Harvey: Popovich believes in Blair, and he doesn't

[007nites]

I really like when Manu and Blair are on the floor at the same time and Manu is running the point. Blair seem wide-eyed everytime he either set a pic or slipped the screen for Manu. There was a stretch in 3rd and 4th quarter where every posession something positive happened between those two.
Blair looks a little confused on what to do with Parker or Hill has the ball.

Parker and Hill never use Blair's screen.

[SpurNation]

Ian will never be 35% of the player that Blair is. He's an incredible athlete that has little or no idea how to play basketball. Blair is a basketball player who lives and breathes in the paint.

One of the best "basketball" players I personally ever saw and played against didn't even play basketball as his chosen sport. The guy could play lights out and demolish other players who had played the game all their life and had scholarships.

Blair reminds me of that type of player. He just knows how to get it done. A natural born player of the game blessed with ability that one just can't comprehend or phathom.

Pop has inteligently come to this realization and knows that if Blair is having one of those games he just needs to let him play. If he is struggling simply let him sit it out. Pop finally has another post player that allows Duncan to rest.

To me that's the best attribute that Blair brings to the team at this moment.

[ajh18]

My impression of Pop has always been that he will only play rookies/young players if they force him to. I think he feels an obligation to older, more established players, to respect the years of work they have put in and not risk the success of someone who has proven themselves in favor of someone who hasn't yet. Kind of like buying flowers for your girlfriend of two years instead of your hot co-worker, because you respect and want to reward the time your girl has put into you more than the potential of the new girl.

Player like Blair, Manu, Parker, and a couple other flat out FORCE Pop to play them because they are so successful, and his criticism actually gets more out of them. Players who pout, or are inconsistent, he isnt willing to put in the time at the potential expense of a proven veteran's career. Do I think it costs us sometimes? Sure. But that's my impression.

In regards to Ian, I have always thought of him as very similar to Stromile Swift. Athletically gifted, not a great bball IQ, and raw. I frankly dont think a Swift clone would be that bad for this team, but oh well.

[Agloco]

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.

I've gotta agree here. But already I've seen much improvement in Blair's footwork and use of his hands. I think the ceiling for improvement on the defensive end is quite high. We are already seeing flashes with his weakside shot blocking abilities.

He was robbed against OKC, he didn't foul out of that game. With more PT, we will see the number of fouls called on him go down.

[GSH]

Parker and Hill never use Blair's screen.

Blair doesn't set good picks - yet. He doesn't see the angles yet, and too often he positions himself where he really doesn't help. (Not all the time, obviously. Turn off the flame machines.) He's assertive enough down low, but he's sometimes pretty hesitant with the high pick.

Fab set great picks, on and off the ball. I don't think many people appreciated that enough. Thomas and McDyess both have a tendency to miss their spots a little, and then try to adjust at the last second. They both get called for a lot of moving screens. (And the ones off the ball rarely get called.) Those offensive turnover fouls have hurt us in some close games, not to mention getting a big into foul trouble unnecessarily.

I've wondered if Blair is a little hesitant setting up on screens because he doesn't want to pick up any of those cheap fouls, or if he just needs to develop that part of his game. Probably some of both. Either way, during that stretch in the OKC game Parker and Hill didn't use his screens because they weren't usable.

That high pick is a bit of an art form, and a lot of guys never put in the effort. I have no doubt Blair will imrove. But he has a lot to absorb right now, and he's doing a pretty impressive job for a rookie.

[Edit:] A lot of players just aren't very teachable. You can tell Blair isn't one of those guys just by watching him at the free throw line. It's one thing to practice a bunch of shots, but to make that much of a change in his stroke that quickly - he's a guy who will listen and learn. The stroke broke down a little under pressure at the end of the game, but that's expected. (It remided me of how much he improved from the beginning of the year, though.) By this time next year, it will be automatic and I would bet that he'll be shooting .750+ from the line. I also expect that he'll be setting better picks.

[Agloco]

See what happens when the Beast gets 30+ minutes? I think this is his first game with 30+ no?

[Obstructed_View]

Not when it's against the WORST ing team in the NBA. That's what he's got? 15/9? Call me when he drops 28/21 on a playoff caliber team. Forget that. Ian's NEVER going to get 20 rebounds.

Okay, but we've got some time, since Ian will be wearing another team's jersey when he does it.

[dbestpro]

Not when it's against the WORST ing team in the NBA. That's what he's got? 15/9? Call me when he drops 28/21 on a playoff caliber team. Forget that. Ian's NEVER going to get 20 rebounds.

Many rebounds by Blair are from his own missed shots. Your right, Ian would have to miss more of his shots to get to 20 rebounds like Blair.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

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.

Yep, Thabeet sure killed him last year when they matched up...

[MemphisSpursFan]

I don't get to see many games, but Blair is starting to impress me... FWIW