Dante

[STOMP]

There's a difference, imo, of "observation" vs. "opinion". "Observation" would be something like "on consecutive trips down the floor Blair guarded, alternatively, Yao and Scola with no negative consequences." "Opinion" would be something like "Blair is perhaps the worst defensive PF in the league."

Tell you what...I'll just go with "stats" instead. Like "Blair's defensive rating of 101 was accomplished in less than 350 stops, which means he didn't meet the amount needed to qualify for the league leaders. Had he done so, it would have been #7 in the entire league, just behind Marcus Camby and Tim Duncan and ahead of Kevin Garnett, Josh Smith, every other Trail Blazer PF, etc"

The opinions of Blair's porous D generally come from those who say he's overmatched as a 6'8 who plays mostly center. The observations I posted seemed to point out that Blair now is exhibiting the ability to play both C and PF interchangably. The stats say that no matter where he played last year, he was pretty solid on D and rebounding. And he's now starting alongside Duncan, for a guy in Popovich that generally doesn't like guys who don't play D.

Blair is 6'5.25 barefoot according to his predraft measurements... thats more of a fact then a observation or opinion. At that same predraft when he claimed to be in the best shape of his life, he came in 50 pounds heavier then Dante who is a pretty stocky/muscular dude IMO.

I'm not much of a believer in the defensive rating stat (for anyone) as I think there are too many variables. But if you're going to cite this you could also look at other non-qualifiers like teammate Ian Mahinmi who were even better then him. Based purely on personal observation, I don't think much of Blair's D and think his lateral movement is pretty poor. That said, a bad D reserve can usually be effectively hidden on non-threat Bigs, and Blair certainly brings some other skills to the court that makes him a worthwhile reserve option

STOMP

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

If I recall, he has always played the 4 dating throughout his Nova days. I don't think he has played the 3 in his College/Professional career. I'm confident the 4 is his natural position.

Look, y'all need to ask Nate why he calls him a SF and wants to play him there. I'm not the one calling him a SF.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Look, y'all need to ask Nate why he calls him a SF and wants to play him there. I'm not the one calling him a SF.

He's being converted to a small forward, hence him working on his dribble drive game and trying to extend his range. But at no point in his past would he have ever been called a 3. Let it go.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Blair is 6'5.25 barefoot according to his predraft measurements... thats more of a fact then a observation or opinion. At that same predraft when he claimed to be in the best shape of his life, he came in 50 pounds heavier then Dante who is a pretty stocky/muscular dude IMO.

Fair enough...I didn't look up his predraft stats, I just went by the ESPN profile of him I was on at the time. Basketball Reference says 6'7.

I'm not much of a believer in the defensive rating stat (for anyone) as I think there are too many variables. But if you're going to cite this you could also look at other non-qualifiers like teammate Ian Mahinmi who were even better then him.

I didn't look up any other non-qualifiers except our bigs. And I can understand the reluctance to base a ton on the Drtg stat, though I think it's one of the better ones for overall D. And if you look at the players who have a similar Drtg, there aren't a whole lot that don't pass the sniff test (not like Jeter winning a gold glove or someone's UZR flip-flopping yearly).

Based purely on personal observation, I don't think much of Blair's D and think his lateral movement is pretty poor. That said, a bad D reserve can usually be effectively hidden on non-threat Bigs, and Blair certainly brings some other skills to the court that makes him a worthwhile reserve option

I don't disagree with anything you've said here. I just thought it was interesting that one of the Spurs' bloggers had talked about him having improved his D to the point that Popovich felt comfortable starting him with Duncan.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

He's being converted to a small forward, hence him working on his dribble drive game and trying to extend his range. But at no point in his past would he have ever been called a 3. Let it go.

The Blazers have several players who can play SF and really no legit back up for Aldridge . . . the fact they are trying to convert Dante to a SF probably says something about what he is best suited for at the professional level.

 

[andalusian]

The Blazers have several players who can play SF and really no legit back up for Aldridge . . . the fact they are trying to convert Dante to a SF probably says something about what he is best suited for at the professional level.

I think it has more to do with Nate's success with a stretch 4 that can break his opponent thanks to speed.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I think it has more to do with Nate's success with a stretch 4 that can break his opponent thanks to speed.

Exactamundo.

Nate likes 4s who can switch on a pick and roll and who can make another backup 4 chase them around at the other end of the court. I'd never really want to see Dante as a starting small forward (guys like Melo, et al. would run him ragged) but against backup 3s and 4s I think he's got enough versatility, agility and strength to hang with most guys at those spots.

 

[Nikolokolus]

The Blazers have several players who can play SF and really no legit back up for Aldridge . . . the fact they are trying to convert Dante to a SF probably says something about what he is best suited for at the professional level.

I think the Blazers have Nic and Wesley defensively and that's about it. But I wouldn't be shocked to see Babbitt converted to a stretch 4 because I don't think he has the instincts or quickness to be effective at the 3 defensively ... at least yet.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Exactamundo.

Nate likes 4s who can switch on a pick and roll and who can make another backup 4 chase them around at the other end of the court. I'd never really want to see Dante as a starting small forward (guys like Melo, et al. would run him ragged) but against backup 3s and 4s I think he's got enough versatility, agility and strength to hang with most guys at those spots.

I'm a little lost (like usual). It sounds like Dante could do all the things Nate wants out of a backup PF, why are they grooming him more like a SF? I feel the other way (not that it is the right way) but I don't ever want to see Dante as a starting PF (guys like Amare, Bosh, Duncan, Gasol would eat him up). Backup PF seems alright given the Blazer current roster, but I like him more as an energy defensive backup SF type player.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I'm a little lost (like usual). It sounds like Dante could do all the things Nate wants out of a backup PF, why are they grooming him more like a SF?

Because in three months or so, Camby will be our backup PF.

 

[andalusian]

I'm a little lost (like usual). It sounds like Dante could do all the things Nate wants out of a backup PF, why are they grooming him more like a SF?

Dante can do a lot of what we want from a stretch PF - but one of the things he was not very good at, last year, was putting the ball on the floor and attacking from the dribble. Travis, for example, for all his faults - was pretty good at doing that in order to create the separation that allowed him to elevate and get his shot. Dante could not do it by himself last year - and since he does not have Travis's ridiculous elevation he would have to get better at creating for himself off the dribble to give you some of what Travis did.

That, imho, is the reason they want him to develop this. If it also allows him to see some minutes at the 3 when the team goes real-big, that's a bonus.

I feel the other way (not that it is the right way) but I don't ever want to see Dante as a starting PF (guys like Amare, Bosh, Duncan, Gasol would eat him up). Backup PF seems alright given the Blazer current roster, but I like him more as an energy defensive backup SF type player.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Because in three months or so, Camby will be our backup PF.

Hey . . . no timetables please.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Hey . . . no timetables please.

..ish.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Dante can do a lot of what we want from a stretch PF - but one of the things he was not very good at, last year, was putting the ball on the floor and attacking from the dribble. Travis, for example, for all his faults - was pretty good at doing that in order to create the separation that allowed him to elevate and get his shot. Dante could not do it by himself last year - and since he does not have Travis's ridiculous elevation he would have to get better at creating for himself off the dribble to give you some of what Travis did.

That, imho, is the reason they want him to develop this. If it also allows him to see some minutes at the 3 when the team goes real-big, that's a bonus.

I see my confusion. They really aren't grooming DC to be a SF . . . they are working on these skills (dibbling and outside shooting) so he can be more effective as a Nate style PF. I think that is where I am getting lost wondering why they are trying to make him a SF when the Blazers have 3 or 4 good players who can play that position but have a big hole (for now) in the PF position. I suspect DC will playing mostly backup PF for a good part of the season . . . I personally am not crazy with the idea, but who else can play it right now?

 

[Nikolokolus]

I see my confusion. They really aren't grooming DC to be a SF . . . they are working on these skills (dibbling and outside shooting) so he can be more effective as a Nate style PF. I think that is where I am getting lost wondering why they are trying to make him a SF when the Blazers have 3 or 4 good players who can play that position but have a big hole (for now) in the PF position. I suspect DC will playing mostly backup PF for a good part of the season . . . I personally am not crazy with the idea, but who else can play it right now?

He played power forward all of last year and Dante is/was more effective than Jeff at the 4 spot (same rebounding proficiency, better defense). Cunningham is really pretty good at fronting the post which makes it difficult for guards to complete entry passes to whomever he guards and he knows enough about weakside help and boxing out that we shouldn't be at too much of a liability when he's out there.

 

[MickZagger]

Look, y'all need to ask Nate why he calls him a SF and wants to play him there. I'm not the one calling him a SF.

Give me a link. I don't recall such thing.

 

[MickZagger]

[video=youtube;b-NXuuiqgjE]

 

[THE HCP]

Take this bitches!

 

[MickZagger]

Take this bitches!

A couple minutes later and Dante got his revenge.

 

[THE HCP]

But if you watch closely, Stat took his balls out and set them on Dantes forehead!

 

[MickZagger]

But if you watch closely, Stat took his balls out and set them on Dantes forehead!

Stat is like that, he was lookin to put his balls in someone's mouth.

BTW, Stat is a stupid nickname for him, he can score thats about it. Should give it to someone who can actually fill up a stat sheet.

 

[THE HCP]

KingSpeed is the man, he was lookin to put his balls in someone's mouth.

FIXED!

 

[BrianFromWA]

Stat is like that, he was lookin to put his balls in someone's mouth.

BTW, Stat is a stupid nickname for him, he can score thats about it. Should give it to someone who can actually fill up a stat sheet.

I'm pretty sure he uses it as an acronym for Standing Tall and Talented, not his ability to fill a scorer's sheet.

 

[blazerboy30]

Give me a link. I don't recall such thing.

I don't know where a link is, but during DC's media day interview, he said (and Nate said) he would be playing SF a fair amount, especially against the bigger, stronger SFs.

 

[MickZagger]

I don't know where a link is, but during DC's media day interview, he said (and Nate said) he would be playing SF a fair amount, especially against the bigger, stronger SFs.

Like I said, I can see it if he can learn to put the ball on the floor and further his range a lil bit. Last year he was used primarily as a backup 4. I think he's better suited as a 4, than as a 3.

 

[blazerboy30]

Like I said, I can see it if he can learn to put the ball on the floor and further his range a lil bit. Last year he was used primarily as a backup 4. I think he's better suited as a 4, than as a 3.

I think it depends on the matchup. There are quite a few 3's that I wouldn't mind having DC guard, and there are quite a few 4's that I wouldn't want to rely on DC trying to defend. On offense, he won't be relied on much whether he plays the 3 or 4, so that is less important to me.