How Is It DeJuan Blair Is Still Playing?!

[porkchopexpress]

You're not. The context is.....and I'll repeat.....if you can take the calculated risk on Roy, then why not on Blair?

OK, I'll work with you: Why draft Pendergraph ahaid of Blair?

UPSIDE. Actually, Roy was seen as low risk low reward at the time. He was the most NBA ready of the lotto picks, but most didn't think he had the upside of LMA, Gay or the Bargnani, or so people thought. Also, many athletes have meniscus issues, but most don't end up like Roy.

 

[ABM]

For the record, I'm absolutely pleased at all the accomplishments Roy performed for this team. He gave us many, many good memories.

It's just that I was unhappy the Blazers didn't take Blair in the 2nd Round when they had 2 good chances to do so.

I was under the impression that Blair and Roy had the same health issues. Thanks, porkchopexpress, for clearing up that portion for me.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Well Brandon's probably wondering the same thing.

 

[Rhal]

You're not. The context is.....and I'll repeat.....if you can take the calculated risk on Roy, then why not on Blair?

OK, I'll work with you: Why draft Pendergraph ahaid of Blair?

Because Blair is small (6'7) had conditioning problems and no ACLs. He is about as horrible as you can get defensively. As you can see by where he was drafted we aren't the only ones who thought he had no future as a pro.

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[ABM]

Because Blair is small (6'7) had conditioning problems and no ACLs. He is about as horrible as you can get defensively. As you can see by where he was drafted we aren't the only ones who thought he had no future as a pro.

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I hear ya. Pendergraph is tearin' it up with the Pacers.

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

I do not think the Pacers would trade Pendergraph for Blair. I do not think Minnesota would trade Cunningham for him and I know I would not want to swap him for Claver.

So, not an issue, like drafting Nolan over Faried.

 

[BrianFromWA]

there are a few different things at play with Blair (and I'm not sure where the Roy comparison is coming from, but whatever...)

1) Blair played really well in college. He was mock-drafted in the lotto in virtually every mock until Draft Week.
2) He has cartilage. What he does not have are ACLs. They were resorbed (?) into his body in high school after an injury. I don't know what he's done this year, but up until this year he has missed 3 games in his college and NBA career--1 due to suspension and 2 due to illness.
3) Instead of comparing him to Roy, I'd compare him to Pendergraph (2 season-ending injuries in 3 years) and Cunningham, who were taken 6 and 4 spots ahead of him.
4) The man started 165 games for the Spurs the last 4 years and played 22 mpg (down to 14 this year). Until getting into Pops' doghouse in last year's playoffs he'd never had less than a 17 PER (and it's still above 15 in this, the "worst" year of his career).
5) He makes less than Ronnie Price and 1/3 of what Freeland makes.

 

[MickZagger]

Blair has a PER of 17 for his career. Hardly a scrub.

 

[NOVoodoo]

Maybe they passed on him because he is a 6'7" PF. Add the knee issues into the equation and it makes more sense.
Bottom line is that he is now a free agent and we can still have him during his prime. Pop doesn't want him anymore. Has tried to give him away. But don't let that influence your decision. Pop was never good at evaluating talent.

The height really wasn't or shouldn't have been an issue. I remember seeing a lot of Blair at Pitt, and he was clearly going to be successful as an undersized PF. There was one play I'll never forget, where he went up for a rebound with 7'3" Hasheem Thabeet, and he threw Thabeet's 7'3" frame over his shoulder to get the board. Not to mention, he completely dominated Thabeet offensively the entire game. He's always had a bit of Z-Bo in him and a bit of Reggie Evans. I never really doubted the height, and I doubt many teams did either... it was the ACL's that really scared teams away from him.

EDIT: found a clip

[video=youtube;f5R_k0Sw8nc]

there are a few different things at play with Blair (and I'm not sure where the Roy comparison is coming from, but whatever...)

1) Blair played really well in college. He was mock-drafted in the lotto in virtually every mock until Draft Week.
2) He has cartilage. What he does not have are ACLs. They were resorbed (?) into his body in high school after an injury. I don't know what he's done this year, but up until this year he has missed 3 games in his college and NBA career--1 due to suspension and 2 due to illness.
3) Instead of comparing him to Roy, I'd compare him to Pendergraph (2 season-ending injuries in 3 years) and Cunningham, who were taken 6 and 4 spots ahead of him.
4) The man started 165 games for the Spurs the last 4 years and played 22 mpg (down to 14 this year). Until getting into Pops' doghouse in last year's playoffs he'd never had less than a 17 PER (and it's still above 15 in this, the "worst" year of his career).
5) He makes less than Ronnie Price and 1/3 of what Freeland makes.

Great post... agreed 100%.

 

[ABM]

there are a few different things at play with Blair (and I'm not sure where the Roy comparison is coming from, but whatever...)

1) Blair played really well in college. He was mock-drafted in the lotto in virtually every mock until Draft Week.
2) He has cartilage. What he does not have are ACLs. They were resorbed (?) into his body in high school after an injury. I don't know what he's done this year, but up until this year he has missed 3 games in his college and NBA career--1 due to suspension and 2 due to illness.
3) Instead of comparing him to Roy, I'd compare him to Pendergraph (2 season-ending injuries in 3 years) and Cunningham, who were taken 6 and 4 spots ahead of him.
4) The man started 165 games for the Spurs the last 4 years and played 22 mpg (down to 14 this year). Until getting into Pops' doghouse in last year's playoffs he'd never had less than a 17 PER (and it's still above 15 in this, the "worst" year of his career).
5) He makes less than Ronnie Price and 1/3 of what Freeland makes.

Good post. I mentioned about three times in the thread how Roy ended up in the discussion. A very poor comparison, straight-up, but from an injury standpoint was just confused as to why the Blazers were afraud to take Blair @37.

It's all good, though. I've slept it off.