Arnovitz on Blair: ‘Efficient, occasionally dominant’

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Well before the 2009 draft, I was talking on the phone with my brother from another mother, whose sensual voice you hear narrating the above video. At the time we both agreed that, behind Griffin, DeJuan Blair would be the second best big man in the entering rookie class. As of right now I’m feeling vindicated.

  • AP

    First 20-20 night from a rookie since Duncan. Will DeJuan get his name in ROY talks, or at least start the Rookie game?

  • Sauce

    “sensual?” i highly disagree.

    excellent game by blair. but i would like to see him play against meatier and more offensively skilled big men. marc gasol/zach randolph is going to be a great test for blair to gauge just how effective blair can be.

  • idahospur

    Blair is on a very talented team with championship potential. IMO most recent ROY winners come from teams that were bad and made slight improvements. For Blair to get significant playing time on this team and contribute so much, it really shows how truly talented he is.

  • Chris L

    Nice break down. Although, it might be worth mentioning that the Thunder are horrible at defending the PnR.

    On a semi related note, I would also like to highlight that Jefferson provides someone who can get to the rim. He didn’t make the shot @ 1:00, but he drew Blair’s opposition away from Blair allowing the put back.

  • DaveMan77

    I Like what Blair and Hill bring to the Spurs it reminds me of the Spurs second title team when they had Parker,claxton,Jackson,and Manu they were all so young and you never knew what to expect from them. Its good for a team that sometimes I feel is a bit too predictable. And the young dudes get the old guys fired up with their play.

  • kb

    This is another example of production out-weighing protential….Tapes never lie, Blair dominated bigger but less skilled big men in college, so what made 36 teams think that his production wouldn’t translate into the”LEAGUE”? We’ve seen over the last 20 years that you really can’t teach rebounding and no matter how tall you are that’s the one skill that translate’s immediately into the NBA(Dennis Rodman, Ben Wallace, Paul Millsap)and as he mature’s as a pro, that dominace well translate over time.

    Spurs Org. does it again…they always seem to get their guys…..thats not luck….

    Peace and Hair Grease

  • adam

    Not to be rude but 36 teams didn’t pass on him, 36 players were selected before. Not 36 teams in the league bud.

  • Sauce

    i can understand how blair fell so deep. people seem to be forgetting that first round picks get multi-year guranteed deals. in this kind of economy where teams are cost-cutting and wary about taking risks, it’s no wonder teams were scared of picking a player who had no acls in both knees who could potentially be hurt right off the bat and still be owed that money. now for second round players who do not have guaranteed contracts, shame on them. but thank goodness because it gave us blair.

    36 picks did not ridiculously pass on blair. picks 31-35 did.

  • J

    The spurs were surprised Blair fell into their lap– I think they even said they slated him to be take in the latter part of the 1st round.

  • Pork Fried Rice

    I think I felt a tear in my eye… that was beautiful KA.

    The ESPN highlight gave no respect to Dejuan.

    P.S. It was 29 teams that passed DB, the Celtics did not have a first round pick like the Spurs.

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