Blazer Player Profile: Cliff Alexander

Every player entering the NBA has a different story of how they got there. Some took the conventional route of stardom in either high school or college and was a high prospect going into the draft. An example of these is LeBron James, Kevin Durant or Anthony Davis. Others come unnoticed through the ranks but become stars in the pros. Portland has their own in Damian Lillard, as does Indiana with Paul George and Chicago with Jimmy Butler. Rarely do players take the road like Blazers power forward Cliff Alexander.

Alexander’s first sport was always football, as he didn’t hit the hardwood until eight grade. He possesses a very fundamentally sound game due to being brought to the game at a later age and focusing on the basics in order to get time on the court.

Only being 6’8”, Alexander always had the muscle to bruise with other bigs down low. Since his first sport was football, Alexander was consistently in the weight room getting a bigger frame than most kids his age. At 240 pounds, Alexander is still undersized for a power forward. Previous power forward for the Blazers, LaMarcus Aldridge, is also weighs 240 pounds but also has a 3 inch height advantage. Other power forwards like Blake Griffin, Zach Randolph and Kevin Love all weigh 250 plus pounds and are all taller than 6’8”. The one player that resembles Alexander’s height and frame may be the best player in the game: LeBron James. James has a similar physique at 6’8” 240 but obviously plays the game at a different position and a much higher skill level.

Alexander is Small for a Power Forward in the NBA Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Alexander was the third ranked basketball player in the class of 2014 behind other bigs Jahlil Okafor and Myles Turner. Of course Okafor and Turner were drafted in the 2015 NBA draft and Alexander was not. Alexander was under scrutiny at Kansas for an ineligibility issue and had to sit out the final stretch of the season.

Alexander wasn’t all that impressive in the 28 games he played during the season. Only averaging 7.1 points and 5.3 rebounds, Alexander was not much of a difference maker for the Jayhawks. What he did provide was a highlight reel full of dunks.

Despite the highlight reel,Alexander though never really progressed his game in college and may have made a mistake going into the draft after his freshman year. With no real post game or jump shot, Alexander just has his athleticism. He will score a lot of his points on put back dunks or when he runs in transition. On the defensive end may be where he comes elite one day.

As I stated, Alexander is a freak athelete, making blocks and alley oop dunks look easy. If he comes to his own on defense, opposing offenses will have to game plan around like teams do now against DeAndre Jordan, Anthony Davis and Rudy Gobert. Although Alexander is a couple inchers shorter than these guys, he could be just as good as them offensively with the exception of Davis.

Alexander is Dependant on His Athleticism on Offense

            Speaking of how Alexander can develop offensively, a lot of it may depend on how point guard Lillard can get him the ball. Jordan is very reliant on his point guard, Chris Paul, to get him the ball through lobs and duck ins for easy points around the rim. Alexander may be the same way, relying on a very good point guard in Lillard to set up baskets for him, being a positive if he does score. Then his real value come on defense just like Jordan.

Alexander has seen no game time since the summer league and returned to the court at practice after being out a couple of weeks due to a bone bruise in his left knee. During summer league with the Brooklyn Nets, Alexander averaged 7.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 11 games in an average of 22.7 minutes. Obviously the Blazers saw potential in his game and picked him after the Nets released him after summer league.

Now Alexander is fourth on the depth chart behind unproven power forwards Meyers Leornard, Ed Davis and Noah Vonleh. All three of these players have different pieces that can help the Blazers win games in the regular season; Leonard with his offensive ability and ways of stretching the floor, Davis with his physicality and way to grab boards and play above the rim and Vonleh with his overall game and his high ceiling.

Alexander may get his first looks on the court during garbage time when the Blazers are either winning or losing by a wide margin. What he does during that time may either hurt or profit his time on the court in the future. The point guard during this time will be a big key as Alexander does not have a lot of skill on offense and needs extra looks than a more polished offensive player.

After all is said, I think that Alexander will struggle this season. He is a football player playing basketball and was able to bully other players in high school and college because of his size, something a great deal of prospects discover when they come to the NBA. I may be wrong, and I hope I am for the Blazers sake, but this season will set the foundation for Alexander’s career.