duncan228
02-13-2010, 03:17 AM
Blair sets Rookie record (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Blair_sets_Rookie_record.html)
Mike Monroe
DALLAS DeJuan Blair tilted his head down toward a doctor who was examining the Spurs rookie forward's blood-red right eye during Friday's NBA Rookie Challenge game at American Airlines Center.
Moments earlier, Golden State's Anthony Morrow, playing for the team of second-year NBA stars, had unintentionally poked a finger in Blair's eye after the Spurs' rebounding phenomenon had yanked down his 13th rebound, with 14:58 remaining in a game the Rookies would easily win, 140-128.
I'm all right, Blair told the man. I'm not letting this little thing keep me out. I'm having too much fun.
Indeed, the Spurs' second-round steal of the 2009 draft had a blast in the annual battle between the top rookies and the best second-year players. He dominated the interior and recorded the first 20-20 game since the league added the event in 2000.
Blair finished with nearly everything he could have hoped for: 22 points on 11-of-19 shooting and a Rookie Challege-record 23 rebounds. Elton Brand, then playing for the Chicago Bulls, had the old record, 21.
Blair, who was named to the nine-man rookie squad last month, had promised to go after Brand's record and snatched his 22nd rebound with 34 seconds remaining.
What Blair didn't get was the Most Valuable Player Award. That went to Sacramento Kings rookie Tyreke Evans, who tallied 26 points, six rebounds, five assists and five steals.
It hurts me, man, said Blair, shaking his head. It really does hurt me, but it is what it is.
In fact, a panel of media voters had been asked to turn in their MVP ballots with several minutes remaining in the game, the rookies well ahead and Evans' scoring work mostly done.
Blair pulled down his last six rebounds in the final 90 seconds and added the final two baskets that gave him the 20-20 in the final minute.
A recount, said rookies coach Adrian Dantley, surely would have given Blair the award.
It's too bad, Dantley said. He was an animal.
Evans, handed the MVP award, made a generous gesture indicating he wanted to share the trophy with Blair.
I'm going to share this MVP with (Blair), he said, and both players raised the trophy on the court.
Officially, the trophy will remain with Evans.
I just can't catch a break, man, Blair said. I don't know what I've got to do, but that's all right.
What mattered most, Blair said, was breaking the rebound record and having fun.
Oh, what fun he had.
His merriment included attempting a 3-point shot during the first half he missed and running out on a breakaway, tossing the ball off the backboard back to himself for a thunderous, right-handed dunk.
Just something I used to do back in the day, back in high school when I had fun, fun, fun like that every game, he said.
He joked that he had watched old film of teammates Tim Duncan and Antonio McDyess and more recent videotape of Richard Jefferson to know how to execute the carom dunk.
It helped that Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was nowhere to be seen.
I know for sure Pop wasn't over there, because I shot a three.
Had Popovich been in the building?
Let's just say I wouldn't just be on the bench, I'd be in the locker room, Blair said, giggling. But let's not talk about that. This was an All-Star Game.
Mike Monroe
DALLAS DeJuan Blair tilted his head down toward a doctor who was examining the Spurs rookie forward's blood-red right eye during Friday's NBA Rookie Challenge game at American Airlines Center.
Moments earlier, Golden State's Anthony Morrow, playing for the team of second-year NBA stars, had unintentionally poked a finger in Blair's eye after the Spurs' rebounding phenomenon had yanked down his 13th rebound, with 14:58 remaining in a game the Rookies would easily win, 140-128.
I'm all right, Blair told the man. I'm not letting this little thing keep me out. I'm having too much fun.
Indeed, the Spurs' second-round steal of the 2009 draft had a blast in the annual battle between the top rookies and the best second-year players. He dominated the interior and recorded the first 20-20 game since the league added the event in 2000.
Blair finished with nearly everything he could have hoped for: 22 points on 11-of-19 shooting and a Rookie Challege-record 23 rebounds. Elton Brand, then playing for the Chicago Bulls, had the old record, 21.
Blair, who was named to the nine-man rookie squad last month, had promised to go after Brand's record and snatched his 22nd rebound with 34 seconds remaining.
What Blair didn't get was the Most Valuable Player Award. That went to Sacramento Kings rookie Tyreke Evans, who tallied 26 points, six rebounds, five assists and five steals.
It hurts me, man, said Blair, shaking his head. It really does hurt me, but it is what it is.
In fact, a panel of media voters had been asked to turn in their MVP ballots with several minutes remaining in the game, the rookies well ahead and Evans' scoring work mostly done.
Blair pulled down his last six rebounds in the final 90 seconds and added the final two baskets that gave him the 20-20 in the final minute.
A recount, said rookies coach Adrian Dantley, surely would have given Blair the award.
It's too bad, Dantley said. He was an animal.
Evans, handed the MVP award, made a generous gesture indicating he wanted to share the trophy with Blair.
I'm going to share this MVP with (Blair), he said, and both players raised the trophy on the court.
Officially, the trophy will remain with Evans.
I just can't catch a break, man, Blair said. I don't know what I've got to do, but that's all right.
What mattered most, Blair said, was breaking the rebound record and having fun.
Oh, what fun he had.
His merriment included attempting a 3-point shot during the first half he missed and running out on a breakaway, tossing the ball off the backboard back to himself for a thunderous, right-handed dunk.
Just something I used to do back in the day, back in high school when I had fun, fun, fun like that every game, he said.
He joked that he had watched old film of teammates Tim Duncan and Antonio McDyess and more recent videotape of Richard Jefferson to know how to execute the carom dunk.
It helped that Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was nowhere to be seen.
I know for sure Pop wasn't over there, because I shot a three.
Had Popovich been in the building?
Let's just say I wouldn't just be on the bench, I'd be in the locker room, Blair said, giggling. But let's not talk about that. This was an All-Star Game.