Empty the Bench

By: Zachariah Blott

Blair continues to embarrass PF’s, C’s, and GM’s: Spurs’ rookie DeJuan Blair posted 28 points and 21 rebounds, including 10 offensive boards, in Wednesday’s OT victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Although being generously listed as 6-7, San Antonio’s “center” became the first rookie with a 20-20 since teammate Tim Duncan’s 26 and 21 back in 1998.

Billed as the best offensive rebounder in college history, knee concerns dropped the Pitt product to the second round on draft night. How’d that work out for the Spurs? Blair has a 21.2% Rebounding Rate (third-best in the league) and an amazing 15.9% on the offensive side (NBA-best since 2006-07). Overall he’s recording 7.1 points (57% FG), 5.8 boards, and 0.6 blocks per in only 16 minutes a night.

That other guy in the Kevin Garnett trade is doing alright: Minnesota is bad. Like .200 bad. But it sure isn’t because of center Al Jefferson. On Wednesday night in a triple-overtime nailbiter in Houston, The Big… boy, does he need a nickname… picked up a double-quarter-penny (26 points, 26 rebounds) in a losing effort. Jefferson keeps motoring along for the horrid Timberwolves, dropping 18 and 10 a night, even while still showing some effects of last year’s season-ending knee surgery.

In case you forgot about last year’s playoffs: Boston point guard Rajon Rondo recorded a triple-double on January 9 against Toronto. The little guy (6-1, 186) notched 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 13 assists in the win, along with 4 steals. This is Rondo’s first triple-double of the season after averaging 17, 10, and 10 in 14 playoff games against Chicago and Orlando last year. He posted three of them in those two series, but he also had nights like 28-8-11, 8-9-19, 14-10-8, and 29-9-7. This year, the speedster is averaging a respectable 14 points and 9.7 assists per, but a what-you’d-expect 4.1 rebounds.

Zachariah Blott cannot recommend Rick Telander’s “Heaven Is A Playground” enough.

DeJuan Blair Photo Credit: Icon SMI

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