Lever learning new role
With 7:06 to play in the Port
land Trail Blazers 91-86 Nation
al Basketball Association ex
hibition win over the Golden
State Warriors Friday at
McArthur Court, Portland coach
Jack Ramsay called time out
As the Blazer players took
their places on the bench,
Ramsay turned his attention
toward the newest of the faces
in front of him and patiently
relayed a message of instruc
tion Before the team retook the
floor, assistant coach Jim Lyn
am added words of encour
agement for the rookie
Then it was time for 6-3
Lafayette Fat’ Lever, who
signed with the Blazers a week
ago, to return to the hardwood
for more on-the-job training
Three and a half minutes
later, Lever found himself along
the right baseline and forced up
one of his six misfires on the
evening At the next break in the
action, Darnell Valentine, the
second-year player who ap
pears to have the starting nod,
returned to the floor and Lever
took a seat next to Ramsay for
more tutoring.
With the regular season
opener just two weeks away,
Lever, the Blazers' number one
draft choice out of Arizona
State, still has a lot of learning to
do
"It would be a huge, huge
problem had he not been with
us this summer,” said Lynam,
refering to Fat s’ participation
at the summer pro league in Los
Angeles Lever practiced with
the team in Los Angeles, but did
not participate in the games
‘‘Also, he is a very quick
learner," Lynam added
That is important with any
rookie, but it may be more so for
Lever Fresh out of ASU, the
Blazers will be asking him to
back up Valentine at the point
guard with the exodus of Kelvin
Ransey to Dallas That means
he must be able to quarterback
the offense he is now learning in
short order
"I like it right now," Lever said
of his position with the Blazers
"I accept alt the help I can get
Second-year guard Darnell Valentine will move into starting spot
at point guard for the Blazers this season
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from the coaches and my
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Lever, who was wearing a
Blazer uniform for only the
second time, showed flashes of
what the Blazers drafted him for
while handing out three assists
and scoring four points Midway
through the second quarter he
burst up the floor and lofted a
perfect lead pass to Wayne
Cooper on the left wing for a
slam dunk which gave the
Blazers a 34-30 lead
With the Blazers looking to
run at every opportunity this
season, the quickness of Lever
and Valentine coming out of the
backcourt is a key ingredient
' For now. I'm pleased with
getting the ball out. ' said Ram
say, adding that the execution
at the end of the fast break will
come in time
Execution is what Lever is
concentrating on these days
Early in the game he spent
much of his time roaming the
outside at the offensive end,
and an equal amount of time
checking with the bench for in
struction
"I think it is because I'm not
sure," Lever said of his lack of
assertiveness on offense
Sometimes, if you try to do too
much it gets you into trouble "
With Ransey gone, Lever will
get plenty of opportunities to
cause trouble tor opposing
guards this season as under
study to Valentine But, he said
he doesn't feel any added pres
sure in replacing Ransey
"I don't think that adds pres
sure," the rookie said. "I can t
worry about being like Kelvin
Ransey. The only pressure is
the pressure I put on myself."
Ramsay is satisfied with his
guard situation at this point In
addition to Lever's new face,
there are changes at off guard
with Billy Ray Bates being
released. Jeff Lamp, the second
year man from Virginia, will
backup Jim Paxson at the off
guard, along with Linton
Townes, a rookie sharpshooter
from James Madison.
The coach is pleased to have
Lever on board "He gives us
good support behind Valentine.
He has good quickness, a good
Rookie Lafayette ‘Fat' Lever undergoes on-the-job-training after
his holdout.
sense for the game and he is a
good passer He picks up the
game quickly," Ramsay said
So does Valentine, who will
go from part-time point guard to
main man this season He is
looking to play 30 to 38 minutes
a game, and he is looking for
ward to getting out on the break
"We're getting the ball up
court a little bit better. We had a
lot of good opportunities,’’
Valentine said of the Blazers'
effort Friday, which included the
usual pre-season sloppiness. “I
think things are going to open
up a lot more for us this year, "
he said of the break.
Valentine said he is comfor
table in filling Ransey’s shoes as
quarterback of the Blazer at
tack. "Very much so. Do I look
it?" he said with a smile.
He does
He is also looking forward to
having Lever around "We have
a lot of similarities. Fat's going
to be a great addition to our
team.”
Lynam agrees that Valentine
and Lever will provide the team
with similar abilities at the point
guard position. "Both are quick,
good penetrators, with good
ball handling abilities and play
good defense."
“I'm a big Kelvin Ransey fan,"
said Lynam. “And, to be honest
with you, trading Ransey was a
bit of a risk," he added noting
Valentine saw only limited ac
tion last season "But, I think
Darnell is showing that he has
the ability to do a good job for us
this year. "
The Ransey trade can also be
judged at the post position
where Cooper, who the Blazers
got from Dallas in the Ransay
trade was impressive in spelling
Mychal Thompson against the
Warriors. In 21 minutes Cooper
contributed 17 points and eight
rebounds to the Blazers cause
Story by Paul Danzer
Photos by Kevin Clark
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