The Wizards big man situation is an embarrassment

[LyricalRico]

I'm assuming the plan was supposed to be a Gortat/Dudley starting frontcourt, and I'm interested to see how that looks once Dudley gets up to speed. Porter seeing minutes at PF may have also been part of the plan, but the Anderson/Webster injuries have thrown a wrench into that.

[DCZards]

I would rather have Gortat/Gooden, Nene/Humphries - but that is just me.

Blair should be on the bench, IMO.

I probably complained the loudest and the longest about Blair being fat and out of shape last season. But this year’s he’s in much better shape and I’m beginning to believe (with a big nod toward ccj) that we need to see more—not less—of Blair.

You can count on Blair to make boneheaded passes and fouls, and miss most of his shots. But he is also around the ball on both ends of the court—and makes plays. Despite his flubs and fouls, there’s a lot to like about what Blair brings as a rebounder and active body. Last night he had 9 rebs in 17 minutes.

A fit Blair is quick (and smart) enough to get his hands on a lot of rebounds and loose balls.

Yes, Blair seems to screw up as soon as he gets in the game. But maybe with consistent minutes--and not having to look over his shoulder every time he makes a mistake--Blair can be an important contributor to a weak frontline.

[Kanyewest]

Porter is also shooting 25% from 3 so even he's not commanding a ton of respect when the Wizards go super-small. And Jared Dudley is shooting 23%.

[Ruzious]

I'm assuming the plan was supposed to be a Gortat/Dudley starting frontcourt, and I'm interested to see how that looks once Dudley gets up to speed. Porter seeing minutes at PF may have also been part of the plan, but the Anderson/Webster injuries have thrown a wrench into that.

If that was the plan, it was... a dud. An in-shape Dudley is a 3; not a 4. And he's probably just as likely to get injured playing in the shape he's in than actually getting in shape. He makes up for his lack of height by having short arms and being vertical-leap challenged.

[dckingsfan]

Porter is also shooting 25% from 3 so even he's not commanding a ton of respect when the Wizards go super-small. And Jared Dudley is shooting 23%.

But we think that will change over time right?

[Kanyewest]

Porter is also shooting 25% from 3 so even he's not commanding a ton of respect when the Wizards go super-small. And Jared Dudley is shooting 23%.

But we think that will change over time right?

One would hope so although even so Porter is pretty efficient on the offensive end with a 62 TS%.

[LyricalRico]

I'm assuming the plan was supposed to be a Gortat/Dudley starting frontcourt, and I'm interested to see how that looks once Dudley gets up to speed. Porter seeing minutes at PF may have also been part of the plan, but the Anderson/Webster injuries have thrown a wrench into that.

If that was the plan, it was... a dud. An in-shape Dudley is a 3; not a 4. And he's probably just as likely to get injured playing in the shape he's in than actually getting in shape. He makes up for his lack of height by having short arms and being vertical-leap challenged.

Not invalid arguments. Even I was saying they should have added another big in the offseason (either through the draft, by trading Webster before he got hurt again, or using the money the used on Neal/Anderson). No doubt that they came into the season perimeter heavy.

[Ruzious]

Porter is also shooting 25% from 3 so even he's not commanding a ton of respect when the Wizards go super-small. And Jared Dudley is shooting 23%.

But we think that will change over time right?

One would hope so although even so Porter is pretty efficient on the offensive end with a 62 TS%.

With that impressive TS%, I wish he'd get more involved in the offense and shoot more. Seems like he's scored most of his points being an opportunistic junk-yard player - which is a great way to score. I just want more involvement in the offense for him.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I would rather have Gortat/Gooden, Nene/Humphries - but that is just me.

Blair should be on the bench, IMO.

I probably complained the loudest and the longest about Blair being fat and out of shape last season. But this year’s he’s in much better shape and I’m beginning to believe (with a big nod toward ccj) that we need to see more—not less—of Blair.

You can count on Blair to make boneheaded passes and fouls, and miss most of his shots. But he is also around the ball on both ends of the court—and makes plays. Despite his flubs and fouls, there’s a lot to like about what Blair brings as a rebounder and active body. Last night he had 9 rebs in 17 minutes.

A fit Blair is quick (and smart) enough to get his hands on a lot of rebounds and loose balls.

Yes, Blair seems to screw up as soon as he gets in the game. But maybe with consistent minutes--and not having to look over his shoulder every time he makes a mistake--Blair can be an important contributor to a weak frontline.

If you look at Wages of Win from his NCAA play, his PER from each playoff, and his Per-36 totals from four NBA seasons when Blair did not play as a Wizard it will show exactly what kind of player he is.

A full season of self doubt on a team that performed well without him has shaken his confidence in the past.

Now, he's in shape and three problems exist: he's over anxious, referees are calling fouls on everything, and he does not defend well enough without fouling, particularly on this team at C without shot blocking help defense.

Start him with Gortat and the player who produced very well this preseason will emerge. Timing, confidence, leeway from referees all will fall into place. Gortat needs a boost and Blair has an edge of physicality that can help.

Nene is breaking down. He's 33. Ignoring why he went to the bench is the wrong solution in making him start.

Blair has a couple 20/20 games as a pro. To think at 26 he's forgotten how to play or he's garbage is to fail to understand the mitigating circumstances.

I know what I'm talking about. Wittman is much of what's wrong. Popovich and Carlisle utilized this player. I trust their coaching over Randy Wittman's.

[Ruzious]

CCJ, why do you think he's not playing for either Popovich or Carlisle - after they got to see him up close and personal?

[dckingsfan]

CCJ - we get to agree to disagree on this one. I think that Blair doesn't fit in this system or with this coach.

If they really want to do the right thing - they should trade him.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

CCJ, why do you think he's not playing for either Popovich or Carlisle - after they got to see him up close and personal?

Wright played even better for Dallas. He and Blair both doubled their salaries moving on.

San Antonio did better with Splitter, who's also no longer a Spur.

Obviously, Diaw at stretch four improved the Spurs.

Ruzious, Carlisle DID use Blair to almost eliminate the Spurs in the playoffs right before he signed with the Wizards.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

CCJ - we get to agree to disagree on this one. I think that Blair doesn't fit in this system or with this coach.

If they really want to do the right thing - they should trade him.

I don't disagree.

They should trade him.

Doesn't it make sense to play him, get his numbers up, and THEN trade him?

(Note: Consider this coach could be gone in two weeks FWIW. Gortat seems to be a bad fit. As is Humphries.)

[payitforward]

Dat, I don't exactly buy your points about Humphries. At the same time, I agree that he is a problem -- just, I don't think, not the problem you describe.

For one thing, he's shooting 40% on 3's -- so, if teams sag off of him, that's not bad that's good. Possessions where he takes a 3 are among our most efficient offensive possessions.

But... even with his high TS% (driven by 3's and way better than last year), overall he is playing worse than last year, contributing less. Why? For one thing, though it's higher his TS% also reflect his much *lower* 2pt %, basically because where he's positioned he never gets any high % points -- put backs, etc.

Relatedly, he is getting way fewer rebounds, especially *offensive* rebounds, than last year. Since an offensive board can be thought of as making up for a missed shot, his actual offensive efficiency has gone *down* not up in this new way he's being used.

Maybe this doesn't really amount to disagreeing with you -- your main point seems to be that Humphries is being used in a stupid way. Yup, that's the problem. Oh, and of course he's not an adequate starting NBA 4, no matter how he's used. Not now. The last time he played big minutes was 4 years ago when he did start for the Nets and was extremely effective. He's not that player any more.

[Ruzious]

CCJ, why do you think he's not playing for either Popovich or Carlisle - after they got to see him up close and personal?

Wright played even better for Dallas. He and Blair both doubled their salaries moving on.

San Antonio did better with Splitter, who's also no longer a Spur.

Obviously, Diaw at stretch four improved the Spurs.

Ruzious, Carlisle DID use Blair to almost eliminate the Spurs in the playoffs right before he signed with the Wizards.

And then Blair signed with the Wiz for chump change - 2 million a year for 2 years and a team option. I think that tells you what the rest of the 29 teams with 15 roster spots thought of him - before he managed to get himself so out of shape and thereby sabotage his own career. There's no team he could have helped last season because of the shape he got himself into. Whether the coach was Popovich - who had NO USE FOR HIM his last season in SA - or Wittman - who was likely on board with acquiring him - he was going to be useless last season because of 1 thing - He wasn't in condition to play at an NBA level.

Now can he still be useful? I hope so and think there's a chance, but if he doesn't make it, It's absolutely ridiculous to blame it on anyone but him. If his confidence was shot, that's on him because he - as a professional and a grown man responsible for his own actions - let himself down. But... he is better than Blatche now.

[Ruzious]

CCJ, why do you think he's not playing for either Popovich or Carlisle - after they got to see him up close and personal?

Wright played even better for Dallas. He and Blair both doubled their salaries moving on.

San Antonio did better with Splitter, who's also no longer a Spur.

Obviously, Diaw at stretch four improved the Spurs.

Ruzious, Carlisle DID use Blair to almost eliminate the Spurs in the playoffs right before he signed with the Wizards.

And then Blair signed with the Wiz for chump change - 2 million a year for 2 years and a team option. I think that tells you what the rest of the 29 teams with 15 roster spots thought of him - before he managed to get himself so out of shape and thereby sabotage his own career. There's no team he could have helped last season because of the shape he got himself into. Whether the coach was Popovich - who had NO USE FOR HIM his last season in SA - or Wittman - who was likely on board with acquiring him - he was going to be useless last season because of 1 thing - He wasn't in condition to play at an NBA level.

Now can he still be useful? I hope so and think there's a chance, but if he doesn't make it, It's absolutely ridiculous to blame it on anyone but him. If his confidence was shot, that's on him because he - as a professional and a grown man responsible for his own actions - let himself down. But... he is better than Blatche now.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

http://m.bkref.com/m?p=XXplayersXXbXXblairde01.html&t=17

Going from under $1 million per to $2 million is doubling one's salary.

As far as blaming only him it amazes me how people can't see simple math and minutes and coaching that prefers pre existing players as causal factors.

It bothers me you don't get this and so many others don't get it.

Going all the darn way back to the acquisition of Okafor and Ariza, right after Vesely and Seraphin started about 15 straight games; I did the numbers and minutes math. That was effectively the end of Vesely. And Singleton. And Seraphin.

Coaches can only play so many players. Generally, the player will be blamed for diminished minutes. When a guy who generally plays 20 minutes Every Game and who has Started virtually half his games for 5 Freaking Years plays a grand total of 180 minutes, not appearing at all in 56 games; it is NOT ALL THAT PLAYER!

Forget it.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I hope Blair gets traded to Memphis or Miami.

[payitforward]

CCJ, why do you think he's not playing for either Popovich or Carlisle - after they got to see him up close and personal?

Wright played even better for Dallas. He and Blair both doubled their salaries moving on.

San Antonio did better with Splitter, who's also no longer a Spur.

Obviously, Diaw at stretch four improved the Spurs.

Ruzious, Carlisle DID use Blair to almost eliminate the Spurs in the playoffs right before he signed with the Wizards.

And then Blair signed with the Wiz for chump change - 2 million a year for 2 years and a team option. I think that tells you what the rest of the 29 teams with 15 roster spots thought of him - before he managed to get himself so out of shape and thereby sabotage his own career. There's no team he could have helped last season because of the shape he got himself into. Whether the coach was Popovich - who had NO USE FOR HIM his last season in SA - or Wittman - who was likely on board with acquiring him - he was going to be useless last season because of 1 thing - He wasn't in condition to play at an NBA level.

Now can he still be useful? I hope so and think there's a chance, but if he doesn't make it, It's absolutely ridiculous to blame it on anyone but him. If his confidence was shot, that's on him because he - as a professional and a grown man responsible for his own actions - let himself down. But... he is better than Blatche now.

The fact that Blair wasn't effective enough to earn many minutes on the Spurs doesn't mean he isn't effective enough to earn minutes here. Lots of minutes.

I have no idea how he'd perform if he got more time, but these are not the arguments against that. Right now, we suck. We are not a good team. We are also not in a position to make any meaningful trade -- though I'm counting on Ernie to make an awful move any day now -- so let Blair play 20-25 minutes a game.

[TGW]

The fact that we are even debating the merits of Dejuan Blair just goes to show how anemic we are in the frontcourt.

Last year's acquisitions of Humphries and Blair were supposed to be band-aids...I honestly didn't think that they would actually play meaningful minutes. Now Humphries is starting...ridiculous.