Clyde "The Glide" Riding the Pine in Portland

1983-84 Boston Celtics
Record: 12-5
12/2/1983

He is one of the first two alumni from Phi Slama Jama to begin graduate work in the NBA. Clyde (The Glide) Drexler fully expects his pro career to take off just like it did when he was slamming in dunk shots for the University of Houston. But his first goal is to get off the Portland Trail Blazers' bench, where coach Jack Ramsay feels he should stay for a while and absorb some of the fine points of playing in the pros. Drexler is averaging 7.2 minutes a contest thus far and has failed to score in his last two games.

But Drexler thinks a lack of exposure is just the thing that is keeping him from becoming a polished pro. He understands the Trail Blazer system and knows he must wait his turn. But that doesn't mean he has to like it. "The pro game is fine," said Drexler, a hardship draft for NCAA runnerup Houston. "Whenever I get a chance to play, I like it.

When he (Ramsay) puts me on the bench, I don't like it so much. "I just didn't realize there was so much involved in playing. I always thought if you could show what you could do on the court, you'd get your share of playing time. But it's not like that." Ramsay says simply that Drexler, who along with Kansas City's Larry Micheaux is one of two Cougars from last year's NCAA finalist team playing in the NBA, agrees with his coach. But not entirely. "I've got a lot to learn," Drexler said, "but nothing that is impossible.

The only way you can learn it is with playing time. "You have a lot of fun playing against the best players in the world. But it's not any fun watching all the time." Drexler, with a graceful 6-foot-6 body, says people in the East like to compare him to former Buffalo and New York star Randy Smith. "I think they do that because we both leap a lot and are quick," he said. "They also tell me I play like the Doctor. But I haven't had a chance to show it yet."

MISC

As expected, both forward Kevin McHale (twisted left ankle) and guard Dennis Johnson (bruised right thigh) recovered enough to play last night . . . Red Auerbach continues to make news when there is none. He will appear on the CBS Sunday Morning show tomorrow with Charles Kuralt . . . With the 76ers coming to town that night (7:30), a beer company will distribute 15,000 green and white painters' hats.