The Dejuan Blair Appreciation Thread

[Zonkerbl]

So how has Blair looked in lineups where he is playing next to a four who 1) isn't a starter like Duncan/Nowitzki and 2) can't shoot threes?

[TheSecretWeapon]

So how has Blair looked in lineups where he is playing next to a four who 1) isn't a starter like Duncan/Nowitzki and 2) can't shoot threes?

Good question. Let's see...

2009-10 -- -6.0 per 100 possessions in 272 minutes with a 35-year old McDyess (who was about league average that year)
2010-11 -- +1.1 with Splitter (146 minutes) and -6.2 with a 36-year old McDyess (207 minutes)
2011-12 -- no one fitting that description was among his most used player pairs at b-r; same at 82games
2012-13 -- same as 2011-12
2013-14 -- same as 2012-13

So, nothing definitive.

[Zonkerbl]

But anyways Kris Humphries is close enough to a "stretch four" to work well with Blair, no?

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Blair is an unorthodox player. There are some great quotes from Popovich about not having a clue how Blair can be any good. But, Blair has been pretty good. Much better as a pro than Seraphin. It's difficult to believe Blair has suddenly forgotten how play ball -- which is what it would take for him to be less productive than Seraphin has been this year.

My guess is that the coaches believe they're playing Seraphin for his offense, and they think he's helping. If that's what they think, they're wrong. But, that still might be what they're thinking.

That's all it is IMO.

Kevin Seraphin looks very fluid on offense and he looks like a player.

Blair is a more effective player.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Blair is an unorthodox player. There are some great quotes from Popovich about not having a clue how Blair can be any good. But, Blair has been pretty good. Much better as a pro than Seraphin. It's difficult to believe Blair has suddenly forgotten how play ball -- which is what it would take for him to be less productive than Seraphin has been this year.

My guess is that the coaches believe they're playing Seraphin for his offense, and they think he's helping. If that's what they think, they're wrong. But, that still might be what they're thinking.

I don't think Blair has forgotten how to play ball. I just think that Blair has only been successful when playing alongside a stretch four like Bonner or Nowitzki. I think he ruins spacing on offense but managed to find two teams who had the personnel to make it work.

I think you're 100% wrong.

I know what Blair did in HS. I know what he did in junior play. I know how he did at Pitt. Wages of Win rated him extraordinarily highly as a college player.

Blair starting for the Spurs at 22 years old and having TWO 20 point/20 rebound games didn't have a damned thing to do with players next to him.

[Kanyewest]

Some rotation/good players don't mesh in Wittman's system. Guys like Blatche, Livingston, and Mack have all done better at other stops. Blair will most likely get his chance next season since it is likely that the Wizards will not re-sign Kevin Seraphin. It is probably hurting Blair's potential playing time given that Nene/Humphries are better 4s and the Wizards reluctance to use either at center.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Bump just to annoy Blair haters.

[hands11]

Bump just to annoy Blair haters.

I didn't realize we had any.

Ok you Blair haters. Step up and get counted.

[FAH1223]

Blair just needs to take a lot of mid range jumpers in practice. He must not be taking enough and must be doing layup drills or floaters in the paint.

The coaching staff wants long twos. Blair needs to shoot and shoot long twos.

[pineappleheadindc]

Blair just needs to take a lot of mid range jumpers in practice. He must not be taking enough and must be doing layup drills or floaters in the paint.

The coaching staff wants long twos. Blair needs to shoot and shoot long twos.

ROFL -- this made my morning. Good one.

[hands11]

Blair just needs to take a lot of mid range jumpers in practice. He must not be taking enough and must be doing layup drills or floaters in the paint.

The coaching staff wants long twos. Blair needs to shoot and shoot long twos.

Well, problem is midrange isn't going to get it done and he doesn't have the range to shoot a mid range let along a long 2. Though I did see him try to floater from 15 feet once when he was in there.

Blairs range is more like 3 ft and in.

3-10 ft he is a career .328
3-10 ft Kev is a career .405

The lack of 3 attempts and slumping 3 ball shooting percentage the last few games is causing poor floor spacing as it is. You want to play Blair more, I guess you could with Hump and Nene shooting mid range shots. Probably best out there with Hump. But the rim protection would probably be even worse.

Besides. Dude is signed and his value isn't likely going up. Kevin's likely is and they still might decide to move him. Or they keep him and he actually has knees that will last longer.

Blair with a Dirk seems like a decent match. Gives him all kind of space down there to gobble up rebound and get put backs with this size, long arms and big hands.

Maybe once Webster gets it going we can do a small ball with Blair.

Wall, Beal, Webster, Paul, Blair
Wall, Webster, Rasual, Paul, Blair
Wall, Webster, Otto, Paul, Blair

or

Wall, Ray Allen, Webster, Paul, Blair

[payitforward]

Some rotation/good players don't mesh in Wittman's system. Guys like Blatche, Livingston, and Mack have all done better at other stops. Blair will most likely get his chance next season since it is likely that the Wizards will not re-sign Kevin Seraphin. It is probably hurting Blair's potential playing time given that Nene/Humphries are better 4s and the Wizards reluctance to use either at center.

Given the PT he gets and the praise he gets, what makes you think the Wizards won't re-sign Kevin Seraphin? To me it looks more likely Ernie will sign him to a long-term contract.

And Blair is not a 4; he's a 5. He was outstanding as a rookie, a little less good in his second year, and downhill again in years 3 and 4. With Dallas last year, he was back to being quite a productive player off the bench (he played @1250 minutes).

At his worst (2012-13, his last year in SA), Blair was miles better than Kevin Seraphin. That year he fouled less, turned it over less, blocked more, had more steals, assisted more, rebounded more and got to the line more than Kevin is doing *this year*. Most of those numbers are a LOT better, btw. His TS% that year was .54, whereas Kevin's this year is .56.

deJuan Blair is a much better NBA player than Kevin Seraphin. It's not even close. And there is no strategy in which it's preferable to give minutes at a position to a less good player (i.e. other than tanking).

[hands11]

Some rotation/good players don't mesh in Wittman's system. Guys like Blatche, Livingston, and Mack have all done better at other stops. Blair will most likely get his chance next season since it is likely that the Wizards will not re-sign Kevin Seraphin. It is probably hurting Blair's potential playing time given that Nene/Humphries are better 4s and the Wizards reluctance to use either at center.

All true.

Its really a non issue.

Team is 31-15. 7th best record in the league and a 1/2 game out from being top 5
Kevin is improving

Blair is signed and their if they need him. Nice insurance on the cheap. Good move by EG.

[Kanyewest]

Given the PT he gets and the praise he gets, what makes you think the Wizards won't re-sign Kevin Seraphin? To me it looks more likely Ernie will sign him to a long-term contract.

If the Wizards are really serious about going after Kevin Durant.

[nate33]

At his worst (2012-13, his last year in SA), Blair was miles better than Kevin Seraphin. That year he fouled less, turned it over less, blocked more, had more steals, assisted more, rebounded more and got to the line more than Kevin is doing *this year*. Most of those numbers are a LOT better, btw. His TS% that year was .54, whereas Kevin's this year is .56.

deJuan Blair is a much better NBA player than Kevin Seraphin. It's not even close. And there is no strategy in which it's preferable to give minutes at a position to a less good player (i.e. other than tanking).

First, Blair isn't half the shot blocker that Seraphin is. Blair may do many things better, but blocking shots isn't one of them. In the last two seasons, Seraphin is averaging 2.2 blocks per 100 possessions. In 2012/13, Blair averaged 0.6 blocks per 100 possessions - a truly anemic number for a "center". Kevin is also now scoring more on a per possession basis than Blair has in any of the last 3 seasons. Blair even fouls more than Seraphin now (going by his numbers this year and last year versus Seraphin's).

Blair is unquestionably a way better rebounder than Seraphin, and he has been a more efficient scorer than Seraphin up until the last 15 games. But don't overstate things. Blair is not better across the board at everything.

Also, Blair's production in San Antonio steadily grew worse each year. Maybe it's because he has a ceiling based on his physical attributes, and those knees get worse every year. He had a bit of a resurgence in Dallas, but as I've pointed out before, I don't think the situation is analogous. Dallas has so much better spacing with 3-point shooting from the PG and PF spots.

[nate33]

Given the PT he gets and the praise he gets, what makes you think the Wizards won't re-sign Kevin Seraphin? To me it looks more likely Ernie will sign him to a long-term contract.

If the Wizards are really serious about going after Kevin Durant.

'
Gotta dump Webster if they want to keep Seraphin.

[hands11]

At his worst (2012-13, his last year in SA), Blair was miles better than Kevin Seraphin. That year he fouled less, turned it over less, blocked more, had more steals, assisted more, rebounded more and got to the line more than Kevin is doing *this year*. Most of those numbers are a LOT better, btw. His TS% that year was .54, whereas Kevin's this year is .56.

deJuan Blair is a much better NBA player than Kevin Seraphin. It's not even close. And there is no strategy in which it's preferable to give minutes at a position to a less good player (i.e. other than tanking).

First, Blair isn't half the shot blocker that Seraphin is. Blair may do many things better, but blocking shots isn't one of them. In the last two seasons, Seraphin is averaging 2.2 blocks per 100 possessions. In 2012/13, Blair averaged 0.6 blocks per 100 possessions - a truly anemic number for a "center". Kevin is also now scoring more on a per possession basis than Blair has in any of the last 3 seasons. Blair even fouls more than Seraphin now (going by his numbers this year and last year versus Seraphin's).

Blair is unquestionably a way better rebounder than Seraphin, and he has been a more efficient scorer than Seraphin up until the last 15 games. But don't overstate things. Blair is not better across the board at everything.

Also, Blair's production in San Antonio steadily grew worse each year. Maybe it's because he has a ceiling based on his physical attributes, and those knees get worse every year. He had a bit of a resurgence in Dallas, but as I've pointed out before, I don't think the situation is analogous. Dallas has so much better spacing with 3-point shooting from the PG and PF spots.

Fit is important.

Blair does seem to have velcro on his hands and with his lower body size and long arms, he does gobble up rebounds.

But he is likely best used with a solid S4 or S5 vs PF that play closer to the rim. Just not enough spacing.

[hands11]

Man, that is Rick Mahorn.. Wes Unseld nasty right there.

And he isn't moving. Its a legal pick. I remember KLife setting one of those earlier in the year.

BONE CRUSHER BLAIR

[Zonkerbl]

I remember that screen. That was NAAAAAAAAAASTY.