So. What's next for Blair?

[jack0fspeed]

Not impressed with what I've seen from Blair so far.

Then again I wasn't impressed with Hill last year.

Give him time.

[SpurNation]

Clarification to those that think this is a Blair bashing segment.

On the contrary. It's targeted as to ask what is next for him in the Spur's system.

If allowed to play significant minutes...he will learn the system faster. Correct his mistakes sooner. Develop his game farther.

If reeled in on his minutes played. He has no chance to develop and make significant contributions months down the road.

What's next in the next month or two to come could significantly impact the Spurs come playoff time if any of the other bigs gets injured during the latter part of the season and Blair hasn't had enough significant time to learn and effectively work in the system.

Or...has been mentioned...understand that he won't be able to help for the run this year and use him as trade to get a legitmate big from a struggling team to help the Spurs achieve that goal while Tim is still healthy enough to help in that goal.

Tough call. But one that could mean the difference in having the best shot now at winning a championship or settling for rebuilding after this year.

[SenorSpur]

Dude needs more time on the floor.

[Capt Bringdown]

Pretty much par for the course, isn't it? This is what Pop does to develop rookies: mistakes mean bench time. Bench time means lack of confidence and even more mistakes, which result in even less PT.

Because we aren't concerned about working for the best regular-season record, it's about tinkering.
And that means heavy-minutes for our older players, because, you know, they never make mistakes.

Blair should use his bench time to study Finley's mistake-free brand of basketball that has earned him so many minutes over the years.

[Chomag]

Pretty much par for the course, isn't it? This is what Pop does to develop rookies: mistakes mean bench time. Bench time means lack of confidence and even more mistakes, which result in even less PT.

I have noticed this. He looks like he is walking on eggs out there. Just the other day I was talking to a friend about him and he said that he did notice that Blair looks like he is even afraid to show some at ude ,and emotion out there now which was part of his game.

I do slightly remember back in a preseason game where Pop berated him because he thought Blair was showboating. Just my observation though.

[Russ]

Blair looks like he's improving in the presumed problem areas -- on ball defense, defensive rotations and even shot blocking.

He should be getting more time, not less. Whether Blair can develop and Manu can stay healthy seem like two huge keys to the season.

After all of the false steps with young bigs like Jackie Butler, Mahinmi, etc., the Spurs are overdue for a success story and time is becoming short.

[ElNono]

There's bigger fish to fry right now. Like integrating our trusty old and new vets.
In the meantime, he's another body to use when our frontcourt is in foul trouble.

[Danny.Zhu]

10 games is still a small sample.

[spurspokesman]

Im a big fan of Blairs game. I think he is going to be a good player in the NBA, but im starting to think it doesnt have to be with the Spurs. Spurs need a bigger more experienced player Today. Not next year or 2 years from now.

I usually agree with u xt but not here. This kid is showing signs right off the bat. Remember hill wasn't all that hot his rookie season and look at him go. Also look at greg oden. He is not prime time but he plays a huge role. Wed be stupid to let that kid walk. I don't fault blair for nothing. If he had two more years in him bonners soft ass would be eating pine. Give em time.

[Chieflion]

Blair has to learn how to give some effort on the defensive end. No point getting points while giving up just as much on the other end. We also started on the losing end when he was starting as he gave up a lot of points. He was also not getting any boards, which was supposed to be his strength. I say he should be a bench player and learn from our vets. Starting him puts him at a bad spot.

[admiralsnackbar]

Blair has to learn how to give some effort on the defensive end. No point getting points while giving up just as much on the other end. We also started on the losing end when he was starting as he gave up a lot of points. He was also not getting any boards, which was supposed to be his strength. I say he should be a bench player and learn from our vets. Starting him puts him at a bad spot.

Your point remains, but I don't think it's a question of effort as much as he doesn't know what to do. I don't mind him beneath the basket as much as when he rotates to the top of the key, spreads his arms, and expects the other team to pass to the other side of the court out of deference. He makes himself a target.

[Chieflion]

Your point remains, but I don't think it's a question of effort as much as he doesn't know what to do. I don't mind him beneath the basket as much as when he rotates to the top of the key, spreads his arms, and expects the other team to pass to the other side of the court out of deference. He makes himself a target.

He is not even doing all of that. Sometimes, I just want him to be able to guard his own man to some extent. He is easily the worst defensive big in the rotation. I would say he is worse than Bonner. It is either he is not trying, or his fundamentals on defense suck. He shows flashes of brilliance on the defensive end, like the block on Dirk to end the quarter. Otherwise, he can't rotate, especially the one where Aldridge got an easy dunk cutting through the lane cause Blair went on top of the key to trap the point guard.

[SpurNation]

He is not even doing all of that. Sometimes, I just want him to be able to guard his own man to some extent. He is easily the worst defensive big in the rotation. I would say he is worse than Bonner. It is either he is not trying, or his fundamentals on defense suck. He shows flashes of brilliance on the defensive end, like the block on Dirk to end the quarter. Otherwise, he can't rotate, especially the one where Aldridge got an easy dunk cutting through the lane cause Blair went on top of the key to trap the point guard.

It's more of the height disadvantage than speed to get back. And your point only helps the point I've made several times.

The defensive system of pulling our bigs away from the paint or weak side only allows for easier baskets in the post for opposing teams because it draws our bigs too far away to re-establish position. Hence our low rebounding %'s vs. other teams due to the other team's easy access to score or being out of position to garnish a rebound.

[Chieflion]

It's more of the height disadvantage than speed to get back. And your point only helps the point I've made several times.

The defensive system of pulling our bigs away from the paint or weak side only allows for easier baskets in the post for opposing teams because it draws our bigs too far away to re-establish position. Hence our low rebounding %'s vs. other teams due to the other team's easy access to score or being out of position to garnish a rebound.

It is not the defensive system. More PFs now have a decent enough jumper so their defender has to go further out to challenge their shots. Guys like Aldridge, Dirk, Murphy, Jamison, Garnett, West, Bosh and many others make you go outside to defend them while rebounding well themselves. It is a league trend and the Spurs cannot seem to keep up. I am not disagreeing with you here. The league has changed. In the past, PFs like Karl Malone, Kevin McHale looked to post up and use their post moves to score inside.

On Blair's problem, with Blair, we need to look to hustle more. I am sure we can run a little fast break or two if he gets steals. With his long arms, he can get steals and blocks being a good help defender. Jason Maxiell is one guy I would mention. His body is similarly built like Blair, with freak-like long arms who is a solid help defender. The system also needs to change for Blair to use those arms for both sides of the floor for rebounds. If Blair is not being the help defender and rebounder he can be, then he is worthless on the team as he cannot even be trade bait because of his health concerns.

Edit: Another thing to add, guards like Jason Kidd, Rajon Rondo and Brandon Jennings, and some combo guards like Westbrook, Tyreke Evans, not saying Kidd is a combo guard, just lumping them together cause of the situation, they can rebound. Star PGs are now relied for rebounding. Jennings is averaging about 6 rebounds, by the way. With more people shooting 3 pointers, there is a need for athletic backcourts with a nose for the ball to get some long rebounds or run into the lane to steal the rebound away from opposing bigs because some bigs take jumpers. Last game, I saw Ronnie Brewer being a huge factor not because of stats, but because of the energy and his ability to go get some. I am not blaming anything on our backcourts but Parker has never been the excellent rebounder for a PG and he was never a "hustler". I am positive he has it in him, he just needs to let loose.

[Xevious]

Pop hasn't figured out what to do with him yet. Having him play with Tim would seem like a good idea for a strong rebounding front court, but they both hover in the paint and get in each others way so far. So that leaves two big men getting significant minutes he can share court time with - Dice and Bonner. Bonner and Blair together should be a big no no because that's when people will start running layup drills on us. So that leaves Dice.

Bottom line, his game is rough on both ends. Give him time and he'll be fine.

[ShoogarBear]

It looks like some other teams have already developed an early book on Blair.

The last few games, he's gotten his fingers on a few offensive boards, but he's been boxed out enough to prevent him from securing them.

His defensive rebounding has been almost nonexistent.

He still has good instincts around the basket. His hands are excelelnt and he has a godo passing touch, and he seems to understand how to create a passing angle for himself in the half-court. But lack of height seems to be preventing him from finishing as well as he should.

Time for him to make adjustments to the adjustments.

[The Truth #6]

Clearly he's going through a learning curve. But I don't have confidence that Pop will allow him to learn as he goes. Until proven wrong, I expect Blair to get the rookie treatment and eventually get phased out. I don't know, I don't see us being very good this year unless some of the new players, such as Blair, become significant contributors and it's not going to happen unless he gets in the game. I hope that Pop is just experimenting with lineup (which to me was never much of an experiement when you only experiment by shuffling the veterans around) but it's still possible Blair will get a chance to prove himself.

At the moment, I'm growing a bit tired of rewarding players whose main accomplishment is learning the system, as if that by itself somehow equals results.

[Fabbs]

Clearly he's going through a learning curve. But I don't have confidence that Pop will allow him to learn as he goes. Until proven wrong, I expect Blair to get the rookie treatment and eventually get phased out. I don't know, I don't see us being very good this year unless some of the new players, such as Blair, become significant contributors and it's not going to happen unless he gets in the game. I hope that Pop is just experimenting with lineup (which to me was never much of an experiement when you only experiment by shuffling the veterans around) but it's still possible Blair will get a chance to prove himself.

At the moment, I'm growing a bit tired of rewarding players whose main accomplishment is learning the system, as if that by itself somehow equals results.

[Bukefal]

No way, Blair is not a player who we should let go. He needs to get in his role, needs to get more minutes, than it will pay off. He is a great player, he needs to develop. We have a big value in this guy.