Can Blair Improve or Has He Already Shown Us Everything?

[mathbzh]

I forgot Kwame! That guy was a total BUST. What were they thinking drafting that guy?

IIRC he was a consensus top pick.

[Em-City]

He's much better than what you would expect of a 37th pick, the problem is people's expectations.

I doesn't matter what pick he is, or where he came from.. fact of the matter is he's playing close to 20mpg and that's what i'll judge him on.

[Keepin' it real]

He's shown us everything. And what he's shown us is that his talent level is suitable for an energy player coming off the bench for hustle plays and rebounds ... and not suitable for a starting center playing next to the best PF of all time.

[mercos]

Blair can improve and be a much better player if he focuses on aspects of his game that will actually make a difference. He is to short to every be a back to the basket player that matters. If he works on his handles and outside shot he could be a pretty good 4th big that brings energy off the bench. His size (thickness not height) and strength should make him much tougher on the boards than he is showing. That is all on effort, and perhaps the lockout is effecting him because he has regressed in that area. He is not my preferred pick to be the Spurs 4th big, but I believe with the right adjustments he could be serviceable. I don't believe he is ever going to be starter material.

[therealtruth]

In terms of guys with similar build you have guys like Anthony Mason, Larry Johnson, and Malik Rose. A career similar to M. Rose might be a best case scenario for him at this point. The guys best points are his energy and rebounding. I think by starting him Pop does him a disadvantage. He can really flourish of the bench as a energy role player.

[Seventyniner]

Kwame Brown, drafted the same year as Tony Parker. Has there ever been another year where the last pick of the 1st round turned out to be miles better than the first pick?

Blair's strengths actually overlap a good bit with Leonard's: garbage buckets. Blair's a better passer, Leonard's a better defender. Perhaps they shouldn't both be starting. Cue the Parker/Ginobili/Leonard/Duncan/Splitter starting lineup lament...