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good call coaches. let blai be and keep him content. he'll take care of the rest
Posted: 10/22/2009 5:52:00 AM
Source: Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News
You get a new rookie, the tendency is to want to coach him up right away. You look at all he can't do, and you want to start making corrections and fiddling with his game.
When it comes to first-year forward DeJuan Blair, the Spurs coaching staff is fighting that temptation for now.
They aren't remaking his shooting form. They aren't in his ear constantly about playing defense. They aren't trying to teach him post moves he doesn't have. They aren't trying to make him Mark Price at the foul line, or Dikembe Mutombo at the rim.
For the time being, they are just letting Blair be. In that, the Spurs are just doing what they once did with another prized frontcourt rookie.
"We didn't even try to coach Tim Duncan at the beginning," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "We watched him. Once we figured out what he does, then we tried to do what we could to make it better."
Popovich is taking the same "observe and report" approach with Blair this preseason.
"We're going to watch him play and see what his strengths and weaknesses are," Popovich said, "rather than put him in a box."
Popovich has to like what he's seen from Blair so far. Though a bit undersized, Blair is leading the Spurs in scoring (14.7 ppg) and rebounding (8.2) in just 18 minutes a night. He's also flashed a unique ability to turn a game in a hurry. Blair has 17 points and 10 rebounds against the Thunder, despite not entering the game until midway through the third quarter.
Blair still has a lot to learn and a long way to go. For now, however, the Spurs aren't going to overthink him.
good call coaches. let blai be and keep him content. he'll take care of the rest
I agree he is pure hustle and raw talent. You don't need to coach him right now just wind him up and let him go.
Rule of thumb:
Assume any E-N article more than 30 minutes old has already been posted by Duncan228
http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=137246
That's a great approach
this is probably the best approach with every player, build on what he knows and try to improve what he doesn't
This is the first iv heard of a coach doing this to a rookie.. or any player for that matter.. and its pretty simple but sounds so effective.. how else can you really understand a player if u dont just let them play?.. great coaching..
Pop's confidence in Blair seems to grow by the day...this is a good sign
or a 37th pick for that matter..
This says alot about Pop's confidence in Blair as well as a testiment to how good Blair is and can be. He hasn't had this approach to any rookie since Duncan. Even with Parker...Pop was half court "coaching" him during games through his first 3 seasons. And Blair seems more than willing to take that kind of (punishment if you call it) tutoring in order to become just as a dominant figure that Tony has become since entering the NBA.
What's not to love and be excited about regarding the fortunate turn of events that landed Blair in our laps?
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