If it was not already assumed, DeJuan Blair is not Gregg Popovich's biggest fan. The former San Antonio Spurs forward is now free from the head coach's grasp after signing with Dallas Mavericks in the offseason. The Spurs, and Popovich, made it clear they no longer had any use for Blair and he is blaming his ex-head coach for the team's loss in the NBA Finals.
In an interview with the Dallas Morning News, Blair blamed his decreased minutes on the reason San Antonio failed to win a championship over the Miami Heat. Blair began to fall out of grace with Popovich. As the team began to get bigger in size, Blair found himself out of the rotation. Tiago Splitter began to develop as the better defender. Boris Diaw was becoming a stronger shooter and Matt Bonner was a reliable starter. There was no room for Blair.
In the interview, Blair was asked about wanting to return to the NBA Finals with the Mavericks, Blair added fuel to the Texas rivalry.
"Of course I want to get back. I don't think we've [Spurs] would have came up short if I would've played, but, hey, keep that out there," Blair said.
If the Mavericks were looking to up the in-state rivalry between them and the Spurs, Blairs' words should help. The forward only played four minutes in Game 4 and six minutes in Game 5. Both ended in blowouts. Who knows how true Blair's comments are.
This is not the first time the forward has complained about Popovich's coaching style towards him. Blair once spoke out on Twitter after the head coach continually sat Blair five out of nine games despite him not having an injury. Blair once tweeted, "This is wat I expected! Lol I'm just not wat dude wants out there it just hit me!!"
The new Maverick should be careful with his words though, Dallas head coach Rick Carlisle does not take too kindly to those kind of statements. He has been known to sit starters, no matter how marquee, if he does not like their attitude.
"When you're talking about winning at the highest level, individual needs for minutes and touches, if that stuff comes into the equation, then you got guys who aren't about the right things," Carlisle said. "We address those issues if they come up, obviously. Anybody who presents themselves with that kind of selfishness isn't deserving of being in a Mavericks' uniform. This isn't going to be about role definition. It's going to be about role acceptance."
The Mavericks and the Spurs will faceoff for the first time January 8 of the regular season. Blair is certain to get a warm welcome.
