Here's what we do: Trade Greg Oden + #24 for a bad contract + pick #2. Then, we draft Thabeet. We got Tha-beet. Every-body, get on your feet. We got Tha-beet. Well, maybe not! I don't know if Thabeet will be a bust, but I'm very sure he won't warrant a #2 pick in this year's draft. He won't every be as good as Joel Pryzbilla.
Well, if it's so obvious to you, perhaps you should state it clearly for the rest of us who can't read your mind. How are we supposed to get all that out of: "Do you like a smaller Robert Traylor?" You are, of course, entitled to your opinion. But statements like: "Were you also going to post that Hansbrough will be like Karl Malone as a pro because they had similar collegiate statistics? Also, Blair must be headed for the Hall of Fame, because his college stats compare favorably to Charles Barkley." are clearly strawman arguments. I never made any such comparisons and you know it. Throwing them out there just dilutes the issue and adds nothing to the discussion. You don't like me using Blair's college stats to project how he'll perform as a pro? That's fine. At least I have a basis, other than personal opinion and somebody's waist size, for my argument. I still think the Blair/Traylor comparison is shallow and ill conceived. Sure, it's easy to toss out the name of a player with large girth who failed at the NBA level, but other than their waist size, they have very little in common - as players. I find it amusing that you are so eager to discount Blair's college production as a predictor of his future success when the basis of your Blair/Traylor comparison is their waist size. So, exactly what does Robert Traylor's waist size have to do with whether, or not, DeJuan Blair will be successful at the next level? BNM
I am really not that interested in the draft. I doubt anyone would get any this year. I could see us trading out of the `st round and just wasting the 2nd rounders on foreign players.
It was in response to another poster. The poster I quoted. The poster who quoted me and responded by posting "Touche". Perhaps I missed where I was addressing you with my brief retort to a similarly brief post. If I did address you, I apologize. If I didn't, what's your problem? You compared Blair to Traylor based on their collegiate stats. I already gave my take on the lack of accuracy in using those stats to predict professional success. Really? They both are undersized, they both can't shoot, they both are athletic for their size, and they both lack a handle. Those are similarities other than "waist size", and I posted 3 of them previously in this thread. Please stop lying about what I have posted. I have yet to lie about your position, but since you opened the can of worms, I just may start doing so. Have a nice day, liar.
I suppose the New York Times is lying about coaches comparing Blair with Traylor. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/26/sports/ncaabasketball/26pitt.html More comparisons http://www.google.com/search?q=deju...s:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7
Don't wanna get in the argument above, but the link provided this gem: That - my friends, is Mike Rice's son showing he, too, has a way with words...
Did you even read the article? Or did you just google "blair + traylor" and post the first link that popped up? Because if you actually read the article, you would have seen that it's highly complemetary of Blair's unique talents and seriously damages your argument that he will be a bust at the next level. "Blair, a sophomore, has many attributes that led a co-Big East player of the year award. He has hands like suction cups, the energy of an overcaffeinated kindergartner and the agility of a tightrope walker. But what makes him an elite player is how all his strength, dexterity and athleticism mix with his distinctive frame." "So how can a big backside be an asset? Look at 7-3 Hasheem Thabeet, who shared the conference player of the year award with Blair despite being overwhelmed in Pittsburgh’s two victories over UConn this season. Blair is eight inches shorter yet in their first matchup scored 17 more points and grabbed 19 more rebounds than Thabeet, who is listed at 263 pounds." "Rice said that post play was all about balance. Players use head fakes, ball fakes and elbows to try to get their defender off balance. All Blair has to do is swing his hips. “Hasheem Thabeet has such trouble with him because DeJuan is always knocking him off-balance with his derrière,” Rice said. “And he creates space so a 6-foot-7 guy can score on a 7-foot-3 guy." "There are a few precedents for the mix of Blair’s body type and athleticism, but not many. Numerous coaches brought up Charles Barkley and Robert Traylor, known as Tractor. The Boston Globe basketball aficionado Bob Ryan compares him to Wes Unseld because of the combination of size and ability to burst up and snatch rebounds." So, two of the three players they compared him to are MVP winners and Hall of Famers. Note: I have not compared Blair to Barkley or Unseld, but why are those comparisons any less valid (or any less ridiculous) than your Tractor Traylor comparison? Ah yes, like I thought. A quick google search without actually reading what the articles say. BNM
My only point was that Blair has been compared with Traylor by coaches. I also note how you comment on the Barkley comparison, when earlier in the thread I mentioned Blair's collegiate stats compared with Barkley's. All I can surmise is that, in your opinion, comparing Blair with Traylor is so egregious an offense that it must be berated in lengthy posts. In the opinion of others, myself included, there is a valid comparison in their minds. It's a scary world. Some people don't have the same opinion with you. Now please apologize for lying about what I posted. They're not any less valid. They may be applicable as well. They are opinions. Scary, I know.
We're talking about a potential back-up power forward here. No one has claimed Blair would start over Aldridge. Rebounding is one skill that translates very well to the next level. Guys who are elite rebounders in college are usually at least above average rebounders in the NBA. On the other hand, guys who are great scores in the NCAA often struggle to score at the next level. So, yes I do think there is a strong correlation that Blair's tremendous rebounding in college will carry over to the next level. Robert Traylor was never an elite rebounder in college, and he also had trouble scoring against taller, quicker players in the NBA. Even though I would not look for Blair to be a big scorer, he has had no trouble scoring against much taller players in the NCAA. Define undersized? Undersized for what, a back-up power forward? Blair may lack height, but you don't play basketball with the top of your head. He has an enormous wingspan (larger than many starting centers in the NBA) and his standing reach is typical of NBA starting power forwards. I fail to see how this makes him undersized - especially for a possible back-up power forward. While it's true he doesn't have 3-point range or a great jump shot, he has great low post moves and shot nearly 60% from the field in college. I'd much rather have a back-up power forward who can score in the low post than one who floats around the perimeter hoisting up jump shots. Don't we already have enough (too many) jump shooters on our second unit? Your so-called similarities are bogus. Blair isn't undersized and he doesn't have a poor handle (he has great hands for a big man). Just because you make something up doesn't mean it's the truth. You can't defend your position, so you resort to name calling and personal attacks. Typical and expected. This tactic has become your calling card in this forum. BNM
Robert Traylor averaged 16.2 points/10.2 rebounds/2.6 assists/1.3 blocks his last year at Michigan. Blair averaged 15.7 points/12.3 rebounds/1.2 assist/1.0 blocks last year at Pitt. Traylor shot one three; Blair shot zero. Traylor shot 162 FTs @ 64%. Blair shot 162 FTs @ 60%. Blair shot 59% from the field; Traylor shot 58%. You're right. There are no similarities. I defended my position. You lied about what I had previously posted. I called you a liar. You now address the points I already made (in ways that I don't agree with, saying Blair has a handle is laughable) and try to play the victim. You lied. You're a liar. Poor you. I now feel I shorted Traylor. At least he could pass the ball out of the post.
Welcome to ignore. If you can't discuss basketball related topics in a calm, rational manner without resorting to childish name calling, I have no desire to read your opinions on this, or any, topic. BNM
I addressed it. You lied about my position. Too bad you won't see my next post where I point out the similarities between Blair and Traylor in their last year of college. Now run along and post some more rumors about players using illegal drugs. If you can't discuss basketball without lying about what I had already posted, you're no loss.
I was talking about the "OT: McSteroids" thread started by BNM. Traylor is a criminal. That has nothing to do with his similarity (or lack thereof) to Blair as a player.
No worries. I'm just still amazed at how close statistically Blair and Traylor were in the last seasons in college.
