DeJuan Blair’s NBA career off to a good start
DeJuan Blair has been a very good role-player off the bench for the Spurs early this season. The 6′7″ rookie out of Pittsburgh was a second round pick for the Spurs and many said he lacked the height to be an effective NBA power forward. His 270 pound frame has proved to be more than enough to make up for his lack of height thus far, as he is averaging 8.3 points and 8.3 rebounds in only 21 minutes per game. He is also shooting 70% from the field. In his NBA debut against the Hornets, he had 14 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assists in 23 minutes. It looks like Blair may have been a steal for the Spurs, as he might end up being a double-double guy down the road.
That time could be coming sooner than most people think. After all the Spurs have been starting Matt Bonner at center so far this season and Antonio McDyess isn’t putting up the kind of numbers the Spurs expected out of him. Inserting Blair into the starting lineup would require moving Tim Duncan to center. Blair’s time will be coming very soon for the Spurs.