DeJuan Blair: Malik Brand or is it Elton Rose?

[Solid D]

I'm trying to think of NBA players that compare with Blair's style of play. Blair is Blair, no question, but he does remind me of a mix of what Malik Rose brought to the court in his prime; Elton Brand with his nose for the ball, and Anthony Mason with his power game.

I dusted this off from Spurstalk's own Mistilynn to remind us of what we Spurs' fans have been missing prior to drafting Blair.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WH9TZ9B6JM

0WH9TZ9B6JM

[rayray2k8]

He's DeJuan Blair.

[slick'81]

why does every undersized pf have to be compared to malik i sure as hell hope dujuan blair is better than malik fkcn rose

I know one thing he can board like barkley or rodman

[DesignatedT]

robert tractor traylor

[Solid D]

why does every undersized pf have to be compared to malik(?)

Let's see. Prior to Blair, I'm trying to think of who "every undersized PF" we've compared to Malik Rose would be. Maybe Noel Felix? That's one...or maybe somebody thought Jackie did...

[Allanon]

Paul Milsap.

[rayray2k8]

Paul Milsap.

Nah. Maybe that version on bad knees.. Who knows?
Summer league should tell people how he'll do.

[slick'81]

Let's see. Prior to Blair, I'm trying to think of who "every undersized PF" we've compared to Malik Rose would be. Maybe Noel Felix? That's one...

point taken :lol i just hope blair can over come the large shadow that is living up 2 malik rose

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/162/438616706_5eddea2d24.jpg?v=0

[lurker23]

I dusted this off from Spurstalk's own Mistilynn to remind us of what we Spurs' fans have been missing prior to drafting Blair.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WH9TZ9B6JM

0WH9TZ9B6JM

Man, I miss Malik... :depressed

I was hoping we could bring him back for a retirement tour of SA at some point, but who knew we'd be too deep/talented to do so? :lol

[Man In Black]

He plays like the hungry Malik, the one that played in SA BEFORE the big contract.
He kind of looks like Elton Brand. Has long arms and a wide base like EB. Not like Anthony Mason. DeJuan is less skilled. Mason, at times, was employed as a Point Forward.

If he plays like say...Otis Thorpe, then we have a dominant O Board Rebounder.

[Spursmania]

Man, I miss Malik... :depressed

I was hoping we could bring him back for a retirement tour of SA at some point, but who knew we'd be too deep/talented to do so? :lol

:toast

[DespЏrado]

Malik was a great player for a couple of years. He really played a huge role for us, if Blair can have a few more good years for us the way Rose did I will call his career a resounding success.

Blair's ceiling has got to be higher than Malik's though. He seems to be a fundamentally better player than Rose. If he can keep his knees in order the dude could be a solid starter for his entire career. Rose was a one of our best 6th men ever, but he was never a great starter.

[raspsa]

Paul Silas.. Wes Unseld

[ManuTP9]

Jackie Butler of course

[YODA]

anyone recall rose having to defend Shaq,,,,,and doing a pretty dam good job?
Always loved his hustle.



Yoda

[peskypesky]

my guess is somewhere between Kwame Brown and Wilt Chamberlain

[poeticism707]

Young Larry Johnson.

Good comparison!

[SouthTexasRancher]

DuJan Blair is Manute Bol in Muggsy Bouges body.

[poeticism707]

DuJan Blair is Manute Bol in Muggsy Bouges body.
:bking

[elbamba]

Rose played solid basketball for the Spurs, I hope Blair is as good if not better. If that is the case then we made a hell of a pickup.

[poeticism707]

Rose played solid basketball for the Spurs, I hope Blair is as good if not better. If that is the case then we made a hell of a pickup.:toast

[dbestpro]

Wes Unseld. Wes had to guard the likes of Jabbar, Chamberlin, Lanier, Cowens, Reed, Bellamy. In fact in those days it seemed every team had a bad ass center.

[poeticism707]

Paul Milsap.

We can only hope!

[Marcus Bryant]

If only he can play like Malik.

But I think he's better. Way better. This pick will go down in Spurs lore like Ginobili and Parker.

[poeticism707]

If only he can play like Malik.

But I think he's better. Way better. This pick will go down in Spurs lore like Ginobili and Parker.

Every other team would be SO upset that anyone could have picked him at any given time!

[poeticism707]

He's DeJuan Blair.
:wow

[Solid D]

If only he can play like Malik.

But I think he's better. Way better. This pick will go down in Spurs lore like Ginobili and Parker.

True dat! I'm with ya.

....way better enough to make 99 Tacos for 2 cents seem like a bad deal.

[EricB]

True dat! I'm with ya.

....way better enough to make 99 Tacos for 2 cents seem like a bad deal.



:lmao that's hilarious...

[slayermin]

Malik Rose was a badass.

[timvp]

This year, if Blair is as good as the '99 version of Malik Rose, I'll be pretty damn happy.

[poeticism707]

This year, if Blair is as good as the '99 version of Malik Rose, I'll be pretty damn happy.

Was Rose that much better in 99 than 2003? I seem to only recall 2003 Rose well.

[poeticism707]

comparing him to elton brand is a reach of epic proportions

Yeah, I'd be shocked if he had Elton's post game, however, it is not stretch for him to be a much better rebounder than Elton.

Combine that with his face up jumper that is decent and will continue to prove, he could be much more useful than Elton.

Meaning, being that he'd be a role player and not a centerpiece, Blair could excel more at his role than Brand at his.

[Man In Black]

If only he can play like Malik.

But I think he's better. Way better. This pick will go down in Spurs lore like Ginobili and Parker.
That would be the shit! :flag:

A heist I tell you. :chestbump

[poeticism707]

That would be the shit! :flag:

A heist I tell you. :chestbump
:bking

[rascal]

No way......Tractor was fat as a mother! He was 300 on draft night after droping nearly 30lbs........he like Oliver Miller ate his way out of the NBA. Blair is much like LJ.........A undersized power player who knows how to use his body to create space and get up shots around the basket. Both were great rebounders who shared knee ailments.

LJ was a much better offensive player. You are now comparing Blair to an all star.

[Solid D]

comparing him to elton brand is a reach of epic proportions

First Team All-Americans are like a box 'o chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.

[poeticism707]

First Team All-Americans are like a box 'o chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.

[rascal]

If only he can play like Malik.

But I think he's better. Way better. This pick will go down in Spurs lore like Ginobili and Parker.

Agree. Malik did not have the college success that Blair has had.

[Doctor J]

Paul Silas.. Wes Unseld

That's a great comparison!

Both Silas and Unseld never had leaping ability.
Nonetheless, they dominated the boards with wide bodies, tenacity and will.

I think Malik Rose was a bit more athletic than Blair.

Elton Brand has always been better skilled than most power forwards.


Blair has a tremendous potential to become a beast combining the strengths of these players.

He's got the nose for rebounding like Silas and Unseld.

He's got the guts and enthusiasm of Malik Rose.

He's got the body (especially wingspan) and the face of Elton Brand. :lol

[poeticism707]

Agree. Malik did not have the college success that Blair has had.
:toast

[Da Spurs]

Mini Moses Malone

Relentless on the boards, wide body, knack for the ball.

[poeticism707]

Mini Moses Malone

Relentless on the boards, wide body, knack for the ball.
:hat

[Knoxxx]

Blair's build says LJ to me, but if we can just get a Bass/Millsap/Powe-type of player out of him, the heist is on! We don't expect LJ-type offense, but he should dominate the boards at times.

[slick'81]

id like to c what he can do when hes not asked to score much and just concentrate on the glass

[Whisky Dog]

Luis Scola.

[SonOfAGun]

Blair is going to be sick when he bulks up like Dice.

[poeticism707]

Blair is going to be sick when he bulks up like Dice.

Blair is probably already as bulky as Dice, naturally.

[K-State Spur]

robert tractor traylor

traylor didn't have near the collegiate success that blair has had. he relied on just being bigger than most of his opponents at that level.

in the big east, blair had to deal with guys who were bigger than he was, and still had success.

[poeticism707]

traylor didn't have near the collegiate success that blair has had. he relied on just being bigger than most of his opponents at that level.

in the big east, blair had to deal with guys who were bigger than he was, and still had success.

True.

I really hope Blair from Game 1 demonstrates all he seems capable of.

[Spursone]

I would say a Malik Rose on Steroids! Rose was undersized, but even with his limitations would play his ass off. Blair has the wingspan of a 747, has fire, intensity and skills. Can't wait to hear reports from the summer league.

:flag:

[sananspursfan21]

my guess is somewhere between Kwame Brown and Wilt Chamberlain


so that's like the same distance as 10-1000?

[peskypesky]

Mini Moses Malone

Relentless on the boards, wide body, knack for the ball.

:toast

I like this. The best comparison so far. A mini-Moses.

[manu_maniac]

0WH9TZ9B6JM

Thanks for the video! Malik was one of my favorite players back then, even though I was 10. I wish I was older during the '99 championship. I had such a limited understanding of b-ball.


so that's like the same distance as 10-1000?

Yeah, between Kwame Brown & Wilt? That is beyond ridiculous.

[BackHome]

Larry Johnson is what comes to mind which is pretty damn exciting getting a guy like that in the second round!

[angelbelow]

if he develops a nice 15 foot jumper he would be pretty damn tough to guard

[poeticism707]

if he develops a nice 15 foot jumper he would be pretty damn tough to guard

Blair already has a developing jumper, it's already decent now and should continue to improve under Chip England.

You are most correct: that 10-12 foot jumper will make him a VERY TOUGH COVER for other post players.

[HarlemHeat37]

He isn't comparable to anybody right now..

the only similarities with Malik is that they're both short for their position, and they play for the Spurs..

Elton Brand is way off..Dejuan will be a better rebounder IMO, but that's it..Brand is money from mid-range, and he's a much better defensive player..