Notice At #46, the Portland Trail Blazers select...CJ Elleby?

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TBpup said:
Nobody saw Klay coming? A Lottery pick at #11, 2-time first team all conference and the son of a former NBA player who won titles with the Lakers?

Uhh....I think some people who barely even paid attention saw him coming....from a long way off.
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Yeah, people knew he was a solid player and a lottery pick but I doubt most thought he'd turn out to be the player he is.
 
Scalma said:


imagine doubting a Neil Olshey second rounder LOLZ. Look at those percentages and then think about Neil’s track record. You are outta your mind betting against him in this situation.

Also, it’s a second rounder. If for some reason he does flop, who cares?
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Well... A lot of Olshey's successes are from moving up near the top of the 2nd round, as I recall. And if you go by Bobby Marks' numbers, ~62% of guys drafted in the first half of the 2nd round have more than that minimal shot at success, and it probably climbs steadily as you move earlier.

It would be interesting to see how his 2nd round picks have fared compared to the average at each spot. I'm sure he rates pretty well, but probably not quite as great as that 72% figure would suggest.
 
tykendo said:
Watching his workout, i don't see a quirky shooting motion. Writer was smokin' something. Looked nothing like Ball. Looks pretty fluid to me. Good muscle tone too. I'm trusting Neil and his scouts on this one. Let'er Buck!
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It is similar in that they are cross-body + cross-eyed shooters.
 
Simons needed a co
JDC said:
It is similar in that they are cross-body + cross-eyed shooters.
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which should be an advantage in shooting, better overall alignment to the hoop.
 
Wizard Mentor said:
@Scalma , I really wish there was summer league this year. I'd like to see what we've got.
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Yeah me too, but that first summer league might have been a little early to get a good feel for what he can do. He could use a year with the coaching staff and maybe hanging out in the weight room with Trent. 8-9 lbs of muscle would be nice.
 
How is this thread still alive? Only assists this kid will get in his 2 years here will be from handing out towels and gatorade from the BACK bench!
 
Elleby is another second round surprise. The kid is a baller and full of confidence and it wouldnt surprise me if he beats out Simons for minutes eventually.
 
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it’d be hilarious if Ellebe ended up being a better “point guard” than Simons. Would Olshey fire his analytics department for showing him up? Jokes aside, Ellebe’s assist percentage as a freshman, when he was used more as a facilitator, was twice anything Simons has put up so far in the nba. Turnovers seemed to be an issue, but idk, he seems to have a better feel for the game than Simons, who's trending towards more of a McCollum aka pure scorer. TIME WILL TELL
 
https://www.swxrightnow.com/stories/2020/nov/17/fearless-quality-should-help-cj-elleby-succeed-in-/

Kyle Smith, who as an assistant at Saint Mary’s coached current San Antonio Spurs veteran Patty Mills, has no doubt Elleby can thrive in the NBA.

The WSU coach questioned if Elleby “might be a bad fit” for his Nerd Ball system after initial practices last season.

However, those concerns disappeared following a preseason scrimmage against Eastern Washington when Smith began to understand what makes Elleby special.

“I didn’t know until we played somebody else, then I was like, ‘OK, I get it,’ ” Smith said. “He gets excited like no one to compete on game night. It’s a joy for him. I don’t know if that’s his process or what, but I told all the NBA guys that’s what makes him special.

“Patty Mills had that same quality, but he’s maybe not as talented as CJ. But Patty has NBA speed and NBA belief. He thought he belonged out there, and CJ is the same way. He is not scared. He’s going to play fearless. That’s an incredible quality that you can’t teach.”
 
Scalma said:
https://www.swxrightnow.com/stories/2020/nov/17/fearless-quality-should-help-cj-elleby-succeed-in-/

Kyle Smith, who as an assistant at Saint Mary’s coached current San Antonio Spurs veteran Patty Mills, has no doubt Elleby can thrive in the NBA.

The WSU coach questioned if Elleby “might be a bad fit” for his Nerd Ball system after initial practices last season.

However, those concerns disappeared following a preseason scrimmage against Eastern Washington when Smith began to understand what makes Elleby special.

“I didn’t know until we played somebody else, then I was like, ‘OK, I get it,’ ” Smith said. “He gets excited like no one to compete on game night. It’s a joy for him. I don’t know if that’s his process or what, but I told all the NBA guys that’s what makes him special.

“Patty Mills had that same quality, but he’s maybe not as talented as CJ. But Patty has NBA speed and NBA belief. He thought he belonged out there, and CJ is the same way. He is not scared. He’s going to play fearless. That’s an incredible quality that you can’t teach.”
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Second round sleeper!
Ive watched him play, he’s wiry confident and a good defender. Going to make it tough on Simon.
 
https://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/...ily-of-seattle-basketball-legends-to-nba.html

Former Washington State coach Ernie Kent said he believed Elleby had NBA potential while recruiting him out of Seattle, which has produced a plethora of NBA talent over the years, including two first-round picks last week. Elleby, Kent said, played well against that level of talent while growing up and in high school.

And he did so with a grit that stood out. Diving on the floor. Going after rebounds against taller players. Fighting for every inch to get an edge. He also learned concepts quickly.

“He just competes so hard and he has a really high basketball IQ,” Kent said. “He’s like a sponge that way.”

Elleby averaged 14.7 points and 7.1 rebounds as a freshman while shooting 41.4% on three-point attempts. He played well enough to garner some interest from scouts prior to the 2019 NBA draft. But Elleby instead decided to return to WSU to work on his game under new WSU coach Kyle Smith.


Elleby said some NBA teams told him to tighten up the mechanics of his shooting form. As a freshman, he brought the ball up over his head and then bent his form? backward before releasing the ball like a catapult. He adjusted the form to bring the ball up more in front of his forehead, which quickened his release.


Elleby’s role on the team increased as a sophomore, bumping his shot attempts up from 12 per game the prior season to 15.6. Consequently, his scoring average jumped to 18.4, fourth in the Pac-12. However, Elleby’s shooting percentages dipped from 43.6% from the field as a freshman to 39.6% as a sophomore and from 41.4% on threes to 33.9%.


Adjusting to the collegiate three-point line being moved from 20 feet, 9 inches to the international distance of 22-1 ¾ was a factor, along with defenses focusing more on Elleby as he became the team’s leading scorer.


“He was getting the other team’s best defender every night,” Smith said.


Then factor in the new shooting form, and it’s no wonder that his shooting percentages dipped. However, the new stroke was taking hold. His free throw shooting percentage jumped from 66.1% as a freshman to 82.3%. Gradually, his shooting touch came around.


Through the first 14 games of last season, Elleby shot 27.8% on three-point attempts (25 of 90). Over the final 18 games, he shot 38.3% (49 of 128).


The hard work paid off. Smith said Elleby’s work ethic and high character wouldn’t allow him to not improve.


“He is really dedicated, almost obsessive,” Smith said. “He will get in the gym. You don’t have to worry about him. He is a gym rat.”
 
Scalma said:
https://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/...ily-of-seattle-basketball-legends-to-nba.html

Former Washington State coach Ernie Kent said he believed Elleby had NBA potential while recruiting him out of Seattle, which has produced a plethora of NBA talent over the years, including two first-round picks last week. Elleby, Kent said, played well against that level of talent while growing up and in high school.

And he did so with a grit that stood out. Diving on the floor. Going after rebounds against taller players. Fighting for every inch to get an edge. He also learned concepts quickly.

“He just competes so hard and he has a really high basketball IQ,” Kent said. “He’s like a sponge that way.”

Elleby averaged 14.7 points and 7.1 rebounds as a freshman while shooting 41.4% on three-point attempts. He played well enough to garner some interest from scouts prior to the 2019 NBA draft. But Elleby instead decided to return to WSU to work on his game under new WSU coach Kyle Smith.


Elleby said some NBA teams told him to tighten up the mechanics of his shooting form. As a freshman, he brought the ball up over his head and then bent his form? backward before releasing the ball like a catapult. He adjusted the form to bring the ball up more in front of his forehead, which quickened his release.


Elleby’s role on the team increased as a sophomore, bumping his shot attempts up from 12 per game the prior season to 15.6. Consequently, his scoring average jumped to 18.4, fourth in the Pac-12. However, Elleby’s shooting percentages dipped from 43.6% from the field as a freshman to 39.6% as a sophomore and from 41.4% on threes to 33.9%.


Adjusting to the collegiate three-point line being moved from 20 feet, 9 inches to the international distance of 22-1 ¾ was a factor, along with defenses focusing more on Elleby as he became the team’s leading scorer.


“He was getting the other team’s best defender every night,” Smith said.


Then factor in the new shooting form, and it’s no wonder that his shooting percentages dipped. However, the new stroke was taking hold. His free throw shooting percentage jumped from 66.1% as a freshman to 82.3%. Gradually, his shooting touch came around.


Through the first 14 games of last season, Elleby shot 27.8% on three-point attempts (25 of 90). Over the final 18 games, he shot 38.3% (49 of 128).


The hard work paid off. Smith said Elleby’s work ethic and high character wouldn’t allow him to not improve.


“He is really dedicated, almost obsessive,” Smith said. “He will get in the gym. You don’t have to worry about him. He is a gym rat.”
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Going to be some interesting competition with Simons against two second picks.
 
Scalma said:
https://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/...ily-of-seattle-basketball-legends-to-nba.html

Former Washington State coach Ernie Kent said he believed Elleby had NBA potential while recruiting him out of Seattle, which has produced a plethora of NBA talent over the years, including two first-round picks last week. Elleby, Kent said, played well against that level of talent while growing up and in high school.

And he did so with a grit that stood out. Diving on the floor. Going after rebounds against taller players. Fighting for every inch to get an edge. He also learned concepts quickly.

“He just competes so hard and he has a really high basketball IQ,” Kent said. “He’s like a sponge that way.”

Elleby averaged 14.7 points and 7.1 rebounds as a freshman while shooting 41.4% on three-point attempts. He played well enough to garner some interest from scouts prior to the 2019 NBA draft. But Elleby instead decided to return to WSU to work on his game under new WSU coach Kyle Smith.


Elleby said some NBA teams told him to tighten up the mechanics of his shooting form. As a freshman, he brought the ball up over his head and then bent his form? backward before releasing the ball like a catapult. He adjusted the form to bring the ball up more in front of his forehead, which quickened his release.


Elleby’s role on the team increased as a sophomore, bumping his shot attempts up from 12 per game the prior season to 15.6. Consequently, his scoring average jumped to 18.4, fourth in the Pac-12. However, Elleby’s shooting percentages dipped from 43.6% from the field as a freshman to 39.6% as a sophomore and from 41.4% on threes to 33.9%.


Adjusting to the collegiate three-point line being moved from 20 feet, 9 inches to the international distance of 22-1 ¾ was a factor, along with defenses focusing more on Elleby as he became the team’s leading scorer.


“He was getting the other team’s best defender every night,” Smith said.


Then factor in the new shooting form, and it’s no wonder that his shooting percentages dipped. However, the new stroke was taking hold. His free throw shooting percentage jumped from 66.1% as a freshman to 82.3%. Gradually, his shooting touch came around.


Through the first 14 games of last season, Elleby shot 27.8% on three-point attempts (25 of 90). Over the final 18 games, he shot 38.3% (49 of 128).


The hard work paid off. Smith said Elleby’s work ethic and high character wouldn’t allow him to not improve.


“He is really dedicated, almost obsessive,” Smith said. “He will get in the gym. You don’t have to worry about him. He is a gym rat.”
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I really like how his 3 pt. % went way up in his last 18 games. First time I read that.
 
Cut and paste plays Miami uses specifically for Duncan Robinson.

This is how you develop Elleby IMO.
 
I wonder if Neil is high on him as he was other second rounders.... or if he was added mostly for his low salary, as only a second round pick signing could keep us below the luxury tax.
 
WesleyMatthews said:
I wonder if Neil is high on him as he was other second rounders.... or if he was added mostly for his low salary, as only a second round pick signing could keep us below the luxury tax.
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Neil didn't "go get" Elleby. He let him fall to 46 - if he wasn't there, he'd be talking up whoever we took.
 
Wizard Mentor said:
Neil didn't "go get" Elleby. He let him fall to 46 - if he wasn't there, he'd be talking up whoever we took.
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this logic is always funny to me, as if his only choices were Elleby or nobody. So pretty much the only players GMs are allowed to talk up are the ones they trade for?
 
Scalma said:
this logic is always funny to me, as if his only choices were Elleby or nobody. So pretty much the only players GMs are allowed to talk up are the ones they trade for?
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idk what you're talking about. What I said is 100% accurate.

I wasn't saying that it's only appropriate to talk up who you took. In fact, it would be inappropriate to do anything else.

Neil didn't trade anything to make sure the prospect he wanted "was there", like he's done with some players in the past. So, we don't really know how much Neil really likes cj2.
 
Wizard Mentor said:
idk what you're talking about. What I said is 100% accurate.

I wasn't saying that it's only appropriate to talk up who you took. In fact, it would be inappropriate to do anything else.

Neil didn't trade anything to make sure the prospect he wanted "was there", like he's done with some players in the past. So, we don't really know how much Neil really likes cj2.
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He was on his board at 46 so he took him. And Im sure he did his homework on the pick.
 
Elleby's hair reminds me of Phil Lynott

iu


Carmelo lost his hand in there:
upload_2020-12-12_11-37-33.png
 
His stroke needs improvement. He has decent size though.
 
One thing I liked from CJ is when a shot went up on defense, he turned and found the guy he was defending immediately. It's a good way to not have your man sneak around you for an offensive rebound. Something Rolo was good at, and why he never got huge board #s, but his teams were always good rebounding teams. And something Whiteside was awful at.
 
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