"All he does is dunk"

[PDXFonz]

Didn't want to start a new thread... so I'll post it here.

They have some photos of practice today in Utah. Some of what Alexander is showing is making me excited to see him in a live game.
http://www.nba.com/blazers/gallery/photos-practice-utah-0

I did want to start a new thread, because I am hyped for this guy, and it looks like he's getting closer to being ready for game action. Will he find a part in Stotts' rotation? Is it going to take him time to adjust to the NBA? Will I look and feel like a complete homer after hyping him up? I'm looking forward to seeing how Cliff answers these questions.

T-Rob 2.0?

I love guys who live around the rim and have a knack for putback's and emphatic blocks. I think Alexander will bring the kind of stuff T-Rob brought on the defensive end. I don't see Alexander as T-Rob 2.0 per say, but its as good a comparison as I can come up with as they are 2 strong, explosive, and athletic PF's who have a knack for timing blocks and grabbing boards.

all he does is dunk

*All they showed in this video were dunks.




Yes, if he's scoring hes going to get most if not all of his points at the rim. But is that really such a bad thing? Besides I'm thinking less about his scoring and more about his defense.

Spoiler: Defense GIFS

Most players don't come out of college like Dame, even if they are a first round pick. So I'm not saying Alexander is going to come out and be the GOAT. But I am saying from what I see he has a potential to earn playing time based off of his defense alone.

FWIW( And because I don't want to make it seem like I think its all sunshine and rainbows with Alexander) - It seems like his struggles at Kansas had to do with discipline/laziness. And I have read a few comments on Chicago local news pages where people say his biggest con is his lack of work ethic and discipline. He definitely wouldn't be the first player to have that story should it play out. But part of me can't help wondering what happens when you put a guy like Cliff who has supposedly got it, but doesn't get it, with a guy like Dame who is Mr. Work Ethic and discipline.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

There has been no updates on his knee but cartilage damage is scary when you consider the Blazers history with it.

 

[PDXFonz]

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

There has been no updates on his knee but cartilage damage is scary when you consider the Blazers history with it.

Our history with knees in a nutshell

 

[handiman]

I'm reminded of the, well, make that my, Oden/Drummond comparison. (I was laughed at for saying around the draft that Drummond would start on opening night.) Two very similar guys physically and athletically, and not all that dissimilar in style of play or demeanor, but one was considered a can't miss prospect while the other was regarded as a long-term project. TRob and Alexandar check all those same boxes.

 

[clemdawg]

Blazers could be poised for another run.

Sent from my SPH-L710T using Tapatalk

 

[Scalma]

I've been excited about Alexander for awhile now. Another pogo stick around the rim. Offense rebounding beast. The question I have is once he's in uniform, does he actually play? If the hype they were giving him early was real, why wouldn't he play?

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I've been excited about Alexander for awhile now. Another pogo stick around the rim. Offense rebounding beast. The question I have is once he's in uniform, does he actually play? If the hype they were giving him early was real, why wouldn't he play?

Whose minutes does he take? Reduce Plums and Meyers to 24 min, and give Davis, Vonleh, and Akexander 16 each?

 

[Scalma]

Whose minutes does he take? Reduce Plums and Meyers to 24 min, and give Davis, Vonleh, and Akexander 16 each?

Sure or Vonleh and Alexander can just rotate every other game or something.

 

[theprunetang]

I can't wait for a photo from a future NBA game with us against the Spurs with Crabbe, Cliff, and Patty Mills battling for a loose ball. This tweet would be the perfect caption.

 

[Tunchi]

How's his defense? He seems kind of small to guard bigs in this league

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

How's his defense? He seems kind of small to guard bigs in this league

6'8" with a 9'2" reach - he's an oddity.

I don't think size will be an issue. He does need to get stronger though.

 

[Scalma]

6'8" with a 9'2" reach - he's an oddity.

I don't think size will be an issue. He does need to get stronger though.

Does he? Saw him standing next to ed davis and made him look like a SF with his wide shoulders

 

[0-Our!]

I'm reminded of the, well, make that my, Oden/Drummond comparison. (I was laughed at for saying around the draft that Drummond would start on opening night.) Two very similar guys physically and athletically, and not all that dissimilar in style of play or demeanor, but one was considered a can't miss prospect while the other was regarded as a long-term project. TRob and Alexandar check all those same boxes.

I was definitely 1 who poo-pooed on Drummond; I thought he was a bust; he looked ssssssoooo raw & looked like complete crap his Sac. workout (he was visibly gasses in a VERY short period of time). I'm actually pretty good @ spotting talent but admit I totally got it wrong w/ him & didn't believe he would ever develop (thought he was the next Thabeet; I wrote him off very early w/ Mem. once I saw him "play"); I can take some comfort in the fact that a lot of scouts, GM's, pundits, ppl also got it wrong but not much Don't feel bad, u called it & that's what's fun about this fan stuff, the guys that most ppl wrote off/not willing to take a chance on seemingly coming out of nowhere to surprise us w/ becoming studs (i.e. Wes, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Greens etc.)!

W/ all ^ being said, I was w/ T-Rob from day 1 (I got that 1 wrong in the other direction. lol), however, I still think he's got great heart/effort, a good guy, an NBA contributor, & I'm still sad he's not here any more but I understand the reasons why. I like/have liked Alexander, I think he's a great fit for our team & even if somehow he doesn't develop/become what we need him to be, we risked next to nothing for him & he was worth the shot w/o a doubt but I think we've gotten ANOTHER Neil Steal!

 

[handiman]

If you were to apply what you said about TRob, but make him a second rounder or undrafted like Alexandar, then you'd have a great heart/hustle guy to keep around the team. Robinson was a victim of outrageously inflated expectations, by himself and others. Sort of the opposite of Drummond.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Does he? Saw him standing next to ed davis and made him look like a SF with his wide shoulders

When I first saw a shot of him sitting behind the bench I thought he was a U of O football player at the game.

 

[riverman]

I'd say Alexander is going to push Vonleh for minutes as he gets in game shape and healed. We have a dogfight for roster spots with all these bigs..and that's a far cry from having Jared Jeffries on the bench

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I'd say Alexander is going to push Vonleh for minutes as he gets in game shape and healed. We have a dogfight for roster spots with all these bigs..and that's a far cry from having Jared Jeffries on the bench

Or worse, Raef LaFrentz's Expiring Contract.

 

[Scalma]

I think rotating Vonleh and Alexander is the way to go. That way it doesn't cut into anyone's minutes and they still get solid time on the court to develop.

 

[Scalma]

I'd also add that if Ed Davis can play center so can Alexander. Davis measured 6'9.75 at the combine with a 7' wingspan and a 9' standing reach. Alexander 6'8.5, 7'3.5", 9'.1.5"

Also Alexander is 250 pounds, while Davis is probably around 230.

 

[PDXFonz]

I'd also add that if Ed Davis can play center so can Alexander. Davis measured 6'9.75 at the combine with a 7' wingspan and a 9' standing reach. Alexander 6'8.5, 7'3.5", 9'.1.5"

Also Alexander is 250 pounds, while Davis is probably around 230.

There's fairly limited footage of Alexander taking part in much that is meaningful so that must just be speculation? He does seem to have good strength, and footwork so I guess it might depend on which center we are talking about. It is going to be interesting to see who ends up guarding Drummond for most of the night.

 

[Boise Blazer]

I think rotating Vonleh and Alexander is the way to go. That way it doesn't cut into anyone's minutes and they still get solid time on the court to develop.

I would also consider that rotating Vonleh and Alexander should be done on a game buy game basis and not both in the same game that way they get a larger chunk of minutes in each game to develop. And then if one clearly starts to stand out more than the other re-evaluate and start to make some decisions

 

[Scalma]

I would also consider that rotating Vonleh and Alexander should be done on a game buy game basis and not both in the same game that way they get a larger chunk of minutes in each game to develop. And then if one clearly starts to stand out more than the other re-evaluate and start to make some decisions

Yeah that's what I meant. You explained it better lol.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Now this doesn't mean he will be in the rotation, or even necessarily active (unless they make Montero inactive) but it is a start and good news!

 

[Scalma]

@CAlexander: Finally get to suit up tonight [emoji36]

 

[42N8Bounce]

@CAlexander: Finally get to suit up tonight [emoji36]

Cliff Alexander says he will suit up for Trail Blazers tonight

After Saturday's Trail Blazers practice, Neil Olshey walked across the court and visited with rookie Cliff Alexander. After the short meeting, Alexander started to head to the locker room, and in a moment of youthful exuberance, executed a reverse dunk on the way.

I'm looking forward to seeing Alexander play!

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Nice!

 

[Scalma]

Nice debut. Sets a mean pick. That alone should give him minutes. Showed his length on his offensive rebound/tip in. Ran the court. Fluid in his movements. Strong. More minutes for cliff please.

 

[Trackjack]

He didn't hurt the team while he was in there that what look at when giving someone minutes. So I would continue let Von and Alexander share the power foward position until ML.

 

[jlprk]

He didn't hurt the team while he was in there that what look at when giving someone minutes. So I would continue let Von and Alexander share the power foward position until ML.

You worded it better than I did in the game thread. Why didn't I think of adding, "He didn't hurt us in his first game."

With Leonard out, Vonleh started and got 24 minutes. Apparently Stotts hoped Vonleh would carry ‪extra motivation, playing against the team who wouldn't give him minutes. Cliff Alexander got 17 minutes. Both had good, not excellent box score lines. In the real game, they were adequate without committing wild errors.