Official Thread - Wizards at Pistons (3/6/11)

[Nivek]

I agree that center may be his best position. Although, given the way that he usually plays, it could just exacerbate his worst tendencies. Centers are usually the strongest and most physical, and Dray tends to shy away from physical play -- for example, not holding his position when he posts up. By the time he's finished going to get the ball, pivoting and facing up, he's at 3pt line much of the time.

I agree he'll be better if he works on his body. He also needs to work on his mental approach to the game. The guy has skills, but he has been inefficient throughout his career. He was inefficient last season even when he was scoring a lot. Until he fixes that by using his skills to make good basketball plays, until he figures out good vs. bad shot, until he uses his passing ability as a weapon instead of a bailout, he'll remain inefficient. And, by remaining inefficient offensively, he'll continue to hurt the team so long as he's high usage. And, if he's not high usage, then the team needs him to rebound and defend, and those aren't strengths either.

"Since February" is 3 games. If you're including February, he's almost there. I'll have to take a look at overall efficiency during that period (no time right now). But there's still the defense issue, which needs to be addressed.

So yeah, if he works on his body, lops off the SF/And-1 mentality from his game, and decides to play defense, he'd be a pretty good player. The odds of all that happening? I wouldn't be on 'em.

[tontoz]

So yeah, if he works on his body, lops off the SF/And-1 mentality from his game, and decides to play defense, he'd be a pretty good player. The odds of all that happening? I wouldn't be on 'em.

Yeah that is a lot of ifs for a guy who has been in the league for awhile. And let's not forget rebounding. At some point you just have to accept this is what he is.

[Zonkerbl]

Yeah, that's the main difference between Blatche and McGee. Blatche we have a pretty good idea of what he is. He will have one borderline all star season sometime in the next ten years and that's pretty much his ceiling.

McGee we still don't really know what he has. I think it's becoming pretty clear he just doesn't have a high bb IQ. Still, growing into his body might solve a lot of his biggest deficiencies.

[fugop]

I'm repulsed by Blatche's appearance. I don't understand how he can look as flabby, weak, and disinterested as he does, when he's a professional athlete. The man has concave biceps. I analytically appreciate his length and touch around the rim, but he is either unwilling to put in time at the gym or has an anomalous body that is incapable of building muscle.

I'll have hope for Blatche's future with the team when he has a definable bicep.