GT #66: Kings @ Wizards 7 PM (CSN/99.1 FM) [3/14/15]

[hands11]

Hmmm. Didn't feel like it but..

The game was 34-32 with 8 mins to go in the 2nd.

[McFilthy]

How about Rasual taking on a freight train Cousins to get him out of the game by taking the charge ?

Big Ball Butler ?

Rasual has nights where he looks like he defies being 35. He can still move and get up for the dunks. If you don't recall, he even had some real nice monster rebounds.

When Demarcus Cousins is dominating a game, trying to constantly draw charging fouls and trying to pull the chair on him might actually be a good strategy to get Cousins out of his game since he gets so furious when things don't go his way. Only thing is, how many charges could a player's body take from 270-pound Cousins going full steam?

[exculpatory]

And Paul Pierce was awesome once again. Aside from Wall, Paul's vintage Truth 12 point Q3 turned the game around.

Do you realize that except for a few games recently where he actually looked 37 1/2 years old, Paul is averaging just shy of 13 PPG on 46% & 40% from 3, & 59% TS% - playing ONLY 26 mpg & averaging ONLY 9 FGAs per game. He is STILL a freaking stud - even in his NBA-geriatric years!

[Sluggerface]

This

This is obvious to anyone that has ever watched Blair outside of the Wizards.

No. It's obvious that the Blair who played for San Antonio and Dallas is better than Seraphin. The Blair who is playing now is fat and out of shape. He can't shoot, post up, or guard anybody with a modicum of mobility. Heck, the 7-foot, 280-pound Demarcus Cousins was facing him up at the top of the key, crossing him over and getting to the rim.

You mean a guy that doesn't have ACL's and plays 2-3 times a month isn't an optimal game shape? You don't say.

I'll also point out that Blair grabbed 4 of his rebounds and scored 2 points in the last 4 minutes of the game after Cousins had fouled out and the Kings had capitulated.

It's ridiculous that you're pointing out Blair's head to head with Cousins. What is he supposed to do? Outright win his matchup against an all-star center that's averaging 13 boards per 36?

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I'm not a Blair hater. I'm a Blair realist. He has been horrible this year. Absolutely dreadful. He has a PER of 7.7, a WS/48 of .38, and a negative VORP. He is committing 8.3 fouls per 36 minutes. And he's doing all this while playing mostly in garbage time against third stringers with the game out of reach.

I'm not going to sit here and be told that I am wrong and you are right because Blair managed to piece together 16 minutes of not-horrible play, most of which took place in garbage time. It wasn't great play. It wasn't good play. It was passable play. It was the first time this season he didn't embarrass himself.
...

Passable play?

http://www.csnwashington.com/basketball ... ul-trouble

With Marcin Gortat and Kevin Seraphin in foul trouble and Nene (personal leave) and Kris Humphries (left groin) not available, Blair played the entire fourth quarter and had a major impact on the outcome of a game for the first time this season.

As soon as Blair entered for the first time with 2:19 left in the second quarter, he caught an interior pass from Paul Pierce and went up quickly for a nifty reverse layup. The Wizards (38-28) had their hands full trying to contain DeMarcus Cousins, who had 21 of his 30 points in the first half for Sacramento (22-43). 

Blair, who has appeared in a career-low 23 games after being acquired last summer in a trade with the Dallas Mavericks, tallied four of his five fouls in the fourth quarter. He played with Gortat the entire 12 minutes to put a body on Cousins. Frustrated, Cousins eventually fouled out midway through as the Wizards pulled away.

"DeJuan was big," coach Randy Wittman said. "DeJuan really battled, physicality, hitting, rebounding, moving the ball from one side to the other."

Whether or not Nene and Humphries can play in the near future, Blair's presence is a reminder that they have options and can win with him, too.

Passable play,

http://www.basketball-reference.com/box ... 40WAS.html

Blair had the best +/-, the best defensive and total rebounding percentages, and he tied for the best defensive rating.

[nate33]

I'm not a Blair hater. I'm a Blair realist. He has been horrible this year. Absolutely dreadful. He has a PER of 7.7, a WS/48 of .38, and a negative VORP. He is committing 8.3 fouls per 36 minutes. And he's doing all this while playing mostly in garbage time against third stringers with the game out of reach.

I'm not going to sit here and be told that I am wrong and you are right because Blair managed to piece together 16 minutes of not-horrible play, most of which took place in garbage time. It wasn't great play. It wasn't good play. It was passable play. It was the first time this season he didn't embarrass himself.
...

Passable play?

http://www.csnwashington.com/basketball ... ul-trouble

With Marcin Gortat and Kevin Seraphin in foul trouble and Nene (personal leave) and Kris Humphries (left groin) not available, Blair played the entire fourth quarter and had a major impact on the outcome of a game for the first time this season.

As soon as Blair entered for the first time with 2:19 left in the second quarter, he caught an interior pass from Paul Pierce and went up quickly for a nifty reverse layup. The Wizards (38-28) had their hands full trying to contain DeMarcus Cousins, who had 21 of his 30 points in the first half for Sacramento (22-43). 

Blair, who has appeared in a career-low 23 games after being acquired last summer in a trade with the Dallas Mavericks, tallied four of his five fouls in the fourth quarter. He played with Gortat the entire 12 minutes to put a body on Cousins. Frustrated, Cousins eventually fouled out midway through as the Wizards pulled away.

"DeJuan was big," coach Randy Wittman said. "DeJuan really battled, physicality, hitting, rebounding, moving the ball from one side to the other."

Whether or not Nene and Humphries can play in the near future, Blair's presence is a reminder that they have options and can win with him, too.

Passable play,

http://www.basketball-reference.com/box ... 40WAS.html

Blair had the best +/-, the best defensive and total rebounding percentages, and he tied for the best defensive rating.

Yes. Passable play. He padded his stats in the last 4 minutes of the game with Cousins fouled out and Sacramento down 14. They had given up. In that stretch, he had 4 rebounds and 2 points, going 1 for 2, with a foul and a turnover. That means in his other 12 minutes of action, he had 4 points, 3 rebounds and 4 fouls. That's "passable" play. It wasn't a breakout performance. It wasn't anything to write home about. It was a guy who contributed a little bit - what you would expect from a bench big. And that was his best game of the season.

The huge point differential during his time on the floor had very little to do with Blair. It was Wall hitting 4 of 5 three pointers.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

This time I will agree with Wittman.

The score was Sacramento 85, Washington 84 at the start of the fourth.

Blair played the entire fourth quarter.

Thanks, nate. I have been on the losing end a bunch the past couple seasons. You have a right to your opinion.

Life is too short. I am done with this.

[Kanyewest]

Blair played alright- I want to see him do well but he hasn't been playing like he was with the Mavericks specifically like he did against the Spurs. Personally, I would like to see Blair play 10 games before writing him off but his minutes could become really limited once Nene and Humphries get back.

[Higga]

We need more games like this from Wall to get all the haters to STFU.