The 'Underdogs', Quick's Harkless & Alexander article

[PtldPlatypus]

"Most athletic player to put on a Blazers uniform." (referring to Harkless). That is quite a statement, considering we've had guys like Drexler, Kersey, Elliot Williams, Thomas Robinson....

...Darius Miles, Billy Ray Bates, Robert Pack...

 

[Natebishop3]

...Darius Miles, Billy Ray Bates, Robert Pack...

Sheed, Outlaw, Brandon fucking Roy!

People sleep on Roy...

 

[illmatic99]

Think Montero is gone.

Reading Kaman's comments of Alexander is encouraging. He's not one to parse his words-- hope the guy gets a shot to play, though.

How do you guys see the minute rotation for bigs?

Only 96 mins to distribute between Leonard, Davis, Plumlee, Vonleh, Alexander, Kaman, and even Aminu as a small PF.

 

[blue9]

... and even Aminu as a small PF.

With our bevvy of bigs we should scrap the idea of Aminu playing PF - he should get the entirety of his minutes at SF.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Think Montero is gone.

Reading Kaman's comments of Alexander is encouraging. He's not one to parse his words-- hope the guy gets a shot to play, though.

How do you guys see the minute rotation for bigs?

Only 96 mins to distribute between Leonard, Davis, Plumlee, Vonleh, Alexander, Kaman, and even Aminu as a small PF.

If I were coaching, Nards, Plums, and Davis get about 25mpg each, with Vonleh getting about 20mpg. Alexander should get mop-up duty unless he shows something significant. I'd also like each of the bigs to get about 10 games off, and Kaman basically take their role in that game when they rest.

 

[Natebishop3]

Think Montero is gone.

Reading Kaman's comments of Alexander is encouraging. He's not one to parse his words-- hope the guy gets a shot to play, though.

How do you guys see the minute rotation for bigs?

Only 96 mins to distribute between Leonard, Davis, Plumlee, Vonleh, Alexander, Kaman, and even Aminu as a small PF.

It's so hard to say right now. We don't even know who the starters are going to be. Maybe Vonleh impresses Stotts during training camp and the preseason. Maybe Alexander works his way into the rotation. Right now, I think the starters are probably

Dame (36 minutes)
Henderson (if healthy) (30 minutes)
Aminu (36 minutes)
Leonard (30 minutes)
Plumlee (36 minutes)

I think the second team will most likely be

CJ (25)
Crabbe (5)
Harkless (12)
Vonleh (15)
Davis (15)

The three "development" guys will be Montero, Alexander, Pressey/Frazier. At this point, I'm not sure which pg will stay with the team. I think that will be dictated by how they play in training camp and in the preseason. With that said, I don't think we're keeping both.

The thing is, I could very easily see Leonard go through a slump and play himself out of the starting lineup, or out of the rotation completely. We have some really promising bigs like Vonleh, Davis, and possibly even Alexander. I could see Leonard regressing a bit and finding himself on the bench.

 

[Reep]

 

[Sinobas]

Ugh, I really hate it when athleticism gets hyped. Outlaw was athletic, but too stupid to play the game.

I don't think he was really that athletic. He had a high vertical, but he was kind of clumsy, not very agile.

 

[Reep]

I don't think he was really that athletic. He had a high vertical, but he was kind of clumsy, not very agile.

Agreed. He could get high, but his lateral quickness was very slow to react. Not enough strength to move those long limbs.

 

[illmatic99]

Agreed. He could get high, but his lateral quickness was very slow to react. Not enough strength to move those long limbs.

I'd say Martell was a better athlete than Trav

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I'd say Martell was a better athlete than Trav

The old question of "what is athleticism?" returns. Basically, Martell couldn't go around people, Travis could. Travis was also a higher leaper - not that Martell was a slouch, mind you.

 

[BlazerWookee]

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/i...d_story_lines_the_eye-openi.html#incart_river

Who put the sunshine in Jason's bowl of Cheerios? He's not being unrealistic but from the sounds of it, it's much better then the cloud of doom following the Clown as he continues to write as if he's sitting on a large nail.

"According to players and people behind the scenes at the Blazers, there are two players who right now are opening eyes with their play: Small forward Maurice Harkless and power forward Cliff Alexander."

He hasn't interacted with the new kids long enough for them to figure out he's a rabble rouser, so they're actually speaking to him with some semblance of respect. Don't worry, it'll wear off once he stabs them in the back, just like it always does...

 

[Reep]

I think the interesting thing about Harkless is that his athleticism isn't all about show. Many of his dunks are two hand drop ins. Only rarely does he really get a poster dunk. But, he has a very good combination of lateral quickness, float and hops. Watch his highlight videos and you see a lot of times where he gets directly under the basket and elevates in traffic for a dunk. Not too many small forwards can go strait up on a standing jump in traffic to dunk it. I think that is the biggest difference between Harkless and Batum. Batum was great with a head of steam off a handoff, but I don't remember seeing him go strait up from standing to dunk it.

 

[Scalma]

Frazier will get cut then assigned to the D-league. That's my guess anyway. No reason to carry two undersized and limited point guards like pressey and Frazier over a higher ceiling player like montero.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Frazier will get cut then assigned to the D-league. That's my guess anyway. No reason to carry two undersized and limited point guards like pressey and Frazier over a higher ceiling player like montero.

Hopefully this is the same thought they have

 

[jlprk]

In fact, during in his three seasons in Portland, Blazers president of basketball operations Neil Olshey said Harkless is the most athletic player to put on a Blazers uniform. "People are going to love him,'' Olshey said.

"Most athletic player to put on a Blazers uniform." (referring to Harkless). That is quite a statement, considering we've had guys like Drexler, Kersey, Elliot Williams, Thomas Robinson....

...Darius Miles, Billy Ray Bates, Robert Pack...

Sheed, Outlaw, Brandon fucking Roy!

In fact, during in his three seasons in Portland, Blazers president of basketball operations Neil Olshey said Harkless is the most athletic player to put on a Blazers uniform. "People are going to love him,'' Olshey said.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Solid point. I retract my earlier comment.

 

[barfo]

Pretty clear now that the two who will be cut to trim the roster to 15 will be Alexander and Harkless.

barfo

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Crazy how young Harkless is. It feels like he's been in the league forever.

Also his size/length is impressive: 6'9" | 7'0" wingspan | 22 y/o

Same goes for Cliff: 6'8" | 7'4" wingspan | 9'2" reach | 19 y/o

He's on the short side but Cliff's length is elite for a PF and is on par with centers.

 

[Sinobas]

The sentence should have been written, "Neil Olshey said that Harkless is the most athletic player to put on a Blazer uniform in the 3 years since he's been GM".

 

[Sinobas]

Ah, Quicky actually clarified that in the comments section. Said the sentence should have been more clear.

 

[Denny Crane]

Harkless is listed at 6'8", 208 lbs on bbref.

I wonder if he can play some SG, or guard SGs so Stotts can play a one guard lineup at times.

Aminu got a pretty big contract, as if he is the guy Neil wants at SF. I could see him playing some PF in a small ball lineup.

 

[Scalma]

Harkless is listed at 6'8", 208 lbs on bbref.

I wonder if he can play some SG, or guard SGs so Stotts can play a one guard lineup at times.

Aminu got a pretty big contract, as if he is the guy Neil wants at SF. I could see him playing some PF in a small ball lineup.

Yeah I think I remember reading aminu was most affective in dallas when he played as a stretch four. I think well see harkless and aminu in the same lineup a lot.