Andray Blatche - Resurgence Thread ( Merged )

[dobrojim]

agree with those who feel it's an encouraging sign

and with those from Missouri

Bottom line for me is that the recent news is a far sight better
than many of the possible alternatives that are out there.

[Nivek]

It's an effort at least, which I'll take. I'd like to see smarter effort -- scheduling the workout for a date/time when his teammates are actually available would have been good.

But, I need to see the changed body and mindset on the court, in actual games, under pressure. And I need to see it consistently over a period of time.

It's an encouraging sign, but it won't mean a thing if it's not accompanied by a lot more.

[TheBigThree]

It's an effort at least, which I'll take. I'd like to see smarter effort -- scheduling the workout for a date/time when his teammates are actually available would have been good.

I could be wrong, but when he started planning these workouts (July) the Impact Basketball thing wasn't on the radar yet.

A better question for me would be why don't they all just go out to Las Vegas and train out there?

[daSwami]

Meh, I heard the same sort of stuff before...7 day dray etc. I still don't think he will amount to much. He knows what to say...just don't think he has the heart and work ethic to carry it out. Only time will tell though.

dude is cleartly making an effort to stay well-nourished.

[JWizmentality]

Could go for one myself right about now.

[miller31time]

Could go for one myself right about now.

Always kinda suspected that about you.

[JWizmentality]

Could go for one myself right about now.

Always kinda suspected that about you.

Rent-a-Mod!! How's the lockout been treating ya?

[miller31time]

Could go for one myself right about now.

Always kinda suspected that about you.

Rent-a-Mod!! How's the lockout been treating ya?

Killing me. I'm like a coke addict without a fix right now and the season hasn't even started.

[JWizmentality]

Killing me. I'm like a coke addict without a fix right now and the season hasn't even started.

What you need is more addictions. I've been doing great!

...currently watching highlights from last week's Ultimate Frisbee Championship.

[dangermouse]

^my friends are always going on about UFC.

it seems pretty popular. tshirts and stuff errywhere.

[no D in Hibachi]

I've always been a bit bullish on Blatche because he's so talented, however, I must admit my enthusiasm for him wavered last year. He has the talents to be a valuable contributor on a high level team as a 3rd/4th wheel. My concern though is that he's stated publicly that he views himself as being an all-star caliber player and that's his goal for this year. I just shake my head because he's a terribly inefficient as a high-usage player, but with his skill-set I envision him as a highly productive low use player.

Flip's coaching of Blatche last year was horrific, in fact, it was borderline fireable. An analysis was conducted to determine the most/least valuable mid range shooters from last year. It's a decent read, but guess who was the least valuable mid range shooter last year? Yours truly, Andray Blatche, and look at the total attempts!

Bottom 25 Mid-Range Shooters

RANK NAME TEAM POS FGA FG% PSAMS-MR
152 Andray Blatche WAS 4 10.6 31.1% -2.12
151 Greg Monroe DET 4 2.4 25.0% -1.94
150 Marcus Camby POR 4 3.8 28.9% -1.80

The fact that Flip let Blatche get away with this is a crime. Our only hope to prevent this happening next year is 1) Blatche becomes self aware of his high-usage suckitude, 2) Flip actually grows a pair and stands up to Blatche when he’s hoisting 10+ mid-range FGA’s per game, 3) Booker comes back and builds on his 30 game stretch where he beasted last year, 4) Vesely is better than expected and takes Blatches minutes if #1 doesn’t come to pass.

http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2011/9/24/2446337/who-are-the-nbas-most-valuable-mid-range-shooters

[7-Day Dray]

I've always been a bit bullish on Blatche because he's so talented, however, I must admit my enthusiasm for him wavered last year. He has the talents to be a valuable contributor on a high level team as a 3rd/4th wheel. My concern though is that he's stated publicly that he views himself as being an all-star caliber player and that's his goal for this year. I just shake my head because he's a terribly inefficient as a high-usage player, but with his skill-set I envision him as a highly productive low use player.

Flip's coaching of Blatche last year was horrific, in fact, it was borderline fireable. An analysis was conducted to determine the most/least valuable mid range shooters from last year. It's a decent read, but guess who was the least valuable mid range shooter last year? Yours truly, Andray Blatche, and look at the total attempts!

Bottom 25 Mid-Range Shooters

RANK NAME TEAM POS FGA FG% PSAMS-MR
152 Andray Blatche WAS 4 10.6 31.1% -2.12
151 Greg Monroe DET 4 2.4 25.0% -1.94
150 Marcus Camby POR 4 3.8 28.9% -1.80

The fact that Flip let Blatche get away with this is a crime. Our only hope to prevent this happening next year is 1) Blatche becomes self aware of his high-usage suckitude, 2) Flip actually grows a pair and stands up to Blatche when he’s hoisting 10+ mid-range FGA’s per game, 3) Booker comes back and builds on his 30 game stretch where he beasted last year, 4) Vesely is better than expected and takes Blatches minutes if #1 doesn’t come to pass.

http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2011/9/24/2446337/who-are-the-nbas-most-valuable-mid-range-shooters

Blatche is a better shooter than he shoed last year. It's just that his timing and rhythm were just off. But I agree with you that Flip did a horrible job coaching him.

The thing I'm mainly mad at Flip about is how he let Dray play his "allergic to help-D defense" and didn't do anything about it. He didn't even bench him once for doing it.

[Nivek]

Blatche is a better shooter than he shoed last year. It's just that his timing and rhythm were just off.

When do you think Blatche will get around to showing he's a better shooter than he was last year? You know, so I can mark my calendar or something.

Blatche's FG% from 10-15 each season of his career:

2007 -- .330
2008 -- .300
2009 -- .380
2010 -- .401
2011 -- .373

From 16-23 feet

2007 -- .270
2008 -- .350
2009 -- .350
2010 -- .390
2011 -- .320

His shooting from mid-range was lower than in previous seasons, but solidly within career norms. Only place where had a significant dropoff was from 3-9 feet (in the paint, but not at the rim). He's a career 44%-ish shooter from 3-9 feet, but last season shot just .245. On only 3 attempts per 40 minutes, though. That drop was offset by him shooting a career best .667 (he'd been at 62%) at the rim.

But I agree with you that Flip did a horrible job coaching him.

Given that Blatche has had problems with each of his coaches thus far, I wonder how coachable Blatche is.

The thing I'm mainly mad at Flip about is how he let Dray play his "allergic to help-D defense" and didn't do anything about it. He didn't even bench him once for doing it.

On this I agree. I thought Blatche should have spent a lot more time on the bench last season. Not just for his defense, though. But for his offense and decision-making.

Gotta hope he either "gets it" or that Ernie can find a sucker for him. Shoot, he got Caron Butler for Kwame, and Blatche is much better right now than Kwame ever was.

[JonathanJoseph]

Blatche is a better shooter than he shoed last year. It's just that his timing and rhythm were just off.

When do you think Blatche will get around to showing he's a better shooter than he was last year? You know, so I can mark my calendar or something.

Blatche's FG% from 10-15 each season of his career:

2007 -- .330
2008 -- .300
2009 -- .380
2010 -- .401
2011 -- .373

From 16-23 feet

2007 -- .270
2008 -- .350
2009 -- .350
2010 -- .390
2011 -- .320

His shooting from mid-range was lower than in previous seasons, but solidly within career norms. Only place where had a significant dropoff was from 3-9 feet (in the paint, but not at the rim). He's a career 44%-ish shooter from 3-9 feet, but last season shot just .245. On only 3 attempts per 40 minutes, though. That drop was offset by him shooting a career best .667 (he'd been at 62%) at the rim.

But I agree with you that Flip did a horrible job coaching him.

Given that Blatche has had problems with each of his coaches thus far, I wonder how coachable Blatche is.

The thing I'm mainly mad at Flip about is how he let Dray play his "allergic to help-D defense" and didn't do anything about it. He didn't even bench him once for doing it.

On this I agree. I thought Blatche should have spent a lot more time on the bench last season. Not just for his defense, though. But for his offense and decision-making.

Gotta hope he either "gets it" or that Ernie can find a sucker for him. Shoot, he got Caron Butler for Kwame, and Blatche is much better right now than Kwame ever was.

So if we were to agree that last year Blatche was never quite healthy and set that season aside because of it, aren't we talking about a player whose numbers are steadily increasing throughout his career? Doesn't that match the rest of his body of work?

Maybe last season wasn't an injury-affected anomoly, in which case Blatche will be easy to trade and the Wizards have some talented prospects behind him. If that comes to pass, it won't require a "sucker", especially given how Memphis hit the jackpot with Zack Randolph. Regardless of how down everyone is on Blatche, it's never hard to trade versatile, affordable big men with upside.

[Nivek]

Randolph is an interesting comparison. Significantly more productive than Blatche, albeit he was just as much of a headache. If Blatche is the reincarnation of Randolph, he'd be at the point at which Portland dealt him to the Knicks so they could fumigate their locker room. It'd be another two seasons (and a stint with the Clippers) before he finally "got it" and became someone who began reaching his potential.

I don't think it's all that great a comparison, though because Blatche ain't as good as Randolph was, even during the headcase years.

And, by "sucker" I just mean someone willing to take on a career underachiever who whines and complains and doesn't like being coached. All this is based on Blatche's history, of course. I'd be ecstatic if he comes back (whenever the league comes back) a changed man with a changed game. You know, a guy who plays hard all the time, works hard in the weight room to get stronger, stays in shape, makes good decisions on the court, and uses his skills to help the team actually win some games. I'd be happy if the Wizards had a big man like that. I'd be happy if that big man turned out to be Blatche.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I've always been a bit bullish on Blatche because he's so talented, however, I must admit my enthusiasm for him wavered last year. He has the talents to be a valuable contributor on a high level team as a 3rd/4th wheel. My concern though is that he's stated publicly that he views himself as being an all-star caliber player and that's his goal for this year. I just shake my head because he's a terribly inefficient as a high-usage player, but with his skill-set I envision him as a highly productive low use player.

Flip's coaching of Blatche last year was horrific, in fact, it was borderline fireable. An analysis was conducted to determine the most/least valuable mid range shooters from last year. It's a decent read, but guess who was the least valuable mid range shooter last year? Yours truly, Andray Blatche, and look at the total attempts!

Bottom 25 Mid-Range Shooters

RANK NAME TEAM POS FGA FG% PSAMS-MR
152 Andray Blatche WAS 4 10.6 31.1% -2.12
151 Greg Monroe DET 4 2.4 25.0% -1.94
150 Marcus Camby POR 4 3.8 28.9% -1.80

The fact that Flip let Blatche get away with this is a crime. Our only hope to prevent this happening next year is 1) Blatche becomes self aware of his high-usage suckitude, 2) Flip actually grows a pair and stands up to Blatche when he’s hoisting 10+ mid-range FGA’s per game, 3) Booker comes back and builds on his 30 game stretch where he beasted last year, 4) Vesely is better than expected and takes Blatches minutes if #1 doesn’t come to pass.

http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2011/9/24/2446337/who-are-the-nbas-most-valuable-mid-range-shooters

+1

I came to the conclusion Flip is the problem, not Andray. If a coach allows this to happen it is on him. It is not as if Flip didn't have alternatives. Booker at least is a high-motor guy. Seraphin could have played a lot more minutes, and I've said many times, even with McGee.

The Wizards are way off track because of EG's penchant for finesse and undeveloped bigs, and also because Flip likes the midrange jumper and finesse PFs.

I think they could have solved virtually all their problems by drafting Faried and just letting him take Blatche's spot. No-brainer that hustle, intensity at both ends, and twice as many rebounds from an efficient finisher would surpass what Andray can bring.

Andray Blatche could be a fine rotation player at C and PF if he would accept the role, but he won't. Flip's bought in to go-to shots and big minutes no matter how Blatche performs. He's possibly remembering Garnett and Rasheed, but Andray is not in their caliber as a player.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Our other hope iIMO is no season this year, and no Flip next year. No EG either, as far as I'm concerned.

All this team needs to do is hire Memphis' lead assistant, Dave Joerger. Things would IMMEDIATELY get better.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Blatche is a better shooter than he shoed last year. It's just that his timing and rhythm were just off.

When do you think Blatche will get around to showing he's a better shooter than he was last year? You know, so I can mark my calendar or something.

Blatche's FG% from 10-15 each season of his career:

2007 -- .330
2008 -- .300
2009 -- .380
2010 -- .401
2011 -- .373

From 16-23 feet

2007 -- .270
2008 -- .350
2009 -- .350
2010 -- .390
2011 -- .320

His shooting from mid-range was lower than in previous seasons, but solidly within career norms. Only place where had a significant dropoff was from 3-9 feet (in the paint, but not at the rim). He's a career 44%-ish shooter from 3-9 feet, but last season shot just .245. On only 3 attempts per 40 minutes, though. That drop was offset by him shooting a career best .667 (he'd been at 62%) at the rim.

But I agree with you that Flip did a horrible job coaching him.

Given that Blatche has had problems with each of his coaches thus far, I wonder how coachable Blatche is.

The thing I'm mainly mad at Flip about is how he let Dray play his "allergic to help-D defense" and didn't do anything about it. He didn't even bench him once for doing it.

On this I agree. I thought Blatche should have spent a lot more time on the bench last season. Not just for his defense, though. But for his offense and decision-making.

Gotta hope he either "gets it" or that Ernie can find a sucker for him. Shoot, he got Caron Butler for Kwame, and Blatche is much better right now than Kwame ever was.

Blatche is a big who is versatile and coming of a down season, but he's better than he showed last year. I believe he can be traded, and probably pretty easily, too. What I fear is that EG drafted him and Flip overvalues Blatche's contribution.

Neither want to part with Andray is my guess.

[no D in Hibachi]

Let's be clear, I only think Flip did a bad job coaching Blatche because it seemingly appeared he did nothing to corral Blatche. He didn't bench him for taking bad shots, didn't bench him for not playing defense, didn't attempt to discipline Blatche.

Blatche is immensely more culpable because he never worked to get in shape, insisted on being the guy by the sheer volume of junk he threw up, clearly put no effort in doing big man things.

What’s the saying, bad men succeed when good men fail to do anything about it. Well Blatche was a really bad basketball player last year and Flip failed to do anything about it. If we’re allocating blame it’s three quarters Blatches fault, one quarter Flips.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I disagree, completely, with that philosophy no D.

If you're in the military and you have a mission, you cannot allow a weak link in your organization to cause failure. Quite the opposite is true IMO. It is up to the leader to assess strengths and weaknesses and for him to objectify performance. You cannot turn a blind eye to substandard performers because they kill morale for everyone and before long the entire body of work from the whole suffers. Bad coaching affects the whole team's performance. One player can be benched and the possibility is that another can step up and get the job done, or at least compete and gain experience.

No, Flip, should have benched Andray Blatche. Guys like Greg Popovich are respected by all his team members because he rips Parker and Duncan and Ginobili in practices just like everyone else. He expects more from them. Blatche was in his seventh season. I think he could have been injured and that is the real story as to why his performance fell off sharply. I think Flip kept playing him to get him in shape.

What should have happened IMO is Flip should have sat him until his conditioning and play demanded the minutes. it would have developed the young players and forced Blatche to be accountable for bad play, regardless of why.