48MoH: The Spurs’ frontcourt is lopsided

[duncan228]

The Spurs’ frontcourt is lopsided
by Timothy Varner
48 Minutes of

You know that silly debate whether Tim Duncan is a power forward or center? It kind of matters now.

The Spurs are 2-1, but through three games they’re a below average defensive team. Tim Duncan and DeJuan Blair are playing relatively poorly. This is not a statistical judgment. It’s one of those we-watch-the-games judgments. During the opening three games of the season, the Spurs’ starting frontcourt tandem of Tim Duncan and DeJuan Blair has simply underperformed against expectation. The season is young, but the Spurs have at least one important problem to solve.

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[Cry Havoc]

Offensively-speaking, Tim Duncan, Tiago Splitter and DeJuan Blair are centers. They’re three players who, all things being equal, should play on the block.

Read more: http://www.48minutesof .com/dunca...#ixzz149BsGNpg

Uh, what? Why is DeJuan Blair -- maybe one of the most obvious choices for PF we've ever had in San Antonio -- being cast as a Center?

Does that make sense? He's a 6'7" banger who doesn't have a lot of offense but can get tons of rebounds. How is he not a PF?

[Cane]

Blair's not really a PF because he doesn't really have any game away from the rim. He's best banging in the paint and getting rebounds and easy putbacks and thats what centers do. He can't do much else right now except clog the paint next to Duncan.

[lefty]

But we have Splitter now ! woohoo

[ohmwrecker]

Shhhhh . . . They just call DeJuan a center show Tim won't realize he the center.

[Whisky Dog]

The frontcourt will balance out more when Bonner comes back as a PF, at least for the regular season. In the playoffs it's going to matter more when Bonner becomes a scarecrow.

This season hinges on RJ being what he has the 1st 3 games at sf, Neal and Anderson making contributions similar to tonight fairly consistently, and Splitter being a defensive force with a nice junk offensive game and rebounder. Of course Duncan/Manu/Parker need to be consistently good to great and step up at the crucial times in the postseason, but those role players have to fall into place consistently.

[hater]

what?

Duncan has won 3 championships playing next to a center. And Blair is a center.

[wildbill2u]

Blair is too short for the position he plays best at. He is a freak of nature at times, but simply is not going to be a center in the league over the long haul.

[BackHome]

Blair is like Bonner a good player but not a starter more of a spark plug. I think as Splitter gets more playing time you will start to see less minutes from Blair.

[Obstructed_View]

Blair is too short for the position he plays best at. He is a freak of nature at times, but simply is not going to be a center in the league over the long haul.

For a team that started Bonner for an entire season at center, I'll take Blair for a couple more weeks to see if he can figure it out. If not, Splitter will be in game shape by then.