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Straight from the statzone....DeJuan Blair


For stat-geeks like me, I thought I'd write this after feeling inspired to look up his game log after reading the Express News piece rikiddo posted.

So get out your calculators and push your glasses up the bridge of your nose, because its all numbers after the jump....

EDIT: Pictures added to the numbers right before posted.  So if you hate numbers, just scroll through and look at the pretty pictures.

Star-divide

Blair0409_medium

1.  Growth as a Player

Pitt lost 5 games last season.  All 5 were games where Blair had less than 10 FGA's.  The year before Pitt lost 10 games.  Blair had more than 10 attempts in 6 of those losses.  His FGA's on the season went up from 8.5 to 10.9. So to connect those lines for you, he added 2.4 FGA's and his team only lost games when he was under his average the second season because he became a more efficient and dominant player.  Its safe to say that at 20 years old, he isn't peaked either.  It is also worth noting that Blair only fouled out in 3 games and they combined for 3 losses by 6, 8, and 14 points.  In another loss he had 4 fouls and was limited to 23 minutes of court time.

He also had only 2 games out of 37 above 15 rebounds his freshman year. 12 of his 35 games last season were above 15 rebounds.  He also doubled his assist to turnover ratio from year one to two.

In his freshman year, he played 37 games and 963 minutes.  In his sophomore year, 35 games and 955 minutes.  That is a 0.8% difference so let us just say he played two season with the same minutes. +4.1 PTS, +3.2 REBS, +.3 ASTS, -.6 TO's, +.46 A/T, -.2 STLS, -.1 BLKS, -.2 PFS, +5.6% shooting, +.07 PPS.  He took 68 more shot attempts but got only 13 more free throw attempts.  Let's hope this is showing him developing better range but it could also show the development of bad habits when finishing at the rim.  Maybe someone else can shed light on this if they saw Pitt play both years.  Eight less steals, 7 less blocks and 14 less fouls shows some sacrifice and control on defense.  They don't record stats for what I call the Red Auerbach Block (blocks your team actually recovers).  A PF and a steal are turnovers, a block may not be so the tradeoff could be more valuable if he has a low percentage of blocks recovered.

 

2.  What about high pressure situations? 

26192_pitt_blair_nba_medium

Well lets start by looking at the elimination game against Villanova in the tournament.  He went 9 of 9 from the field.  His first perfect game from the field since his second game his freshman year where he went 4 of 4.  He also added 10 rebounds in that game.

In the tourney's 4 games (E. Tenn St, Oklahoma St, Xavier(D.West sucks), and Villanova), he was +1.1 PTS, +1.5 REBS, +.6 ASTS, +.5 STLS.  Yes he played more minutes (6.7) but he clearly made the most of them.  He also kept himself out of foul trouble in all 4 games ending all of them with 3 fouls.

 

0216_pitt_uconn2_84822541

We all know about his now infamous "Thabeetdown" where he had 22 PTS, 23 REBS, 2 ASTS, and a BLK on the road at UCONN.  He was less impressive in his home game against Thabeet to end the season but his team won by 10 on his 8 PTS and 8 REBS.  Sam Young was sort of a ballhog though taking his second most FGA's of the season and scoring his 3 highest total (31), but you aren't here to read about the guy taken one spot before our guy.  While talking about Thabeet(picked 35 spots ahead of our guy), his assist to turnover ratio is a joke compared to Blair's and stayed the same for all 3 years in college.

Blair played in 6 games against ranked opponents not named #1 UCONN so let us look at those. I'm going to put the teams tourney seed in parantheses.

2008587474_medium

A 70-54 victory at #8 Georgetown(NA):  9/16 for 20 PTS and 17 REBS with 3 ASTS, 2 BLKS and a STL

Dejuan-blair_medium

A 69-63 loss at #20 Louisville(1): 20 minutes in a 5 PF game so I can guess foul trouble resulting in a 4/7 for 9 PTS and 10 REBS.

 

610x_medium

A 78-60 victory against #8 Syracuse(3): 9/14 for 20 PTS, 12 REBS, 2 ASTS, 1 STL, and 4 BLKS.  Johnny Flynn, the guy taken like 33 spots ahead of him, 3/14 for 12 PTS, 4 REBS, and 7 ASTS.

 

[NO PICTURES ALLOWED AT VILLANOVA......?]

A 57-67 loss at #21 Villanova(3): Possibly another foul trouble game with 4 fouls and 20 minutes.  2/3 for 7 PTS, 8 REBS, 1 AST, and 1 BLK.

Dejuan_blair_pitt_medium

A 93-80 win over #22 Notre Dame(NA):An absolute monster game of 10/18 for 23 PTS, 22 REBS, 1 STL, 1 BLK.

 

090316_pittsburgh

A 90-75 win over #15 Marquette(6):  A super efficient 7/10 FG's and 9/12 FT's for 23 PTS to go with his 9 REBS, 3 ASTS, 1 STL, and 4 BLKS.  The highest scorer for Marquette also had 23 pts.....on 24 shots and only 3 FTA.

Two losses and both appear to be foul trouble where he was limited to 20 minutes.  Both were also on the road and college road games against quality teams are generally brutal atmospheres.  Even in those losses 18 total rebounds in 40 minutes of play. 

G-cvr-090326-pitt-634p

In conclusion, he really seems to be as monstrous as advertised and shows signs of growth.  I think he will make some players wish they didn't have ACL's.  This is a horrible reference if you didn't grow up in the 90's and see this movie as a kid, but could this be like that movie Rookie of the Year.  An injury that makes him an athletic freak.

12 recs  |  Comment 24 comments |

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BlaseE, this is a terrific post. Thanks for all the information. It’s also good to know that Blair played great on almost all of his games against ranked teams. Just shows how the guy isn’t easily rattled and pours his heart out every single game. I continue to be stoked about this pick up.

by silverandblack_davis on Jun 29, 2009 3:52 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Great analysis. Very encouraging as well. Why, though, did you have to bring up that terrible movie. I had almost erased it from my memory until you brought it up.

I'm comfortable winning -- Emmanuel Ginobili

by pollackj on Jun 29, 2009 8:32 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

That’s about as great a compliment for a post as I’ve seen yet. I rec your rec of this post.

I want my Manu

by jollyrogerwilco on Jun 29, 2009 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Wow, LD. You managed to restrain yourself and not mention the un-centered photos. Are you on your meds?

We specialize in misinformation around here. Facts and stats just get in the way.

by Wayne Vore (ATS) on Jun 29, 2009 11:38 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I tried. They would center in the visual view but every time I posted the code would go away and they’d go back to the left.

Did we really just add a player good enough to be guarded by Bruce Bowen?

by BlaseE on Jun 29, 2009 11:43 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Since LD was so geeked about the awesomeness of this post, perhaps he’ll jump in there and fix them for ya.

Or maybe ATS will write a script that you can run on the HTML, that’ll convert all of the images to align center.

I want my Manu

by jollyrogerwilco on Jun 29, 2009 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

He even rec’d a post that wasn’t formatted to LD specifications. weird.

Bring back Bruce, and free James Gist!
Pounding the Rock - where RJ happens.

by Tim C. on Jun 29, 2009 12:00 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

It was difficult, don’t get me wrong. I even almost centered them myself… but I couldn’t do that to BlasE. His post’s too good for me to ruin it with my pet peeves.

Straight from the No-Stat Zone to your computer!
Dunkin' Cheerleaders

by LatinD on Jun 29, 2009 12:05 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

But if BlasE wants me to… :)

Straight from the No-Stat Zone to your computer!
Dunkin' Cheerleaders

by LatinD on Jun 29, 2009 12:05 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Go for it and I’ll go look at the code later.

Did we really just add a player good enough to be guarded by Bruce Bowen?

by BlaseE on Jun 29, 2009 12:11 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

There’s a FAQ somewhere that I wrote some time ago, where I explain it. Done, anyway.

Straight from the No-Stat Zone to your computer!
Dunkin' Cheerleaders

by LatinD on Jun 29, 2009 12:45 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Now I feel terrible. As a kid I loved The Rookie of the Year.

"If an expert says it can't be done, get another expert"
- DBG

by LasEspuelas on Jun 29, 2009 9:43 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I’m not sure who to reply to between pollackj and LasEspuelas…
Rookie of the Year is a good family movie if you saw it as a kid. Daniel Stern directs and adds his comic relief. Busey as the love interest and old veteran pitcher who ends up with the kid’s single mom. Its like a modern fairy tale…..

“A kid breaks his arm and as it mends he finds out that he has a stronger arm for throwing than before he broke it. The Chicago Cubs find out and sign the kid to pitch for them.”

A high school kid injures both ACL’s and as they mend he finds out that he has stronger legs for jumping than before he injured them. The Spurs find out and sign the kid (who is now a man) to rebound for them.

You have to see the similarities….

Other movies I’ve found you have to have seen as a kid to love: Goonies and Hook. Maybe every Jean Claude Van Damme movie was made for 10 year old boys as well. DeJuan Blair vs Thabeet in the Kumite, who ya got?

Did we really just add a player good enough to be guarded by Bruce Bowen?

by BlaseE on Jun 29, 2009 10:03 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Goonies and hook were also awesome as a kid. Not so much now.

"If an expert says it can't be done, get another expert"
- DBG

by LasEspuelas on Jun 29, 2009 10:12 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Thanks for all the pictures

Yeah, so I just looked at the pictures. I’m sure these are all good stats…but there’s just…so….many…numbers.

by Big50 on Jun 29, 2009 10:11 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Speaking of numbers. Did I miss his FG% and FT% for the season, or are they just not here? And if anyone has them, please chime in.

I want my Manu

by jollyrogerwilco on Jun 29, 2009 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

FG%: 53.7 to 59.3% his sophomore year
FT%: 62.4% to 60.5%….not so great…which is why I omitted it but you forced my hand, JRW

Did we really just add a player good enough to be guarded by Bruce Bowen?

by BlaseE on Jun 29, 2009 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

First, my curiosity got the better of me.

Second, he’s 60% free throw shooter!??!?!!! He really IS a Spur.

I want my Manu

by jollyrogerwilco on Jun 29, 2009 11:56 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Well, McClinton is a 88.5% free throw shooter last season and a 91.9% the year before. So he is also a Spur. He can be that guy on the court like Brent Barry (used to be) or Manu Ginobili that you just assume the free throw is already in before they shoot it.

Did we really just add a player good enough to be guarded by Bruce Bowen?

by BlaseE on Jun 29, 2009 12:09 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

It’s true that you always need an exception that proves the rule, but didn’t we already replace bones with Mace Windu? Where does that leave Jack? Hopefully, not out in the cold.

My name is DeJuan Blair. You blocked my shot. Prepare to die. - CH&LD
I want my Manu

by jollyrogerwilco on Jun 29, 2009 1:39 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

BlaseE, I must add my kudos to the list. This post is almost as awesome as Blair himself.

Rec’d to his missing ACLs.

I want my Manu

by jollyrogerwilco on Jun 29, 2009 10:36 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Loved it. Rec’d.

by Lauri on Jun 29, 2009 11:23 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

“Thabeetdown”

GOL²

"He's Manu Ginobili"

by the little o on Jul 3, 2009 1:37 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

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