Popovich believes in Blair, and he doesn't
By Buck Harvey
The last time an NBA rookie ended with at least 20 points and 20 rebounds, Avery Johnson had a message for him.
"We still need a little more," Johnson told Tim Duncan, after beating Phoenix in March of 1998.
Johnson laughed then. He was repeating an old John Lucas line.
A dozen years later, after DeJuan Blair powered to his own 20-20, the message changed.
Now Blair is the one who needs a little more -- playing time.
Gregg Popovich hasn't mishandled Blair. Rookies are notorious for being inconsistent, so Popovich's nightly plan has been sound. He starts Blair and sees what he is getting, and then he reacts.
Popovich reacted Wednesday like a guy who had won the lottery. "I'm going to take what he gave us tonight, and I don't know how he did it," Popovich told reporters in Oklahoma City. "I have no clue what his moves are. He's just a basketball player. He hustles his [tail] off, he's got a nose for the ball, he's got great hands and he does what you saw. We didn't teach him any of it. He brought it all with him."
Popovich shakes his head at his good luck. A lot of smart general managers passed on Blair last June, including Sam Presti, and because of that Popovich has a rare talent to plug into his rotation.
One aspect that was on display again in Oklahoma City: Blair's ability to get his 265 pounds into the air and finish.
But it was more than a play or two. Against the Thunder, a team without much bulk, Blair was an ideal counter. And after a remarkable stat line put together in only 31 minutes, it was Scott Brooks' turn to shake his head.
"I don't even know if Duncan could have done this tonight," the Oklahoma City coach said.
That's some statement. Here's another from Brooks: "Every shot in his mind is going to be a missed shot, an opportunity for him to get his team an extra possession. I played with (Charles) Barkley, and that's how he thought."
Popovich believes, too. But there's part of him that doesn't, because Popovich really doesn't know how Blair does it. The kid is too young and too short, and his skill set isn't conventional.
So can he be effective every night? At his height, won't he get lost against 7-footers? And if the other team goes small, can he defend on the perimeter?
These are the reasons Popovich doesn't stick with Blair for long on certain nights. These are the reasons Blair played eight minutes against the Mavericks and seven against the Lakers.
Asked Wednesday about officiating, Blair's response applies to Popovich, too. "I've got to earn my respect," he said.
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Antonio McDyess was also there the last time a rookie hit the 20-20 mark. Playing for Phoenix, he guarded Duncan.
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As for Manu Ginobili's hustling, diving, parallel-to-the-ground save and outrageous no-look pass to George Hill: There was a time when Ginobili would have turned the corner, elevated and simply scored the game-winner himself.
As for Manu Ginobili's hustling, diving, parallel-to-the-ground save and outrageous no-look pass to George Hill: There was a time when Ginobili would have turned the corner, elevated and simply scored the game-winner himself.
I read all of that but this here nearly made me cry and made the article nullDamn I miss those days there.
Interesting.Antonio McDyess was also there the last time a rookie hit the 20-20 mark. Playing for Phoenix, he guarded Duncan.
points for honesty.
Just be thankful the Spurs have so many playmakers and can all step up to take the big shot!There was a time when Ginobili would have turned the corner, elevated and simply scored the game-winner himself.
I read all of that but this here nearly made me cry and made the article null
was I excited about us drafting blair? yes!
did I think, he is way overhyped especially on this board? yes sir!
was I wrong about the overhyping-part? damn, it really looks that way!
and I love it!
he wont be the duncan sucessor or anything like that, but he will help us a lot for the next 2 years, giving us a chance! after the duncan era, I like a core of Tony, Blair, Hill (maybe even some ian, splitter) as much as some of these young teams (portland, sonics) like theirs.
we really have been lucky to draft timmy, but its not like other temas coldnt have had tony, manu, blair! just another proof, that we have such a great organisation especially when it comes to drafting!
Pop doesn't know how to use Blair, but he actually plays him. That's how you know what you got and that's also how a young player develops.
Thankfully Blair hasn't gotten the Mahinmi/Udrih treatment, which stunts player development and leaves you with a player with little or no trade value. At least an athletic young bigman should garner some interest. Ugh.
IMO Pop is using Blair pretty well.
At this point it's obvious he is gonna get killed vs. 7 footers and foul out in minutes vs. small ball.
Get the outta here
:WTF ?
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To tell you the truth I do not know what to think about Blair? If he realy will be something once the defense will try to put some pressure on him.
He is slow undersized, so it's tought to put him anywhere on the court offensively and defensivly
now it would be nice to see him get bigger minutes against the teams that we could actually see in the playoffs
let's not forget what led up to Manu needing to dive for that ball, manu not being able to get to the hoop on his drive, not even close to beating his defender, and leaving his feet without knowing what to do with the ball, on the most crucial possession in the game.
also he went 0-10
...... The Thunder are an extremely likely first round opponent right now lol
He was actually buying an easy layup for McDyess... Dice just didn't understand what Manu was doing, which was a constant throughout the game, I thought.
Manu looked for him at least 3 times last night with pretty good, quick passes, but Dice was always looking somewhere else... resulting in turnovers. Those are easy points for TD and Blair...
I think McDyess just hasn't realized that Manu is becoming more and more of a playmaker in his old days. Hopefully he understands he's playing with Steve Nash by playoff time lol
I also think Manu is used to playing with Duncan, who has one of the better hands in the game... so you can always throw a fastball, but not everyone will catch them...
Blair heard Ian's foot steps. Time to pick it up a notch and boy did he. Maybe Ian is good to have around to remind the big boys that there is someone in the wings just chomping at the bit.
What a luxury to have. A player that can make things happen with pure instinct and determination. Is it any wonder that he and Ginobili work so well together?Popovich reacted Wednesday like a guy who had won the lottery. "I'm going to take what he gave us tonight, and I don't know how he did it," Popovich told reporters in Oklahoma City. "I have no clue what his moves are. He's just a basketball player. He hustles his [tail] off, he's got a nose for the ball, he's got great hands and he does what you saw. We didn't teach him any of it. He brought it all with him."
Weird le of the article by Buck . . .
How so?
Popovich reacted Wednesday like a guy who had won the lottery. "I'm going to take what he gave us tonight, and I don't know how he did it," Popovich told reporters in Oklahoma City. "I have no clue what his moves are. He's just a basketball player. He hustles his [tail] off, he's got a nose for the ball, he's got great hands and he does what you saw. We didn't teach him any of it. He brought it all with him."
"Popovich believes in Blair, and he doesn't"
Doesn't what?
Following the comma.
Blair will have his ups and downs, but at the end of the tunnel I still continue to believe he will become a consistent double-double guy.
If he didn't believe in him he wouldn't have relied on him as heavily as he did
But the nights he played him low minutes, he didn't believe in him.
Pop. He's won 4 les you know.
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