Is Blair to Blame?

[Nathan89]

The Spurs have started Blair for three games now and Duncan has not been nearly as effective as he has been to start the last couple of seasons. He had a great first game but this was a result of Duncan shooting a extremely high percentage from mid-range. After that he had a rough game against the Hornet where Blair played 38 minutes, followed by this game which was much better and coincidentally Blair only played 19 minutes. Is this just a bad start by Tim or is his poor performance the result of playing with Blair who is clogging up the paint on the offensive side of the ball?

[ducks]

duncan looked good in game one

[BanditHiro]

duncan was just playing passive the past few games. i think this up tempo speed the spurs are trying to play at is ruining his rhythm

[phyzik]

duncan looked good in game one

this.

Although I do agree, against certain teams, blair should NOT be starting.

[Cry Havoc]

It takes time for players to adapt to relatively simple systems. San Antonio runs some of the most complex sets in the NBA. Blair is still figuring out his role, and where he needs to be as a starter. Give him time.

[z0sa]

Tim is getting older, guys.. you can't expect him to be playing his best game until later in the season. The chemistry between those two needs to improve, too, but if we want Timmy at 95% or better come playoff time, he is just gonna have to take these types of games off, more or less, especially if Pop intends on playing him most b2b's.

[AlleyOopNazi]

Timmy is playing better than usual. I hate to say it but Blair is better from the bench, I would insert Dice in as starter until Splitter is ready to take over. Blair is a great 6th on this team and tends to dominate second units. He plays well when Manu is running point a lot for the second unit. Problem is he can't stretch the floor and doesn't guard well extended from the basket. Until then Dice gets my go ahead call.

[DespЏrado]

Blair is going to be there in a few games. This is just normal growth jitters for a new role. It's an adjustment, give him time, and he will be beasting on his opponents very soon.

I say he might need 2 more games to get his game back... He will lead the Spurs in scoring more than a few times this year. I still think he could average more than Duncan.

[DJB]

It's somewhat disappointing to say, but, I wouldn't be surprised to see Blair lose his starting position sooner than later. He's just not playing well. Period.

Plus, I agree that Blair may be a better option off the bench. If there is one thing he can provide us with, it's being a spark plug, ball of energy off the pinewood.

[20beastie45]

IMO Blair won't be starting towards the end of the season..

[BanditHiro]

IMO Blair won't be starting towards the end of the season..

of course Splitter's defensive play will make pop start him and blair will be in a more comfortable role playing from the bench

[20beastie45]

of course Splitter's defensive play will make pop start him and blair will be in a more comfortable role playing from the bench

Who said anything about Splitter starting...DICE is a solid start.....at about 20-25 min tho.

[cheguevara]

duncan looked good in game one

/thread

sad when ducks closes the thread

[yavozerb]

We need to remember that scoring is secondary for blair. Most of his pts well come of put backs and pick/roll plays mainly with manu. As long as he is rebounding and playing average defense I have no problem with starting. I was watching major league 2 the other day and I couldnt help but to compare blair with willy mays hays. WMH started that 2nd season thinking he was a home run hitter when actually his team needed him most to remain a true leadoff hitter and cause havoc on the bases. I have this feeling that Blair believes he needs to contribute more on offense and is getting away from the things the spurs need him to do the most, which is rebounding, hustle plays, and setting solid screens..just a thought

[elec99]

I think if/once Tiago is ready then Blair goes back to the bench. He seems to be more comfortable wreaking havoc on other team's second units. It also could be that when he starts, Manu is not out there setting him up. Also he has to play PF to Timmy.

[ohmwrecker]

Who said anything about Splitter starting...DICE is a solid start.....at about 20-25 min tho.

I would feel better pairing Blair with McDyess off the bench if Splitter develops fast enough. Blair can work the glass and post and pass out to McDyess who is money with the 15 footer.

[Obstructed_View]

Duncan looked like complete and total shit in the first half last night, and it had nothing to do with Blair, who was in foul trouble for most of that time.

[kskonn]

I think Blair is going through a little bit of what Malik Rose went through. He is trying to do a little to much, he will settle in and find his groove, which may be coming off the bench or it may be starting.

[cd98]

Blair has played well on everything except scoring. He does a lot to help the Spurs win. He creates turnovers and he gets rebounds. No reason to freak out over a few bad offensive games. He'll be beasting soon enough.

The twin tower defense last night (Duncan and Splitter) showed promise for the few minutes they were on the court together.

[urunobili]

Not worried yet... :) his BB IQ is really high so it's just an adjustment period. Pop gave him the starting Job for him to get used to the highest level of competition.

Hammering 2nd units it's already under his belt after last season. He's still is yet to prove he can hang in with the best out there.

My projection is that he'll get decent but Splitter will take over the starting spot and the beast will play a Malik Rose kind of role. the Bench energy spark to bring hustle :)

[ChumpDumper]

Blair has sucked, but his sucking has nothing to do with Duncan's sucking when he sucked.

[Libri]

Blair has sucked, but his sucking has nothing to do with Duncan's sucking when he sucked.

:lol

[eisfeld]

Blair and Parker in the starting lineup is not the perfect fit. Blair plays better with Manu on the floor. It'll take a few games but he should be solid. With Splitter finally playing I wouldn't be surprised if he takes his spot later that season.

Hopefully Bonner and Dice will not start...

[yavozerb]

Blair and Parker in the starting lineup is not the perfect fit. Blair plays better with Manu on the floor. It'll take a few games but he should be solid. With Splitter finally playing I wouldn't be surprised if he takes his spot later that season.

Hopefully Bonner and Dice will not start...

Doesn't Manu also start alongside blair and parker?

[hater]

yes he does but Manu does not handle ball as much when Parker is out there.

But doesn't matter. If Blair wants to start he needs to play well regardless of Manu.

[eisfeld]

yes he does but Manu does not handle ball as much when Parker is out there.

But doesn't matter. If Blair wants to start he needs to play well regardless of Manu.

That's what I wanted to say... a 12 hour work day is really bad for my brain :depressed

[TD 21]

Blair has sucked, but his sucking has nothing to do with Duncan's sucking when he sucked.

I agree. I don't buy this whole "spacing" nonsense. Not to say it doesn't help Duncan, because it does, just like it does any player. But it's not like he hasn't succeeded playing next to a non shooter. People pretend as if Mohammed and Oberto never played on the Spurs, like they didn't win championships with them starting at center...only they did and Duncan was widely considered to be the best player in the world during that time. What Duncan needs next to him more than anything, is a big who can help him defend the rim.

You look at the Lakers when Bynum is healthy, do they care that he has virtually no shooting range and go "we're not playing him next to Gasol"? No...and they're the two-time defending champs.

Some games Duncan struggles in, no question, will be age/mileage related. Other games, he'll just struggle. It won't be age/mileage related, it won't be Blair playing next to him, it'll be the fact that it happens to every player throughout the course of a long season. People need to accept that fact and not always read too much into it.

[Xevious]

I say give it time. They may have to change the lineup eventually, but give Blair a chance to prove himself as a starter. Last year every game had a different starting lineup and nobody got any chance to find their place. Until Splitter gets acclimated, there's no reason to make a change anyway. McDyess seems like he'll have the same level of production whether he starts or comes off the bench.

[The Truth #6]

Blair needs to get back to his roots. That is true.

We aren't pounding the ball into Tim so I don't see what there is to complain about. Other players like RJ, Tony, Neal, and Anderson are playing well so I think a balanced attack is a way better idea than 4 Down every play. Save that for the playoffs if possible.

[ChumpDumper]

I agree. I don't buy this whole "spacing" nonsense. Not to say it doesn't help Duncan, because it does, just like it does any player. But it's not like he hasn't succeeded playing next to a non shooter. People pretend as if Mohammed and Oberto never played on the Spurs, like they didn't win championships with them starting at center...only they did and Duncan was widely considered to be the best player in the world during that time. What Duncan needs next to him more than anything, is a big who can help him defend the rim.

You look at the Lakers when Bynum is healthy, do they care that he has virtually no shooting range and go "we're not playing him next to Gasol"? No...and they're the two-time defending champs.Well, the Spurs had Horry and the Lakers have Odom for spacing. Ultimately, versatility is what is needed.

It seems to me like Duncan is talking more outside jumpers than before, and I think it is by design. There is finally another low post offensive player on the Spurs, and I'm not talking about Blair. Duncan's outside shooting is right up there with Dice's in my opinion, and Splitter could be the beneficiary of the spacing afforded with Duncan's hanging out in the key or thereabouts. That, of course, depends on Splitter's acclimation to the NBA game. Seems like it's the plan from what little I've seen, though.

[Dex]

Well, the Spurs had Horry and the Lakers have Odom for spacing. Ultimately, versatility is what is needed.

It seems to me like Duncan is talking more outside jumpers than before, and I think it is by design. There is finally another low post offensive player on the Spurs, and I'm not talking about Blair. Duncan's outside shooting is right up there with Dice's in my opinion, and Splitter could be the beneficiary of the spacing afforded with Duncan's hanging out in the key or thereabouts. That, of course, depends on Splitter's acclimation to the NBA game. Seems like it's the plan from what little I've seen, though.

I think there are a number of reasons that Duncan has been quick with the jumper this year.

1) The new offense - with the Spurs running and gunning, Duncan is looking for quicker shots. Instead of surveying the defense from the elbow, he is just letting fly.
2) Less Four-Down means less time with his back to the basket, making his midrange jumper one of his most readily available weapons.
3) Duncan has spent a lot of time on the floor with Blair, who I would imagine becomes the primary post option in the tandem since he doesn't have the same range as Tim.
4) In an effort to reduce the wear and tear on Tim from taking it inside, at least early in the season.
5) He was hot from outside in the first game, so why not keep shooting them? However, he seems to be trying too hard to recreate that magic though and it may be getting in his head, as his outside shot has been off ever since.

Duncan was best in the last game when he just took the ball and went with it. Then again, Elliott says the same thing every telecast, and yet Tim still hasn't gotten the memo.

[ChumpDumper]

I'm just going by history here. Specifically year two of the Duncan era.

[pjjrfan]

Blair has sucked, but his sucking has nothing to do with Duncan's sucking when he sucked.

this is pretty much right on. Blair's d has been weak, thought he is still rebounding well, Tim had some great looks against the Clippers he just couldn't knock them down. Against the Hornets thier big men gave him problems he couldn't do anything against them.

[TD 21]

Well, the Spurs had Horry and the Lakers have Odom for spacing. Ultimately, versatility is what is needed.

It seems to me like Duncan is talking more outside jumpers than before, and I think it is by design. There is finally another low post offensive player on the Spurs, and I'm not talking about Blair. Duncan's outside shooting is right up there with Dice's in my opinion, and Splitter could be the beneficiary of the spacing afforded with Duncan's hanging out in the key or thereabouts. That, of course, depends on Splitter's acclimation to the NBA game. Seems like it's the plan from what little I've seen, though.

I agree. But if you were to say what Duncan needs most next to him, is it a legit big man to help him defend the rim or is it a stretch four?

It's definitely by design. It's something that Pop wanted more of starting a couple of seasons ago, only the Spurs didn't have another low post big man then, so inevitably Duncan would have to be positioned mostly in the low post before long. Now they have two other low post big men, so Duncan doesn't always have to be the center on offense. Hopefully, this is one more thing that goes towards keeping him as fresh as possible for the playoffs.