Speculation: Blair will be a starter.

[LakeShow]

did artest grow a few inches too ?

no but he is a solid 260lbs and he can play the 4 and not allow players to back him down. He also takes up a lot of space in the paint. Dice may be able to not allow Centers to back him down but he wont be able to stop a 285 pound Bynum from backing him down and shooting over him easily. You'll have to put Duncan on him and the way Duncan looks right now, he wont be able to either. Just saying

[SpurNation]

Duncan and Dice cancel each other's games out? What games have you been watching? McDyess can do exactly what the Spurs need him to do. Play the inside-outside game with Tim, hit some midrange jumpers, grab some boards, and a putback here or there. He's not gonna be dominating the post, that's Tim's job.

Fair enough and their experience alone would probably allow that to happen without problem.

But who other than McD could provide a dominating post presense if Duncan is resting?

Scenario if Blair proves to be starting worthy:

Parker, Mason, Jefferson, Duncan and Blair.
2nd unit- Hill, Ginobilli, Finley, McDyess and Mahinmi/Ratliff

As compared to..
Parker, Mason, Jefferson, Duncan, McDyess
2nd unit- Hill, Ginobilli, Finley, Blair, Mahinmi/Ratliff

I just see a better ballance of attack and ability to maintain in the first scenario than I see in the second.

By all means...the actual coaching staff knows better than I what will work best...but it would be a great way to regulate minutes during the regular season to help keep everyone fresh for the playoffs if Blair proves to be that type of player.

[TimDunkem]

Blair will most likely be the first big off the bench.

[DPG21920]

I hope Blair reads your post. It seemed he had plenty of motivation to prove the other teams wrong when past up in the draft...this comment just might even make him even more fun too watch when going against the Lakers.

We'll see.

It'll all depend on how the team gels. TD and McD are great post players. Not so sure they would compliment each other though by playing at the same time. Kind of like TP and Manu playing at the same time as starters. One nulifies the full potential of the other when both play at the same time. After McD...I don't see anybody capable of being the starter next to TD other than Blair if Blair catches on.

And if he catches on quick and proves to be a huge assest to the team and TD while playing at the same time...why shouldn't that be the case if McD can be used at full potential coming off the bench while TD is resting?

Bottom line...it's really exciting just to have the options available that the team didn't have last year. I think Blair will prove to be better than you think he will become. The fun part is when he proves it while playing agaisnt your Lakers whether he's starting or not.

Parker and Gino play a lot of minutes together and they do not cancel each other out. That is how the Spurs win; they have their best players on the court at the same time.

[SpurCharger]

Blair will not Start.... I see Blair Playing The Malik Rose Role. A Lil Spark off the Bench

[mookie2001]

scenario if blair proves to be starting worthy:

Parker, mason, jefferson, duncan and blair.
2nd unit- hill, ginobilli, finley, mcdyess and mahinmi/ratliff

as compared to..
Parker, mason, jefferson, duncan, mcdyess
2nd unit- hill, ginobilli, finley, blair, mahinmi/ratliff

link?

[dbestpro]

I say start Mahinmi. He can get his 5 fouls in the first two minutes and be done for the game. While the officials are busy with Ian, they will leave Timmy alone. At least for the first two minutes.
o\../o
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[da_suns_fan]

Glad to know that my fellow Suns fans arent the only ones with crazy expectations for un-proven rookies.

I used to get furious at how much love DJ Strawberry would get on phxsuns.net.

[WildcardManu]

Blair's knees will blow up about 30 games into the season.

If it does happen at least he will have played more games on his rookie season than your #1 bust did.

[DPG21920]

In all honesty, if a rookie big is going to somehow start, Ian has a better chance than Blair because of position and style of play.

[SpurNation]

Parker and Gino play a lot of minutes together and they do not cancel each other out. That is how the Spurs win; they have their best players on the court at the same time.

I never said they didn't play on the court at the same time. I said they don't start together.

If the logic of your best players at the same time were in effect with the Spurs...Ginobilli would start. But he's too valuable for our second team.

I'm just saying the exact thing regarding Blair and McDyess.

McDyess off the bench would be better than anything we've had in the past 3 years with Duncan going for rest. We've gotten destroyed in the post over the past 3 years because of inadequate post players available when Duncan has to sit for a rest. McDyess's experience would combat that situation.

[kbrury]

I never said they didn't play on the court at the same time. I said they don't start together.

If the logic of your best players at the same time were in effect with the Spurs...Ginobilli would start. But he's too valuable for our second team.

I'm just saying the exact thing regarding Blair and McDyess.

McDyess off the bench would be better than anything we've had in the past 3 years with Duncan going for rest. We've gotten destroyed in the post over the past 3 years because of inadequate post players available when Duncan has to sit for a rest. McDyess's experience would combat that situation.

I understand your thinking but Blair in the starting lineup could be really bad against some of the frontlines in the west, I think hes better off going in the game off the bench. Also I think your putting a little too much into McDyess's postgame.

[DPG21920]

No, there is a huge difference, because although "Manu does not start" he plays starters minutes and is in there when it matters.

Blair will not be playing starters minutes or out there when it matters. You said having Parker and Ginobili on the court at the same time nullifies them. That is not accurate.

[Blackjack]

Fair enough and their experience alone would probably allow that to happen without problem.

But who other than McD could provide a dominating post presense if Duncan is resting?

Scenario if Blair proves to be starting worthy:

Parker, Mason, Jefferson, Duncan and Blair.
2nd unit- Hill, Ginobilli, Finley, McDyess and Mahinmi/Ratliff

As compared to..
Parker, Mason, Jefferson, Duncan, McDyess
2nd unit- Hill, Ginobilli, Finley, Blair, Mahinmi/Ratliff

I just see a better ballance of attack and ability to maintain in the first scenario than I see in the second.

By all means...the actual coaching staff knows better than I what will work best...but it would be a great way to regulate minutes during the regular season to help keep everyone fresh for the playoffs if Blair proves to be that type of player.

'Dyess is essentially a more athletic Kurt Thomas offensively.

He's not a post-player.

There will be times where Tim and Blair share the court, and do so effectively depending on matchups, but the best compliment to Tim is someone who can stretch the defense and allow him to work without a crowd.

Blair's game, at this point, would relegate Tim to the much less effective jump-shooting role that's more to the benefit of the opposition than the Spurs; Tim's post game controls tempo, taxes a defense, creates offense, and makes life easier for his teammates on both ends of the court. Tim is the pivot. If you don't utilize that ability the majority of the time he's out there, you're not maximizing his or the teams potential. -- It's those assets that don't show up as much in the boxscore that explain his dominance; Even if it's not comprehended by some of those who follow and cover the game. --

More often than not, you'd like to replace Tim with another post player when he gets his breather. Blair, Ratliff and Mahinmi are probably the best options in such a scenario.

'Dyess is their second best 'big' and most complimentary player to Tim. So, it would make sense for him to play around 30-32 min. and that the majority of those minutes coincide with Tim's, right?

Thus, 'Dyess needs to start.

[TMTTRIO]

^The thing about Manu starting with the other two was because the time he was out there at the beginning of the game was being wasted not doing much on the court while Tim and Tony were the ones who got everything running.

[Spursmania]

Blair's knees will blow up about 30 games into the season.

Shutup Tlong

[SpurNation]

No, there is a huge difference, because although "Manu does not start" he plays starters minutes and is in there when it matters.

Blair will not be playing starters minutes or out there when it matters. You said having Parker and Ginobili on the court at the same time nullifies them. That is not accurate.

Go back and read what I wrote...

Kind of like TP and Manu playing at the same time as starters.

I also have said...IF Blair proves to be good enough to start...I like the idea of McDyess coming off the bench to provide leadership and "quality" post play as well as help regulate his minutes during the regular season.

That's no different than what they do with Manu now and I'm sure they will have to start doing that for Duncan.

I'm also sure there will be times when there might be many types of rotations on the floor until the last 2 months of the season just to see what works best...I'm "speculating" about Blair if he becomes that good...that's all.

[DPG21920]

. Kind of like TP and Manu playing at the same time as starters. One nulifies the full potential of the other when both play at the same time.
.

Even though Manu does not start, TP and Manu play a lot at the same time. Blair starting for the reasons you give is not anywhere close to the same logic on why Ginobili starts on the bench.

Not to mention your reasons are wrong and Dice is not a "quality post player".

[SpurNation]

Even though Manu does not start, TP and Manu play a lot at the same time. Blair starting for the reasons you give is not anywhere close to the same logic on why Ginobili starts on the bench.

Not to mention your reasons are wrong and Dice is not a "quality post player".

...AS STARTERS

And McD not a quality post player....lol
He would be better than anybody else not named Duncan on the team.

I never said Blair would have to be an all star either...just good enough to play starter minutes. You think he won't...I do.

Duncan on the bench without anybody else playing post other than McDyess will equal the same results as last year when TD had to rest. Blair is not an offensive post player...Dice is.

TD out...McDyess in = points in the paint >>>> Blair and whoever is left to play along with Blair.

[kbrury]

If you use McDyess as a Post player you are under utilizing his best offensive talent his jump shot.

[DPG21920]

I clearly put in bold where you made a distinction between starting together and playing together. But continue to have your opinion that Blair will compliment Duncan and that Dice is a good post player. You are en led.

[rjv]

no but he is a solid 260lbs and he can play the 4 and not allow players to back him down. He also takes up a lot of space in the paint. Dice may be able to not allow Centers to back him down but he wont be able to stop a 285 pound Bynum from backing him down and shooting over him easily. You'll have to put Duncan on him and the way Duncan looks right now, he wont be able to either. Just saying

the spurs have plenty of big bodies to throw at LA in different situations.

[Blackjack]

Blair is not an offensive post player...Dice is.

This is where your premise fails.

'Dyess is a high-post player. He's a quality big, but he does the majority of his damage offensively by facing the basket.

Blair lives and breathes in the paint. It's where he makes his living.

His post-game is still developing but he's still much more of a post-player than 'Dyess.

[lefty]

Ratliff will start.

He will block a few shots to start the game, which will dictate the defensive tempo for the Spurs.

[ginobilized]

I like the idea of Blair on the high energy 2nd team.
Hill, Ginobili, Finley, Blair and Ratliff is a solid defensive/high-energy/rebounding
unit. I don't believe Blair is yet ready to compete with the top tier of NBA 4s and 5s.
It's such an awesome blessing to have so many lineup options. Pop's gonna be working
his magic in fine detail by April.