Notice TRAIL BLAZERS ASSIGN CLIFF ALEXANDER AND LUIS MONTERO TO D-LEAGUE’S SANTA CRUZ WARRIORS

That's it! You both have saved the thread! Where did you find it, so that I can cite it at the end of tomorrow's equally-enthralling, spellbinding game?

 

Thanks for finding it. Let's all lose at Pyramid Solitaire! After 3 years of experience, I win this thing about a quarter of the time.

http://www.pyramidsolitaire.net/

 

Nice to see Jason Quick giving these guys some coverage -

 

Montero highlights. He looks bigger in the shoulders than I remember from summer league.

 

A couple of observations:
- Montero reminds me of Harkless they way they move. Except it looks like Montero has better handles.
- Alexander looks big.

 

All you college players listen up. The best way to move up to the D-League is to play in the NBA first. Learn the basics by getting that out of the way early, so you will be ready when the opportunity arises.

 

If true, you pronounce it Noir-ell-ell-eh? Maybe with a comma, as in Noir-ell-ell,eh?

Duh. It's already been established that he's related to Hawaiians.

 

If true, that's surprising. Why did he have Paul Allen buy total rights to the Stampede as soon as he became GM. Maybe it's his new opinion, after not using that asset and discontinuing it.

The counter-example is Sessions, who was nothing till he spent his entire rookie year in the D-League.

 

I just read my posts from during the game. 2/3 had typos which rendered them difficult to understand. the other 1/3 had wording which did the same. So I edited tiny changes in 1/2 of them. I figured the other half are within your BBIQs to decipher. Everyone go back and re-read my posts ending in the fine print that says the time of editing.

When you watch the game on YouTube for the second and third times, you can read my cogent analysis for the second and third times. You book publishers will be able to put together my book of readings for the moral preservation of our youth. You anthropologist translators in the year 3000 can write your treatises with ease.

 

Just got done watching the replay.

Montero:

- definitely added size to his frame
- good basketball instincts. Used them to get steals and cuts to the basket to get offensive boards/put backs. Reminds me of Batum defensively with those instincts and length
- dangerous in the open court with the ball in his hands. Think Harkless if he had a handle.
- shot looks improved, more arc
- still gets a little reckless at times but much more controlled than in the summer

Alexander:

- NBA body. Not ideal height but long and strong.
- Plays angry defense. Great help defender. He doesn't just block shots, he wants your soul too. Had a block he smashed against the backboard. Has a Kenyon Martin temperament.
- Natural rebounder. Knows how to box out and uses his length well
- His jumpshot looked ugly
- His finishing looked ugly. Struggled offensively
- Struggled with the fast pace. Clearly not in game shape.
- Played Center
- Decent foul shooter. Better than Plumlee and Ed at least.
- Runs the court
- Sets a good screen


I kinda had an idea what I was going to see out of Alexander, but Montero really looked improved. Seems much more confident. I think he's going to be a player. You just don't see guys his size handle the ball the way he does, and his defensive instincts/versatility intrigue me as well

 

Oh and I forgot to add, Alexander is a really good teammate. He was standing up and clapping when Montero was shooting FREE THROWS.

 

Drink Much?

 

Here's the answer. That was then, this is now. The Mad Ant affiliation was last year. This year, we get to choose the team each time we assign a player.

http://www.hoopsrumors.com/2015/09/nba-d-league-affiliations-for-2015-16.html

Last season, only the Blazers and Bulls did not assign a player to the D-League. So far this season, the only teams are Brooklyn, Denver, New Orleans, and Washington, now that the Blazers finally fell into line.

http://www.hoopsrumors.com/2015/05/201415-league-reports.html

 

I watched the first half again.

Montero is the anti-Leonard, chock full of basketball instincts. He tries to channel his inner McCollum, but is better at channeling his inner Batum as a tall guy who dribbles and slashes. Dribbles between legs, shifts dribble from right hand to left hand to right hand, throwing off defenders so he can rush to the hoop. Excellent unconscious FT shooter, has a runner shot. As he starts a long dribble downcourt, opponents often steal it from him. Went to Westchester CC, 2 miles from the D-league's Westchester Knicks.

Alexander has wide shoulders and narrow calves. He looks like a triangle. High leaper, won opening tap way up over Pendergraph, blocked shots later. Hadn't appeared in a game in 3 months, gassed in 1st quarter, Pendergraph smirked at him being out of shape, had to come out. 2nd quarter: Arm wrestling with center Holyfield, they talked at each other later while standing in FT formation. Took too many open 16-footers off passes, missing all. Only 6-8, he struggled under the basket to create space to get his shot up over Pendie, successful only when he faded away, but not so when he used his baby hook. He's better when he has space to use his leaping ability, but can be wild then and miss by not dunking, or block it uncontrolled out of bounds.

 

Thanks, JL. (May I call you JL?)

 

I liked Montero's production against a D-League team that had a decent amount of NBA experience.

Ayers (Pendergraph), Ryan Gomes have played quite a bit in the NBA, while Jabari Brown and Vander Blue were recent Summer League players who at least got in some pre-season time. Montero's team held there own without nearly the NBA experience.