duncan228
12-17-2009, 01:14 AM
Headline updated.
Spurs’ shot doctor working with Blair
Spurs rookie Blair works to fix shot (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/Spurs_rookie_Blair_works_to_fix_shot.html)
Jeff McDonald
OAKLAND, Calif. — Spurs rookie DeJuan Blair has a standing appointment with the team's resident shot doctor.
For the past week, Blair has been meeting with shooting coach Chip Engelland to refine his awkward shooting stroke.
Heading into Wednesday's game against Golden State, Blair was hitting a team-leading 60.6 percent from the field, a figure that ranks first among NBA rookies. Most of Blair's buckets have come on offensive putbacks, however, and he is shooting a meager 50 percent from the foul line.
Hence, the daily work with Engelland, who over the offseason helped guard George Hill refine his outside shot. The two convene mostly in the morning to help Blair buff up his mid-range and foul shooting.
“We waited until he got comfortable, so we could watch him for a while and see what would be the best approach,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “Now Chip feels comfortable enough that he knows where he wants to start with him.”
The undertaking is a massive one. At times, Blair's shot can come off like a knuckleball.
“We're basically fixing the whole shot,” Blair said.
Popovich, meanwhile, continues to be enamored with what Blair is producing on the court. He said before Tuesday's game he is considering reinserting Blair in the starting lineup at some point.
“If the coach had any brains, he'd be playing him more,” Popovich said. “The guy is like a stat machine.”
Nellie's back: Don Nelson was back on the bench for Golden State after his second five-game hiatus while on sick leave. Nelson, who was battling pneumonia, missed 10 of the Warriors' previous 12 games, all of them on the road. The Warriors went 3-7 under interim coach Keith Smart in Nelson's absence.
Before Wednesday's game, Nelson pronounced himself, “All better, 100 percent.”
Popovich, who chatted with Nelson courtside before the game, said he thought his old friend and former boss looked vigorous.
“For him, he looked good,” Popovich cracked.
Merely freshmen: Popovich admitted the task of getting his team in sync after the massive summertime rebuilding effort has been more difficult than he expected.
“I look at us like a college freshman team almost,” Popovich said. “We've lost a lot of our corporate knowledge. We haven't played well. We've been inconsistent.”
Hits keep coming: Golden State was without starting center Mikki Moore, who is set for surgery to remove bone spurs from his right heel and is out indefinitely. Moore's absence left the perennially short-handed Warriors with eight players available against the Spurs.
“We've got a small team and eight guys that are available,” Nelson said. “There's not a lot you can do.”
Spurs’ shot doctor working with Blair
Spurs rookie Blair works to fix shot (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/Spurs_rookie_Blair_works_to_fix_shot.html)
Jeff McDonald
OAKLAND, Calif. — Spurs rookie DeJuan Blair has a standing appointment with the team's resident shot doctor.
For the past week, Blair has been meeting with shooting coach Chip Engelland to refine his awkward shooting stroke.
Heading into Wednesday's game against Golden State, Blair was hitting a team-leading 60.6 percent from the field, a figure that ranks first among NBA rookies. Most of Blair's buckets have come on offensive putbacks, however, and he is shooting a meager 50 percent from the foul line.
Hence, the daily work with Engelland, who over the offseason helped guard George Hill refine his outside shot. The two convene mostly in the morning to help Blair buff up his mid-range and foul shooting.
“We waited until he got comfortable, so we could watch him for a while and see what would be the best approach,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “Now Chip feels comfortable enough that he knows where he wants to start with him.”
The undertaking is a massive one. At times, Blair's shot can come off like a knuckleball.
“We're basically fixing the whole shot,” Blair said.
Popovich, meanwhile, continues to be enamored with what Blair is producing on the court. He said before Tuesday's game he is considering reinserting Blair in the starting lineup at some point.
“If the coach had any brains, he'd be playing him more,” Popovich said. “The guy is like a stat machine.”
Nellie's back: Don Nelson was back on the bench for Golden State after his second five-game hiatus while on sick leave. Nelson, who was battling pneumonia, missed 10 of the Warriors' previous 12 games, all of them on the road. The Warriors went 3-7 under interim coach Keith Smart in Nelson's absence.
Before Wednesday's game, Nelson pronounced himself, “All better, 100 percent.”
Popovich, who chatted with Nelson courtside before the game, said he thought his old friend and former boss looked vigorous.
“For him, he looked good,” Popovich cracked.
Merely freshmen: Popovich admitted the task of getting his team in sync after the massive summertime rebuilding effort has been more difficult than he expected.
“I look at us like a college freshman team almost,” Popovich said. “We've lost a lot of our corporate knowledge. We haven't played well. We've been inconsistent.”
Hits keep coming: Golden State was without starting center Mikki Moore, who is set for surgery to remove bone spurs from his right heel and is out indefinitely. Moore's absence left the perennially short-handed Warriors with eight players available against the Spurs.
“We've got a small team and eight guys that are available,” Nelson said. “There's not a lot you can do.”