Sophomore Report V1.04 : DeJuan Blair "Beastmode"

By Brendan McKay

Although a strange statement to make about a team that has just notched 50 wins for the 12th consecutive season, there is revitalization going on in San Antonio. While they have always been good, 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 were down years for the Spurs…relatively speaking. They were good, but not championship contenders. This year, all that has changed. Not only is this their 12th straight year with 50 wins, but they were also the first team to reach the plateau this season.

So what change in San Antonio has brought them back to championship form? (I assume you have read the article’s title and already know how I feel, but bear with me for a moment). Like anything in life, there are a few causes for such a large change, some more important than others. Manu Ginobili is having the best season of his career outside of 2007/2008. Tony Parker is taking personal turmoil, and handing in one of the better years of his career. Richard Jefferson? Well, he still isn’t the same player without Jason Kidd. Tim Duncan is actually playing the fewest minutes of his career; A lot less minutes. He is playing just shy of 29 minutes per contest, after averaging 36 during his illustrious career. None of these changes are drastic, and are mostly about veterans doing what they’ve always done. Some would even be considered innately negative. So what is the number one reason the 2010/2011 Spurs look like their dynasty might have a second act? DeJuan Blair(shocking, I know).
DeJuan Blair
Most of the player focuses in the Sophomore Report are typically a highlight of a player’s individual efforts, since you know…their teams aren’t very good, and their effectiveness is much easier to see in the box score rather than the win/loss column. DeJuan Blair’s spotlight is much more focused on the impact he has had on the former, and I don’t think he would have it any other way. He is a throwback’s throwback. What he lacks in athletic limitations (he is a 6’7 Center and has two ACL less knees), he makes up for with heart, hustle, strength and a superior understanding for the nuances of the game of basketball.

Ever since the retirement of David Robinson, the Spurs have been on a constant search for a player with enough substance to keep Tim Duncan at the Power Forward, and playing as few minutes at the Center position as possible. The search has led them from Nazr Mohammed to Fabrico Oberto. They even managed to win a championship with Rasho Nesterovic. Despite going head to head with players often five inches taller, Blair has shown he is up to the task. With Blair as the only new addition in the starting lineup, the Spurs went from 9th to 7th in defensive efficiency and 9th to 2nd in offensive efficiency. Most important to the Spur’s championship hopes is the fact that Blair’s consistent inside effort has allowed them to rest Tim Duncan. By limiting Duncan’s minutes in the regular season, the Spurs hope to increase his effectiveness that much more when the playoffs come around.

When looking at Blair’s statistics we have to remember that his playing time has been on a steady increase as the season has progressed. Overall, he is averaging 22 minutes a game to go with nine points and seven boards a game. Not necessarily mind blowing numbers. But when you look a bit deeper, the figures start getting more and more impressive. DeJuan averages 15.6 rebounds per 48 minutes, good for 7th in the league. He is also a terror on the offensive glass, averaging 4.16 offensive rebounds pet 48 minutes, which makes him the 6th most efficient offensive rebounder in the league. The Spurs have been doing plenty of winning this season, but when Blair plays significant minutes, they win even more. When Blair plays more than 30 minutes in a game, he averages 18 points and almost 14 boards a game. The Spurs are also 7-1 in those games, with the one loss coming in the second game of the season to a Hornets team that ran off eight straight wins to begin the season.

DeJuan Blair might never make an All-Star team. He is never going to put up the gaudy numbers that typically accompany such an accomplishment. But he is the type of player that every contender would absolutely love to have on their roster. Despite inconsistent minutes, he brings it every single night and contributes in ways few players do. Despite physical limitations, he has something that is sadly a fleeting characteristic in today’s NBA, heart. DeJuan Blair, in one word, is a beast.

1.    Stephen Curry

Curry continues to show that he is a step away from being a bona-fide NBA superstar. The only thing keeping him from that elevation is the occasional dud game. Most nights he can be counted on for 20 points, 6 assists and a handful of 3’s, but he does throw out the occasionally single digit scoring and sub 30% shooting nights

2.    DeMar DeRozan

DeMar DeRozan continues to impress. While I do like his play, I do not think he is the 2nd best player in the Sophomore Class. Despite this, his play of late demands the 2nd spot on the list. Over the last six games, he has averaged 20 points a game and is shooting >50% from the floor. Unfortunately, his play does not always translate to victories on a terrible Toronto team, as the team racked up only two victories in the same six games.

3.    Wesley Matthews

Matthews consistent play continues. Despite the return of Brandon Roy, Matthews’s place in the starting lineup remains. The Blazers have sputtered a bit of late, but Matthews’s solid play, along with the addition of Gerald Wallace and Roy’s reappearance could make the Blazers a first round nightmare.

4.    Tyreke Evans

I can only drop him so far. Evans is estimated to be out for another week and a half. While I went out of my way to point out his limitations in a previous edition of the Sophomore Report, Evans is a player.

5.    Brandon Jennings

That’s more like it. While Jennings is still showing some inconsistency after injury, his nights of 27 and 7 and 21/4 lead me to believe that he is returning to form.

6.    DeJuan Blair

Blair’s minutes have unexpectedly dropped in the last five games. He is still throwing up solid efforts as the Spurs go on to win four out of their last five games. This includes a 125-95 trouncing of the Heat to put the Miami Colluders to 1-9 against top five teams in the NBA. I love it.

7.    Jrue Holiday

Jrue has been on a tear as of late. If his play previous to the last five games hadn’t been a disappointment, you could expect him to be higher on this list. Over that span he has averaged 12 points and 7 assists, while leading the lowly 76ers to four victories in five games. If this play continues, expect Jrue to rise quickly.

8.    Serge Ibaka

Who doesn’t love a 6 point, 12 rebound and 6 block game? That’s what Serge did against the Pacers on March 2nd. Over the last five games Ibaka has averaged 11 rebounds and 2 blocks a game in only 27 minutes. He is doing exactly what the Thunder need him to do. Look out.

9.    Darren Collison

Collison’s play has been good, but not great as of late. Since we left you last, he has averaged 12.5 points and 4 assists a game. His minutes have not been at the level they were a few weeks ago, but his play really hasn’t demanded it either.

10.    James Harden

Harden has been a changed man since the All-Star break. He has averaged 17 points a game over the last five contests and a respectable 46% from the floor. What is likely to make the Thunder most happy is the fact that 14 was the lowest point production during the stretch. Between Ibaka’s play, and the hope of Harden’s consistent contribution, there are plenty of Western Conference contenders worried about seeing OK City in the playoffs.

As always, you can find me on Twitter at @bmckay to call me a jerk.