Carl Blair

[Mr.B!!!]

Looking for the positives today after a tough loss last night...Cade needs smaller shoes or something.

IMHO Carl Blair is slowly becoming a pretty solid point guard for us. Thought he played well last night, 8 to 1 assist to turnover ratio and seems to be good at running a half-court offense.

Defensively he lacks some lateral quickness, but he seems to be adjusting/compensating for that better lately. But man his strength does show up pretty well on the offensive end. Jeter is a bull, but he didn't really bully Blair IMHO.

Quick question, how does he compare to Quannas defensively? I'll admit, I'm getting a little older and I don't remember as well as I used to, but I see almost the same type of player out there at times. Is it just me?

 

[SoonerWarVet]

Looking for the positives today after a tough loss last night...Cade needs smaller shoes or something.

IMHO Carl Blair is slowly becoming a pretty solid point guard for us. Thought he played well last night, 8 to 1 assist to turnover ratio and seems to be good at running a half-court offense.

Defensively he lacks some lateral quickness, but he seems to be adjusting/compensating for that better lately. But man his strength does show up pretty well on the offensive end. Jeter is a bull, but he didn't really bully Blair IMHO.

Quick question, how does he compare to Quannas defensively? I'll admit, I'm getting a little older and I don't remember as well as I used to, but I see almost the same type of player out there at times. Is it just me?

Are you serious? Horrible alley oop passes and out of control drives the basket is what I see. He does occassionally get the rim when the other team's defense breaks down but for the most part he is HORRENDOUS on the offensive end. On defense, he is equally bad.

 

[OkieTC]

Well, he's no Quannas White, but I really do like the way he is developing. Remember, he's only a soph playing against really quality talent for the 1st time. So many people are already penciling in Guerrero if he commits as our starter next year, but I really think Blair will be hard to unseat if he continues to improve. I would guess that an offseason of conditioning will do wonders for his lateral quickness?

 

[bgrch1350]

Well, he's no Quannas White, but I really do like the way he is developing. Remember, he's only a soph playing against really quality talent for the 1st time. So many people are already penciling in Guerrero if he commits as our starter next year, but I really think Blair will be hard to unseat if he continues to improve. I would guess that an offseason of conditioning will do wonders for his lateral quickness?

Exactly...Blair is only a sophmore....this whole team is basically sophmores. If Guerrero comes here...Blair won't make it easy for him to take his starting spot.

 

[OUhoops11]

Are you serious? Horrible alley oop passes and out of control drives the basket is what I see. He does occassionally get the rim when the other team's defense breaks down but for the most part he is HORRENDOUS on the offensive end. On defense, he is equally bad.

I'm guessing you haven't watched too many games this year. Yes, Blair has some bad turnovers. Yes, he has games where he lapses back into a young point guard experiencing his first major conference competition. However, he has improved significantly and can be a solid offensive point guard in time.

 

[Mr.B!!!]

Are you serious? Horrible alley oop passes and out of control drives the basket is what I see. He does occassionally get the rim when the other team's defense breaks down but for the most part he is HORRENDOUS on the offensive end. On defense, he is equally bad.

I am serious, and it is just an opinion, but what I meant is that he is strong at getting to the basket. No big deal, but for what he is asked to do, he seems to be doing well.

 

[SoonerWarVet]

I'm guessing you haven't watched too many games this year. Yes, Blair has some bad turnovers. Yes, he has games where he lapses back into a young point guard experiencing his first major conference competition. However, he has improved significantly and can be a solid offensive point guard in time.

I have either watched every OU game on TV or in person, with the exception of a couple. No way can he be a solid offensive point guard. He can't handle pressure and he is too slow. Maybe with some experience, he will be able to handle pressure, but you can't teach speed!!

 

[SoonerWarVet]

I am serious, and it is just an opinion, but what I meant is that he is strong at getting to the basket. No big deal, but for what he is asked to do, he seems to be doing well.

Hey, sorry if that came over offensive. You are definitely entitled to your opinion. Sorry.

 

[OUhoops11]

I have either watched every OU game on TV or in person, with the exception of a couple. No way can he be a solid offensive point guard. He can't handle pressure and he is too slow. Maybe with some experience, he will be able to handle pressure, but you can't teach speed!!

How is his lack of speed hurting him offensively? He has been able to get to the rim against almost everyone who has guarded him. Sorry, but your criticism of Blair's offensive potential is flat out wrong. You can say he needs to improve, especially shooting the ball. But to say he can't be a solid offensive point guard is just ridiculous. He already is.


Yes, he has struggled with pressure. Yes, he can and will improve in that area. Many, many young point guards (and even veteran point guards) struggle with pressure. That's why coaches use it.

 

[OUsky]

Quick question, how does he compare to Quannas defensively?

At this time there is no comparison... Quannas was a great defender. Of course he had a coach who preaches defense.

 

[Soonerman]

If he can drop some weight in the off-season, improve his 3 point shooting, and be able to handle half-court/full-court pressure better, I think he's going to be a very good PG for us for the next couple of seasons.

 

[SoonerWarVet]

How is his lack of speed hurting him offensively? He has been able to get to the rim against almost everyone who has guarded him. Sorry, but your criticism of Blair's offensive potential is flat out wrong. You can say he needs to improve, especially shooting the ball. But to say he can't be a solid offensive point guard is just ridiculous. He already is.


Yes, he has struggled with pressure. Yes, he can and will improve in that area. Many, many young point guards (and even veteran point guards) struggle with pressure. That's why coaches use it.

If you call out of control spinning to the rim and throwing up a hail mary that occasionally goes in been able to get to the rim against almost everyone, you would be correct.