a college program meaning they are less likely to graduate. If the state of North Carolina wanted to have a top flight engineering university they would do well to return the engineering school that they took from UNC in the 30's, back to UNC.- Posted by moveyextraz
NC State just cannot get over the fact that all supporting facts show they are inferior.
Wow. Feel better now? Bless your heart.
Well to start with, I have attended both schools, so that gives me a "real" perspective and not the so-called cliche. So you have allowed yourself to become part of the very fallacy of what UNC represents. An Ivy League wanna be school with a heavy set of easy liberal arts programs and professors who will simply give you an 'A' for agreeing with their political views (Yes, I learned how to milk the system at UNC by pretending). The rivalry between UNC and Duke is nothing more than a reflection of the jealousy UNC has of Duke's stature.
UNC professes its so-called superiority in the aristocracy of academia, while being regarded really as nothing more than the help amongst the elite schools and whiny, entitlement-minded, spoiled little brats amongst other schools. As I have personally taken courses for my degree at both schools, I can say first hand, that UNC is in fact ridiculously easy. UNC is a running joke amongst many in Engineering at State, because they are good for two things. The easy 'A' and easy girls.
Posted Feb 27, 10:54 a.m.
Rank: Sports Legend Posts: 1541
Joined: Jul, 2007
Location: Durham, NC
RE: The curious case of C.J. Leslie
- Posted by evenpar29- Posted by jgunnI love reading these post from all you arm chair coaches and anyalysts. You guys are in the wrong business. Keep up the good work since you're all hall of fame coaches in waiting. Since ya'll know what Gottfried needs to do to be a better coach. Maybe he will read this and take your advice. I have even seen some of you want to give Roy advice. Man I wish I had all the wisdom I see on here I could write a bestseller and retire. Kind of reminds me of all the great coaches in the stands at Richmond County football games.- Posted by evenpar29
The purpose of this forum is for fans to express their opinions, and that's all we're doing.
I agree totaly its all about opinion. Personaly I was just having some fun with that post. Did not want to offend anyone. I did it on a dare from Tarheel fan I work with. We have some good dicussions about everything State and Carolina. The big problem I have is when she goes to google and slides the results under my door. Yes Hammerhead I played baseball and have coached both girls and boys. Do I think Gottfried was right in calling him out? Still up in the air, but I saw the frustration on his face. Jgunn I like reading yours you seem to put some thought into your post. Keep it up. Its what makes these forums fun.
Evenpar, I was comparing you to another frequent poster on here, in jest. Also, noting the irony of your Richmond County statement. I honestly come here for comic relief, I am a diehard fan (UW and the Packers), but don't take any of this too seriously and try to keep it in perspective. Gunny, my motto is, if you have to act cool, you ain't. I am blissfully ignorant of popular culture, and spend most of my free time getting dirty in the woods, pretending I'm 25 still, or playing with my hands.
Posted Feb 27, 10:24 a.m.
Rank: Sports Legend Posts: 19428
Joined: Dec, 2006
Location: Raleigh, NC
RE: The curious case of C.J. Leslie
- Posted by evenpar29- Posted by jgunnI love reading these post from all you arm chair coaches and anyalysts. You guys are in the wrong business. Keep up the good work since you're all hall of fame coaches in waiting. Since ya'll know what Gottfried needs to do to be a better coach. Maybe he will read this and take your advice. I have even seen some of you want to give Roy advice. Man I wish I had all the wisdom I see on here I could write a bestseller and retire. Kind of reminds me of all the great coaches in the stands at Richmond County football games.- Posted by evenpar29
The purpose of this forum is for fans to express their opinions, and that's all we're doing.
I agree totaly its all about opinion. Personaly I was just having some fun with that post. Did not want to offend anyone. I did it on a dare from Tarheel fan I work with. We have some good dicussions about everything State and Carolina. The big problem I have is when she goes to google and slides the results under my door. Yes Hammerhead I played baseball and have coached both girls and boys. Do I think Gottfried was right in calling him out? Still up in the air, but I saw the frustration on his face. Jgunn I like reading yours you seem to put some thought into your post. Keep it up. Its what makes these forums fun.
Thanks, evenpar - all in good fun. You know Hammerhead? He seems like a cool guy. I've had a lot of fun over the years ribbing (and taking a lot of ribbing!) co-workers. I worked in the same building as a lot of State fans during the Doh years (I HAD to have a good sense of humor for that!), and I also worked with Duke fans. When it's done in the right spirit, rivalries are a ton of fun.
