20 Days, 20 Questions: Andray Blatche and his new teammates
by Jake Whitacre on Sep 24, 2010 10:35 AM EDT
in 20 Questions
Email
Print
With the first day of Wizards training camp coming, Bullets Forever is asking 20 questions about key issues with the team in 2010/11.
The most immediate positive return from the Wizards' roster demolition last season was the emergence of Andray Blatche. Without veterans Antawn Jamison and Brendan Haywood around to take minutes, Blatche was finally given a true opportunity to blossom, and though there were some ups and downs, there were more positives than negatives.
Blatche showed last season that he can harness the gifts that he had shown glimpses of throughout his five-year career and put it together in a role worthy of a starting spot in the NBA, averaging 22.1 points, 8.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game after the All-Star break. On the flip side (no pun intended), he also showed that he won't be leading a team to the playoffs, much less an NBA title as a team's top option. After the break, the Wizards went 9-23, including a 16 game losing streak.
Thankfully, with Gilbert Arenas back and John Wall now on the squad, Blatche won't be asked to shoulder the load each night like he was at the end of last season. Now he faces the challenge of trying to build on his success from last season, while at the same time adjusting to no longer being the team's top option. Which leads to our next question:
How will Andray Blatche respond to having more talent around him?
To answer this question, we must look back and understand how Andray Blatche performed last season. To understand that, we must realize that Blatche really had three seasons in one last year.
There was the first nine games of the season, where Blatche was primarily coming off the bench as Flip Saunders tried to create a defined role for Blatche off the bench, with Fabricio Oberto serving as a placeholder until Antawn Jamison returned from injury. During this opening stretch, Blatche was solid, avoiding some of the dizzying lows that marked his career up to this point, and managed to have arguably his best performance to that point, scoring 30 points and only missing three of 18 field goal attempts.
Jamison returned for the 10th game of the season and ushered in the second part of Blatche's season. Despite Saunders' best efforts to keep Blatche's minutes steady as Jamison returned to the lineup, Blatche's minutes were yanked around as Saunders tried to find the right mix to get the team on the right track. While Saunders was adjusting his lineups, Blatche was adjusting to playing with Arenas, Butler and Jamison for the first time in his career since the 2006-07 season, when he only played in 56 games and averaged a paltry 12.2 minutes per game. As his minutes and his roles fluctuated, his performance predictably went up and down. Blatche showed more of the inconsistencies Wizards fans had become accustomed to throughout his development.
Then, after the team was gutted at the trade deadline, Blatche moved into his new role as the team's primary offensive option and flourished, as we talked about earlier.
His numbers went up across the board, but did he get more efficient? Let's compare his numbers over the three parts of last season.
| USG |
eFG% |
|
| Part 1 (Games 1-9) |
23.86 |
47.58 |
| Part 2 (Games 10-49) |
23.36 |
44.80 |
| Part 3 (Game 50-82) |
34.18 |
48.92 |
Some observations:
- For better or worse, Blatche's shooting efficiency went up as a whole as his usage rate increased. It's encouraging to know that he was getting more efficient as he took a larger role with the offense. As good as that is to know, it doesn't do anything to alleviate concerns that Blatche could regress this season as he takes a smaller role with the offense.
- To give you an idea of just how Andray Blatche's usage rating was for the final stretch of the season, consider that Dwyane Wade led the NBA last season with a usage rate of 33.3. Even if John Wall and Gilbert Arenas weren't going to be part of the team this season, it would probably be a good idea to get that number down.
- Only five players in the NBA had a usage rate over 30 last season. Blatche had a higher eFG% higher than three of those players (Gilbert Arenas, Carmelo Anthony and Kobe Bryant) during that final 22 game stretch of the season. Of course, that isn't to say Blatche is better than those guys, but its worth noting.
Though Blatche won't be getting the touches he received at the end of last season this year, I believe its still possible for him to maintain those higher shooting percentage he showed at the end of last season. Most importantly, Blatche needs a consistent role. Now that he's established as the team's key players, that shouldn't be a problem, so long as he doesn't butt heads with Flip Saunders.
Secondly, as Mike has alluded to in this series, it's going to be important to get Blatche some early touches to keep his head in the game. Sure, it would be nice if Blatche could come out on the floor and give you the same energy each night, but that's just not going to happen. In order to get the best out of Andray, it's important to get his systems running before he goes into hibernate mode.
The new talent around Blatche will likely lead to a decrease in his scoring averages from the end of last season, but with a consistent role and some early activity, the Wizards can ensure that his efficiency remains high.
8 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I think Blatche is our most important player
Not to say he is the best player, but his production and consistency will be the determining factor in the success of our season. Blatche is our only real low post threat. He is our best low post defender. He is our best interior passer. He is our best center in addition to being our best power forward. Basically, he is the only complete big man on the roster and the only one with enough experience under his belt that he can potentially be relied upon day in and day out.
If Blatche can play like the post-trade version last year, but with a few less shot attempts, a bit higher scoring efficiency, and better rebounding, the Wizards should be a playoff team. Let’s face it, the backcourt is in great shape with Wall, Arenas, Hinrich and Young. The questions for this team are in the frontcourt. If Blatche can play like a top 10ish PF in this league, it’ll provide a lot of balance to this roster. I’d love to see him average 17 points, 10 boards and a TS% around 56%.
With you all the way
Except i hope he’s not averaging 10 rebounds a game. That would spell bad things about what JaVale McGee is (or isn’t doing) in the middle. I don’t think 20ppg/8 boards sounds bad. Why not make Dray the sidekick focal point of the offense? Nobody else on the roster can score the way he does and if Gilbert turns out not to be in the teams’ plans, they really don’t have a consistent scorer (outside of Josh Howard, who’s future is also not certain this year)
Double teamed in Part 3 last year
Without the double team this year, AB’s productivity per minute should go up compared to Part 3. If his total stats match those for Part 3 last year, will he make the all-star team?
Too many other scorers
Arenas is going to get a ton of shots because he’s our best offensive player. McGee is a black hole who shoots whenever he touches the ball. Wall, Young, Yi, Thornton and Howard will get their share of shots up as well. I don’t see Blatche getting the same number of offensive opportunities as Part 3 of last year. I’m hoping he can be more efficient with fewer touches, while also working a bit harder on the glass. (He should have a bit more energy to crash the defensive boards, and offensive rebounds should be more readily available because Wall and Arenas will draw big men out of rebounding position with their dribble penetration.)
By the way, if Blatche matches Part 3 production, he WILL be double teamed.
Come on!
I didn’t know the Wiz added so much offensive fire power this off season that they don’t need Blatche Who are all these players that will take away from Blatches 20 to 24 shots per game?N’diaye? Booker.?Seraphin? Maybe Morrison? I know, Hinrich Or is this about Wall and Arenas. I would certainly count on a 19 year old player with a whole year of college hoops under my belt and a player who has barely pplayed in the NBA for the last 3 years. Are these the players who will keep the Wiz from passing to their best player? Maybe you were thinking Thorten. Every knows he is a rock out there. There really isn’t anyone. Maybe Young will emerge.I don’t see anyone on the Wiz taking away fronm the 22=23 shots Blatche will take and before his injury he was hitting about 51% of those shots no matter who he played against. He was their rock. If he is healthy I assume he will be again. I think the Wiz are counting on Blatche to carry on as usual. Only now they want him to be a shutdown type defender this season. If anything his assist totals might rise. On top of everything else he is the teams best passer. So you want to get Blatche the ball. What amazes me about the Wiz management is how much they expect out of a mid second round pick. They don’t expect him to be a contributer or even a good player. They expect him to be a super star. Play defense like Garnett. Dribble and passs like Nash and score like Nowitzki. Three HOFers rolled into one player. Oh, and by the way, could also average about 10 rebounds a game? I simply don’t see where else their offense is coming from. But Blatche is like a second point guard. He likes getting assists. He makes dazzling passes and I think he takes pride in that. So no matter how you look at it Blatche is not Gibert Arenas. Blatche does what the coaches tell him to do. He sat on the bench 41/2 seasons without complaint. Haywood gets pulled off the floor and he is in his sulking quarter. Tell Blatche he is playing center and he trots right on out. Tell a Chris Webber that and its, hey! I don’t do center. Every year Blatche improves. He does what he is told to do. Even at the end of the season when he sat out over a tiff with Saunders was Blatche admitting his conditioning could be better. But in fairness to Blatche, he had a whole weekend to go from spot starter and 6th man to suddenly the man on ateam of retread players he never played with before. To his credit he was the man and that will be his role again this year.
.
Arenas and Wall
Who are all these players that will take away from Blatches 20 to 24 shots per game?
Nobody is saying Blatche isn't good
But he certainly isn’t as good of a scorer as Arenas. And he’s not head and shoulders above Wall or Josh Howard either. Blatche will go from being the clear #1 option to, at best, the #2 option (and maybe the #3 or #4 option). That’s not to say he won’t be successful. I, for one, would be extremely happy if he posted 17 and 10 with good efficiency and good D. That’s borderline all-star production.
Blatche can score in more ways than Arenas can
Not saying he is a BETTER scorer. Blatche can do everything Gilbert does, with the addition of an underrated post game. Blatche won’t be mistaken for a 3pt sniper, but can make the occasional 3 when open. That said, I see the pecking order:
1) Arenas
2) Blatche
3) Howard (when healthy)
4) Supposed to be Nick Young, but who actually knows with this guy.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Bullets Forever
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Ball Don't Lie - NBA - Yahoo! Sport
- LeBron James won’t even give Lance Stephenson half a bar
- Let’s all hate the Oklahoma City Thunder shirts that take a needless shot at the team’s move from Seattle (PHOTO)
- The Golden State Warriors will likely move to San Francisco in 2017
- Chris Paul goes off the top of the backboard for one last Clipper highlight before losing to Spurs (VIDEO)
- Behind the Box Score, where the Heat grabbed control behind LeBron James’ amazing afternoon
