Carl Blair

[AdaSooner]

Capel said in the pre-season that Newell was the best onball defender on the team. In fact, he said Newell could be a "lockdown defender".

The problem is, Newell only plays about 10 minutes a game so he hasn't really improved much in game situations but if he started at the 2G from day one, he would be a much better defender than he is now, and hes still better today than Pledger, IMO.

I also believe had Newell played more his offensive game would be much better. He has the tools he just needs the playing time, which he should have gotten when we were playing East Popcorn State and NW Basketweaving University.

So, when Capel makes a statement that backs up your argument, he's suddenly transformed into a good coach and evaluator of talent? You may not be consistent, but you sure are persistent.

Just jabbing you, BOB. I agree that Newell would be better if he got more minutes. Neal has proved that in the past few games. IMO, the mistake Capel made was not to play all of those guys more in the pre-season portion of our schedule to prepare them for conference play. Now, we're paying the price with quality deph on a very short bench.

 

[OUhoops11]

True. Good point.

Had he played more throughout the season, I think he would be better than he is now.

I see flashes from him like his drive to the bucket for the deuce. Pledger doesn't do that...he just stands behind the 3 point line and never moves. Newell is nervous with the ball but he hasn't played much. Neal is nervous, too, but we all agree he needs to play more.

At this point in the season, maybe you slide Pledger to the PG and put Newell in at 2G just to play for next year. Then after Blair gets the message that he can't lose his cool like that and cost us the game, you put him back at PG (after a couple of games on the bench) and then you see where you are with Newell and Pledger.

I think if Newell played as much as Pledger he would be much better than he is now.

Geez man. Pledger couldn't play at the point against mid-major teams. HE'S NOT A POINT GUARD. Yet you want to play him there against Big 12 competition?


Thank God you're not a college basketball coach.

 

[Big Old Booger]

Too bad TJ Taylor didn't stick around. He could really be helping us right now.

Boy...I knew when he left we were going to feel it before the season was over.

 

[Big Old Booger]

So, when Capel makes a statement that backs up your argument, he's suddenly transformed into a good coach and evaluator of talent? You may not be consistent, but you sure are persistent.

Just jabbing you, BOB. I agree that Newell would be better if he got more minutes. Neal has proved that in the past few games. IMO, the mistake Capel made was not to play all of those guys more in the pre-season portion of our schedule to prepare them for conference play. Now, we're paying the price with quality deph on a very short bench.

:ez-laugh:

Hey, Capel is the coach and if he says somebody could be a "lockdown defender" and your team needs to play better defense, then sounds to me like you get the player in the game who is that good (on defense).

Again, because Newell is playing out of position at the PG, it's affecting his entire game. Mentally, he's so nervous about handling the ball it's psyching him out.

This is why I say put Pledger at the PG just for a few games to bench Blair so he realizes what he did was wrong. This season is over, but we are still building for next year.

Of course, I was one of the posters clamoring for Capel to start Franklin last year when TMG was skipping practice and study hall. I think that's how you can start to instill discipline. The players need to know they are going to pay the price for "acting a fool" (to quote chewy).

 

[Big Old Booger]

Geez man. Pledger couldn't play at the point against mid-major teams. HE'S NOT A POINT GUARD. Yet you want to play him there against Big 12 competition?


Thank God you're not a college basketball coach.

I agree. He's not a PG, but who else would you put in there if you sit Blair a few games for his antics late in the game today?

Would you prefer Pledger, Newell or Franklin? (is Dok Jau still on the team)

At this point, Pledger is the best PG of the 3, IMO.

 

[AdaSooner]

Too bad TJ Taylor didn't stick around. He could really be helping us right now.

Boy...I knew when he left we were going to feel it before the season was over.

Now, there's something I can agree with. I think losing T. J. hurt in a number of ways. He was known for his defense coming out of high school, plus he could play the point. Some even thought he might start at the one this season.

Yet, our depth in the back court is actually quite good in comparison to our front court. Fitz must feel like he's has no help inside at all sometimes. No wonder he gets in foul trouble so much.

 

[Big Old Booger]

Now, there's something I can agree with. I think losing T. J. hurt in a number of ways. He was known for his defense coming out of high school, plus he could play the point. Some even thought he might start at the one this season.

Yet, our depth in the back court is actually quite good in comparison to our front court. Fitz must feel like he's has no help inside at all sometimes. No wonder he gets in foul trouble so much.

I like Fitz more and more with every game. He works hard and he's really solid on offense.

Yes, I wished he were a better rebounder, but his rebounding deficiency wouldn't be so highlighted if we had somebody else inside to help. Yes, he's not very quick so he's usually out of position on defense which causes him to foul (and his 4th foul was a horrible call; worst of the game, IMO), but he's a hard worker.

And, most importantly, Fitz lets his play do the talking. He gets roughed up and gets a number of questionable calls against him, but he just keeps playing. I admire that. Besides Cade he's become my 2nd favorite player on this team.

 

[globecode]

My big problem with Blair is the unforced turnovers. The whole season he has dribbled the ball off his leg more than any PG I can remember. It is the most frustrating part of this season to me. I can handle no size inside and consistently getting out rebounded. I can handle lack of scoring.

Unfortunately he can't be benched because Newell is doing the same things.

This is why I hope Guerrero comes to OU, his ball handling alone will give him starter minutes IMHO.

 

[Seymore Cox]

To steal a line from Denny Green, Carl Blair is who we thought he was. Actually he's been more. There is a reason why New Orleans dropped to D3. Not because they were loaded. Blair is the equivalent to a juco guard. Now in hindsight, the kid from Howard JC would have been a better fit if OU could have gotten him, but it didn't work out. Blair's flashes of good play were more than I expected all year. The bigger disappointment is Newell. PG is a must this off season.

 

[campbest]

To rub salt in the wound, Marquise Carter had 20 and 6 on Thursday night...lol.

 

[campbest]

We know he's going to turnover the ball, at this juncture if he is the best person to run the point in Capel's mind I can live with that. It is what it is.

However, don't kill your team's run by picking up a bonehead technical foul. That was beyond idiotic. He walked 25 feet after everything had been settled to get in Jamar Samuel's face.

 

[Seymore Cox]

To rub salt in the wound, Marquise Carter had 20 and 6 on Thursday night...lol.

Well he hasn't been great all year. Josh Watkins in the one who's been the big miss.

 

[Sooner23]

To rub salt in the wound, Marquise Carter had 20 and 6 on Thursday night...lol.

Salt indeed rubbed in wound.

 

[Sooner23]

Well he hasn't been great all year. Josh Watkins in the one who's been the big miss.

I watched him in that juco championship game. Kid was legit. A NYC baller. Did we try to get him in on a visit?

 

[SoonerDan74012]

Well Dan, he did go for almost 40 at ISU, and he averages double figures for the season, so YES he is a threat to score. Like most of OUr guys including Cade, he has had moments, and he has struggled....

One game doesn't make you a threat. Now if he as consistently scoring in in the mid teens to low twenties every game you could call him a threat offensively. He's not at the moment whether you want to admit it or not.

 

[Big Old Booger]

We know he's going to turnover the ball, at this juncture if he is the best person to run the point in Capel's mind I can live with that. It is what it is.

However, don't kill your team's run by picking up a bonehead technical foul. That was beyond idiotic. He walked 25 feet after everything had been settled to get in Jamar Samuel's face.

This was exactly my point at the time.

No discipline.

 

[SoonerDan74012]

This was exactly my point at the time.

No discipline.

That is the one thing that has disappointed me more than anything under Capel. He just doesn't seem to enforce any type of discipline or accountability. If Blair did what he did under Kelvin then we would have seen another Jabarhi Brown moment with Kelvin ear-holing him and smacking him on the knee in the process. Lol.

 

[cowboysooner]

I would suspend Blair for a game at least. The problem with his play during the game was that he played poorly, it was his intentional sabotage of the game because he got mad. His technical and then subsequent assault of Spradling were intentional plays that he knew would be a detriment to the team. But his need to satisfy his anger was his priority and not the team.

Obviously, he needs to improve or be replaced next year. I think he can improve with a lot of effort. But, he would never play for me unless he put the team first and ahead of his need to anger management issues.

 

[jmizzy4ou]

One game doesn't make you a threat. Now if he as consistently scoring in in the mid teens to low twenties every game you could call him a threat offensively. He's not at the moment whether you want to admit it or not.

Wow. You do realize that mid teens to low twenties would eliminate some pretty good guys from being scoring threats BY YOUR STANDARDS.

A scoring threat is simply someone you must account for defensively. Everyone who knows hoops, knows that Pledger is not a superstar, but he is a scoring threat. Leave the guy open, and he can score on you with his shooting range. He is not the 2nd coming of Mookie Blaylock or anything, but coaches would tell you that he is a scoring threat. Here are his numbers for this season: 12.5 for the season, and 12.2 in conference. A guy who scores 12 a game in the Big 12 is considered a scoring threat by people who know hoops, especially when he has shown that he can go for 20+ or 30+ on any given night....

 

[SoonerWarVet]

With Blair at PG next year, we have ZERO chance to make the NCAA. Newell is not the answer at PG, but with extended PT, the experience will lead him into a valuable 2 guard sub. Blair has improved, so I will give credit where credit is due. Offensively, he is knocking down some shots. He has seemed to find the open three lately as well. However, his ball handling skills are horrendous. No way he starts for us next year!! NO WAY!! Capel is searching for a replacement as we argue these points. Cezar appears to be that guy, but then again who knows.