OT ish - Blair looking like a top 5 pick.

[BrianFromWA]

He got a lot of minutes because it was a blowout, I'm not sure he'll be on your fantasy team a week from now. A guy like Terrance Williams might be a better long term pickup.

Maybe. But I'm watching the replay right now...he came in when it was 13-13.

Less than 6 minutes later, he had 6pts on 3-3 shooting, 6 rebounds, an assist and a 31-17 lead. Oh yeah, and a couple of fouls.

 

[oldmangrouch]

On a related note, Casspi (the other obvious guy we passed on) shot 7-9 and had 15 points in 19 minutes.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Until I see consecutive years of this team getting worse, I'm not going to worry about it. Winning 10 more games each season is something I'm ok with, so I'm not ready to freak out just yet.

I love our team, potential, growth, best player, core, coach, GM, owner, and fan support. If I had to look for a negative, I'm sure I could find something, but there is no pointwhen so many things are going right.

I'm pretty sure everything in the post you quoted was tinged quite heavily with sarcasm. That, or it was the Don Julio talking.

 

[THE HCP]

How many minutes a night do you think he would get with us, and who would sit?

 

[BrianFromWA]

Right now, he may get none. But he'd be an awfully nice platoon with Travis at the backup PF. On the nights that Travis is bringing it (like last night), he may not get on the floor. On the nights when we're not rebounding, or Travis's shot is off, or we need a garbageman, he's there for you. If we make a big trade, he's good enough to spend some decent minutes on his own at the 4. He's like a PF version of the Microwave...need some quick rebounding and putbacks?

 

[Deebag]

Yeah, and for a 2nd round pick, those knees aren't so important. You're getting him for a few good years on a cheap contract, and there's a pretty good chance he'll hold up for a decent career. It's not like he literally has a set date to commit a career ending injury.

 

[DaRizzle]

Sweet...good call on the fantasy pickup

 

[Ed O]

How many minutes a night do you think he would get with us, and who would sit?

Do you think we're better off having a guy who can do that on the bench or a healthy Pendergraph, who has never demonstrated an ability to dominate even at the college level?

Ed O.

 

[Tince]

I'm in shock KP doesn't end up with the best players possible in every draft. I think we should criticize him for a potentially botched 2nd round pick for a few months despite the fact he's done an amazing job overall in past drafts.

 

[Reep]

There is no way any of us can really comment about the value of Blair because of his knee status. They are very bad. If he is lucky enough to have them hold out, he is a bargain. If not, then you sure would have hated to spend time developing him. I know he looks solid now, but a short heavy center with a weight problem and knee issues is not you usually go after. I'm sure KP didn't doubt his talent. The decision was likely based upon durability.

 

[blue32]

How in the hell do you play basketball w/no ACL's, can someone elaborate on that???

 

[hasoos]

Don't get me started on this years draft. The Viktor Claver pick makes me want to leave a big steamy turd in front of the Blazer offices in protest.

By the way, the one positive thing about Blair is he is easy to post up. The problem is, he easily scored as many points and rebounds as his opposition gained.

 

[oldmangrouch]

I'm in shock KP doesn't end up with the best players possible in every draft. I think we should criticize him for a potentially botched 2nd round pick for a few months despite the fact he's done an amazing job overall in past drafts.

"Amazing"...really?

The 06 draft deserves to be called amazing.

The 07 draft was largely a matter of the luck of the lotto balls. (and the jury is still out as to whether Rudy is part of our long-term core)

The 08 draft was a mixed bag. Batum was an inspired pick, but Bayless seems to be a bad fit who has no future with the team.

The 09 draft flat out sucked donkey balls. It's easy to point out that other teams were also wrong about Blair (or Casspi)...but the whole point is that KP is supposed to be *better* than that. He wasn't supposed to just follow the rest of the herd over the cliff. (and he wasn't supposed to just waste a pick on a guy who will never play in the NBA) Having Lawson stolen by a divisional rival didn't help.

Bottom line: KP is good - but he is not above criticism.

 

[Minstrel]

There is no way any of us can really comment about the value of Blair because of his knee status. They are very bad. If he is lucky enough to have them hold out, he is a bargain. If not, then you sure would have hated to spend time developing him. I know he looks solid now, but a short heavy center with a weight problem and knee issues is not you usually go after. I'm sure KP didn't doubt his talent. The decision was likely based upon durability.

If we were talking about a lottery pick, or even a first-round pick, this would make a lot of sense, IMO. But a second-round pick isn't "supposed" to amount to anything so there's essentially no risk. If his knee goes kaput, it's no worse than the typical unproductive second-rounder. If he gives even one good season, you're already ahead of the expected value of the pick. If he gets hurt before the season begins then you've got...Jeff Pendergraph?

 

[hasoos]

They run more than us, and win championships. Coincidence...?

They have Tony Parker at PG instead of Steve Blake. Coincidence?

 

[Ed O]

I'm in shock KP doesn't end up with the best players possible in every draft. I think we should criticize him for a potentially botched 2nd round pick for a few months despite the fact he's done an amazing job overall in past drafts.

Half of the board wanted Blair because of what he did in college and/or the low cost of acquisition. KP, instead, took an older inferior player at the same position.

I'd be in shock if many of us here weren't questioning what happened.

Ed O.

 

[hasoos]

Half of the board wanted Blair because of what he did in college and/or the low cost of acquisition. KP, instead, took an older inferior player at the same position.

I'd be in shock if many of us here weren't questioning what happened.

Ed O.

Blair was a considered a top 5 guy until they found out about his high school injuries. When a guy like that slides into the 30's and you have 3 picks, you find a way to pick up the elite player who has slid. I have to guess that KP figured he would get roasted over taking a guy who they know is injured though, because of the Oden issue with injuries.

 

[Tince]

I'd be in shock if many of us here weren't questioning what happened.

Ed O.

I agree 100%

 

[Tince]

"Amazing"...really?

The 06 draft deserves to be called amazing.

The 07 draft was largely a matter of the luck of the lotto balls. (and the jury is still out as to whether Rudy is part of our long-term core)

The 08 draft was a mixed bag. Batum was an inspired pick, but Bayless seems to be a bad fit who has no future with the team.

The 09 draft flat out sucked donkey balls. It's easy to point out that other teams were also wrong about Blair (or Casspi)...but the whole point is that KP is supposed to be *better* than that. He wasn't supposed to just follow the rest of the herd over the cliff. (and he wasn't supposed to just waste a pick on a guy who will never play in the NBA) Having Lawson stolen by a divisional rival didn't help.

Bottom line: KP is good - but he is not above criticism.

Of the 30 GM's, who has done better in the 06, 07, and 08 drafts? I don't think we can judge the 09 draft one game into the season, so I'm throwing that out.

 

[BenDavis503]

saying he looks like a top 5 pick is overreacting to one game.

But I am not basing my opinion on one game. I am basing it on his college performance, summer league, pre-season and now one game.

So what are you going to say to that now?

On a related note, Casspi (the other obvious guy we passed on) shot 7-9 and had 15 points in 19 minutes.

I think we should have got Casspi too, instead of Claver. Casspi is money!

How in the hell do you play basketball w/no ACL's, can someone elaborate on that???

See D. Blair #45

 

[barfo]

Blair was a considered a top 5 guy until they found out about his high school injuries. When a guy like that slides into the 30's and you have 3 picks, you find a way to pick up the elite player who has slid. I have to guess that KP figured he would get roasted over taking a guy who they know is injured though, because of the Oden issue with injuries.

Or possibly he didn't want him for reasons beyond the injuries. Perhaps he was judged to be lacking in character, or brains, or something.

barfo

 

[hasoos]

Or possibly he didn't want him for reasons beyond the injuries. Perhaps he was judged to be lacking in character, or brains, or something.

barfo

Yep, because San Antonio picks up so many players with character issues, I am sure that is the case....

 

[barfo]

Yep, because San Antonio picks up so many players with character issues, I am sure that is the case....

Well, SA could have a slightly different set of criteria on what makes a character issue. Or they could have missed something. I'd guess it is fair to assume they weren't planning on picking him up late in the 2nd round, so perhaps they didn't do quite as much homework on him as they might have otherwise.

Or, of course, perhaps it was KP that didn't do his homework.

barfo

 

[hasoos]

Well, SA could have a slightly different set of criteria on what makes a character issue. Or they could have missed something. I'd guess it is fair to assume they weren't planning on picking him up late in the 2nd round, so perhaps they didn't do quite as much homework on him as they might have otherwise.

Or, of course, perhaps it was KP that didn't do his homework.

barfo

Actually San Antonio has a very good record of picking up the talent that slides in the draft. That seems to be their specialty, and when you are a successful team for a long time, that is the only way you stay that way.

2009 37th Blair
2008 26th George Hill
2007 27th Tiago Splitter (not over here yet)
2003 28th Leandro Barbosa
2002 26th John Salmons, 55th Luis Scola.
2001 28th Tony Parker
1999 57th Manu Ginobili

Most of those guys don't have any character issues. So I would assume San Antonio has done their homework.

 

[BrianFromWA]

They have Tony Parker at PG instead of Steve Blake. Coincidence?

Then again, they have Michael Finley and Matt Bonner starting instead of Brandon Roy and Greg Oden. Really wanna go there?

 

[Tince]

Of the 30 GM's, who has done better in the 06, 07, and 08 drafts? I don't think we can judge the 09 draft one game into the season, so I'm throwing that out.

I still haven't came up with one. Can anyone help me out here?

 

[tlongII]

Actually this is why I would like to see KP at a Meet and Greet. I think he blew it on Blair and I would like to ask him about it.

 

[Ed O]

I still haven't came up with one. Can anyone help me out here?

Patterson was the one making the final calls in 2006, as I understand it. The only years where he's been unquestionably in charge are 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Do you think he's done an amazing job with those based on what you've seen so far?

Ed O.

 

[hasoos]

Then again, they have Michael Finley and Matt Bonner starting instead of Brandon Roy and Greg Oden. Really wanna go there?

Michael Finley has been a great fast break player his whole career, so I don't know what you are referring to there. He may be old, but he plays hard for the minutes he is on the floor now. Matt Bonner is a role player who knows his limitations well and doesn't go outside of the box. So yes I will go there. And I will raise you one. Steve Blake is a role player who doesn't know his limitations well. He is a poor decision maker on the break yet he continues to try and push it as primary ball handler in such scenarios, where he should try to be more of a Steve Kerr and just spot up at the 3 point line. Matt Bonner knows his role, and gets a lot of points in transition by being the trailer and getting 3 pointers much like Sabonis used to. It doesn't matter if you have Brandon Roy and Greg Oden starting if there is nobody to get them the ball in the right position, at the right time, with the right spacing, and secondly, that person has to be able to finish, so they are a threat at the rim themselves. Blake is neither of those.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Whoa. You will get zero opposition from me in questioning Blakey's ability to run the break or his knowledge of his role. Your point (if I got it correctly, which is dubious) seemed to be that running teams don't win. I said that the Spurs run more than us, and they win. You brought up Parker over Blake, which I assumed meant that they have athletic scorers at the PG, where we have an undersized SG. But there isn't a reason Roy, LMA, and Oden shouldn't be running, other than the ineptitude of our PG and (potentially) reluctance of our coach and star player. So if that was the point, I'm totally with you. I thought you were saying that SA as a team was built to run more than us, with PG Parker as an example. That's why I brought up old Finley and Bonner