duncan228
07-12-2009, 11:17 PM
Spurs' Blair bangs the boards (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Spurs_Blair_bangs_the_boards.html)
Jeff McDonald
LAS VEGAS A mere 65 seconds after checking into his first NBA summer league game, Spurs rookie DeJuan Blair hip-checked his way through a pair of defenders, snatched an offensive rebound away from two defenders and double-pumped the ball back into the basket.
From his courtside seat at UNLV's Cox Pavilion, New Orleans coach Byron Scott shook his head in amazement.
That is a man down there, Scott said, motioning in the direction of the wide-bodied Blair.
On the day that the Spurs made him the 37th overall pick in the NBA draft, Blair swore he would make sure every team that had passed on him regretted it.
He wasted little time scratching one team off his hit list Sunday.
In his highly anticipated summer league debut, Blair a 6-foot-7 All-American from Pittsburgh finished with 13 points to go with 10 rebounds as the Spurs beat New Orleans 92-86.
After it, Blair was in too good of a mood to say, I told you so.
I was just having fun, Blair said, flashing a quick smile. I showed a lot of people what I can do, what they missed out on.
Widely regarded as the best rebounder in college basketball last season, Blair thrived as advertised in his maiden summer league foray.
He entered the game with 5:10 left in the first quarter. Thirty-five seconds later, he recorded his first rebound, bird-dogging a defensive rebound into the corner.
Six minutes into his stint, Blair already had five rebounds.
If there's a rebound, he's going to go get it, said Spurs assistant coach Don Newman, who is guiding the summer league squad. He has such a knack for that. He does it better than anybody did it in the college game.
Blair scored most of his points on putbacks. Three of his four field goals resulted in 3-point plays.
In that, he did not show the Spurs anything they did not already know.
That's what I do, Blair said. That's what's on the scouting report.
It can be folly to project too much from one summer league game. Often, what happens in Vegas really does stay in Vegas.
Just as it was for George Hill, the last top Spurs rookie to come through the Cox Pavilion.
A year ago, Hill missed 23 of 25 shots during the Spurs' first three summer league games, leading to knee-jerk doubts about his ability to play in the NBA. He led the Spurs with 25 points Sunday, going 7 for 13 from the field, including a pair of soaring dunks.
By the end of the first quarter, Hill had made twice as many field goals (four) as he did all last year in Vegas.
Malik Hairston scored all 16 of his points in the second half for the Spurs, including 11 in a three-minute stretch of the third quarter. The 6-foot-6 swingman showed off a shooting range rarely seen in his 15-game stint with the Spurs last season, knocking down a pair of 3-pointers.
It was Blair, however, who generated the most silver-and-black buzz. He was the last Spurs player to leave the arena after the game, held up by a media horde clamoring for his attention.
Blair seemed unimpressed by the whole affair.
I just did what everybody thought I could do, Blair said, shrugging. I rebounded.
Even though it was only a summer league game, the Spurs believe Blair will be producing similar statistical lines in NBA arenas someday soon.
If he does, Blair would be as significant an offseason addition as any for a team that ranked 18th in the league in rebounding last season.
In the meantime, the Tour de Vengeance goes on, though Blair says he came to terms with his draft-night snub on draft night.
It's in the past, Blair said. I'm not really worried about that now. Fans don't know who got drafted where.
Fans don't, but Blair does. He is out to show the rest of the NBA what it missed out on.
One team at a time.
Jeff McDonald
LAS VEGAS A mere 65 seconds after checking into his first NBA summer league game, Spurs rookie DeJuan Blair hip-checked his way through a pair of defenders, snatched an offensive rebound away from two defenders and double-pumped the ball back into the basket.
From his courtside seat at UNLV's Cox Pavilion, New Orleans coach Byron Scott shook his head in amazement.
That is a man down there, Scott said, motioning in the direction of the wide-bodied Blair.
On the day that the Spurs made him the 37th overall pick in the NBA draft, Blair swore he would make sure every team that had passed on him regretted it.
He wasted little time scratching one team off his hit list Sunday.
In his highly anticipated summer league debut, Blair a 6-foot-7 All-American from Pittsburgh finished with 13 points to go with 10 rebounds as the Spurs beat New Orleans 92-86.
After it, Blair was in too good of a mood to say, I told you so.
I was just having fun, Blair said, flashing a quick smile. I showed a lot of people what I can do, what they missed out on.
Widely regarded as the best rebounder in college basketball last season, Blair thrived as advertised in his maiden summer league foray.
He entered the game with 5:10 left in the first quarter. Thirty-five seconds later, he recorded his first rebound, bird-dogging a defensive rebound into the corner.
Six minutes into his stint, Blair already had five rebounds.
If there's a rebound, he's going to go get it, said Spurs assistant coach Don Newman, who is guiding the summer league squad. He has such a knack for that. He does it better than anybody did it in the college game.
Blair scored most of his points on putbacks. Three of his four field goals resulted in 3-point plays.
In that, he did not show the Spurs anything they did not already know.
That's what I do, Blair said. That's what's on the scouting report.
It can be folly to project too much from one summer league game. Often, what happens in Vegas really does stay in Vegas.
Just as it was for George Hill, the last top Spurs rookie to come through the Cox Pavilion.
A year ago, Hill missed 23 of 25 shots during the Spurs' first three summer league games, leading to knee-jerk doubts about his ability to play in the NBA. He led the Spurs with 25 points Sunday, going 7 for 13 from the field, including a pair of soaring dunks.
By the end of the first quarter, Hill had made twice as many field goals (four) as he did all last year in Vegas.
Malik Hairston scored all 16 of his points in the second half for the Spurs, including 11 in a three-minute stretch of the third quarter. The 6-foot-6 swingman showed off a shooting range rarely seen in his 15-game stint with the Spurs last season, knocking down a pair of 3-pointers.
It was Blair, however, who generated the most silver-and-black buzz. He was the last Spurs player to leave the arena after the game, held up by a media horde clamoring for his attention.
Blair seemed unimpressed by the whole affair.
I just did what everybody thought I could do, Blair said, shrugging. I rebounded.
Even though it was only a summer league game, the Spurs believe Blair will be producing similar statistical lines in NBA arenas someday soon.
If he does, Blair would be as significant an offseason addition as any for a team that ranked 18th in the league in rebounding last season.
In the meantime, the Tour de Vengeance goes on, though Blair says he came to terms with his draft-night snub on draft night.
It's in the past, Blair said. I'm not really worried about that now. Fans don't know who got drafted where.
Fans don't, but Blair does. He is out to show the rest of the NBA what it missed out on.
One team at a time.