Portland Trail Blazers: 3 reasons to be excited about second-round pick CJ Elleby

No. 1: CJ Elleby has “big-gamer” potential

We can discuss Synergy percentiles, wingspan specs, and per game statistics until we’re blue in the face. But personally, it appears that every year, one of the most important questions is one that seldom gets asked: how does the prospect play in must-win games? How does he respond to the pressure of rivalry and ranked head-to-head games?

Elleby left tons to appreciate on film in that regard. His statistics within the actual PAC-12 conference — 16.6 points and 8.6 rebounds on 34-35-83 percent shooting splits — are a mixed bag. But four games in particular stood out above all else:

The Washington vs. Washington State “rivalry” added two new chapters during the 2019-20 season, as Elleby braced for star vs. star duels with this year’s No. 28 pick Jaden McDaniels.

In those two games, Elleby put two-way potential on display, taking shifts guarding the offensively-explosive McDaniels, and averaging 32.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.5 steals, and 2.5 blocks across two games, while shooting 58.6 percent from the field, 64.3 percent from 3 (9-of-14), and 100 percent from the free throw line.

And no, there’s not a typo in sight.

A quick study of that 34-point game that Elleby had on Feb. 9 will quickly turn you into a fan.

Elleby not only showcased late-game excellence and dominated down the stretch, but he showed his ability to play intense defense while in foul trouble. It put the best of his abilities on display.

A month later, Elleby led his underdog Cougars to the PAC-12 Tournament, upsetting Colorado, on the back of 30-point, 10-rebound, 5-assist masterpiece on 10-of-17 shooting. And then there’s his 25-point, 14-rebound game that earned the Cougars a win over the No. 8-seeded Oregon.

Elleby’s numbers will tell you — that efficiency and production wasn’t a given. But when it’s nut-cutting time and palms get sweaty, you want a player who puts the onus on himself and gets the job done. He hit shots late in games with regularity — see his game-winner over Arizona State, or his game-tying shot against UCLA that led to a win.

The Portland Trail Blazers have a new late-game assassin of its own brewing in Gary Trent Jr. One has to get excited thinking about the potential of a second one helping carry that torch in future seasons.