Trevor Booker

[nate33]

I think teams will let Blatche take all the 17 footers he wants.

You are wrong

he is happy to oblige which is why 67% of his attempts are jumpers. What teams don't want is for him to drive past his man for a layup which he can do although he doesn't do it often enough.

Blatche is actually 5th in the league among PF's at attempts per minute at the rim. He is 12th at attempts per minute from 16-23 feet. His shot distribution isn't the problem. The problem is that he takes too many shots in general.

[Nivek]

It's hard to get a read on Blatche's "true" shooting ability because of his horrific shot selection. Whatever the reason, the results have been awful. Consider: Blatche is 127-197 -- 64.5% at the rim this season. Which means that on all of his other shots, he's 115-376 -- 30.6% (efg of .311). If you're an opposing coach, you're pretty content to concede Blatche jumpers. You'd still want them contested in the sense that once he pulls up to shoot, you want a defender trying to get a hand in his face. But opponents are happy with Blatche taking just about any shot not at the rim.

[tontoz]

Blatche is 64th in the NBA in TS% among power forwards. That means he is taking a lot of shots he can't make.

There are plenty of bigs who can actually made midrange shots consistently. Blatche isn't one of them. Horford shoots 59% from 16-23 feet. That is 30% better than Blatche. He shot 48% last year. He actually is defended on the perimeter. Teams have no reason to get up on Blatche.

Blatche's problems from the perimeter have nothing to do with being defended. He struggles because he thinks he is a better shooter than he is.

[nate33]

tontoz, you are making two different arguments.

If you're argument is that Blatche has terrible shot selection and is therefore an inefficient offensive player, then I agree with you. Anybody would agree with you.

But if your argument is that Blatche can't hit the broad side of a barn when open from 17-feet and therefore teams can feel free to ignore him, then you are wrong. The bottom line is that Blatche is a good enough shooter when open that teams have to factor him into their defensive scheme.

I'd like to reiterate that I'm open to trying Booker and McGee in the starting unit. We have nothing to lose. I'm just saying that we can't ignore some of the positive things that Blatche brings to the table. We are all frustrated with him right now, but he remains our best offensive threat at either PF or C, and he's also our best post defender. There is a downside to benching him.

[tontoz]

tontoz, you are making two different arguments.

If you're argument is that Blatche has terrible shot selection and is therefore an inefficient offensive player, then I agree with you. Anybody would agree with you.

But if your argument is that Blatche can't hit the broad side of a barn when open from 17-feet and therefore teams can feel free to ignore him, then you are wrong. The bottom line is that Blatche is a good enough shooter when open that teams have to factor him into their defensive scheme.

I'd like to reiterate that I'm open to trying Booker and McGee in the starting unit. We have nothing to lose. I'm just saying that we can't ignore some of the positive things that Blatche brings to the table. We are all frustrated with him right now, but he remains our best offensive threat at either PF or C, and he's also our best post defender. There is a downside to benching him.

My argument is that Blatche's defenders play off him hoping that he shoots. They aren't playing up on him trying to prevent him from shooting. You don't need 10 feet of open space to be considered open for a shot.

If he took perimeter shots without dribbling then they wouldn't be contested. The only reason they are contested is that he frequently shoots off the dribble. Once he picks up his dribble the defender can get up on him and contest his shot. Funny how he seems unaware of this. Maybe he does know it but just loves to dribble so much he can't help himself.

[nate33]

My argument is that Blatche's defenders play off him hoping that he shoots. They aren't playing up on him trying to prevent him from shooting.

No, they don't. Every once in a while, Blatche hesitates when an open look is available, but not very often. It's not like he's doing the Caron Butler and absolutely refusing to catch-and-shoot.

[tontoz]

My argument is that Blatche's defenders play off him hoping that he shoots. They aren't playing up on him trying to prevent him from shooting.

No, they don't. Every once in a while, Blatche hesitates when an open look is available, but not very often. It's not like he's doing the Caron Butler and absolutely refusing to catch-and-shoot.

You can't be serious. He is not happy unless he is dribbling. He loves to dribble. He doesn't do it because he has to. He loves to go between his legs and behind his back even though he isn't going anywhere.

No team is trying to take away his jumper. If he would go straight up he would have nothing to worry about from defenders. He just wants to show of what he believes are stellar dribbling skills.

[nate33]

Blatche doesn't dribble when the shot is available. He dribbles when his man is already on him because he falsely believes he can create space to get his shot off. Basically, he dribbles when he should be swinging the ball to someone else. He doesn't dribble when a wide open jumper is available.

[tontoz]

Blatche doesn't dribble when the shot is available. He dribbles when his man is already on him because he falsely believes he can create space to get his shot off. Basically, he dribbles when he should be swinging the ball to someone else. He doesn't dribble when a wide open jumper is available.

Your definition of an open jumper must be different from mine. Contesting a jumper when the player still has an option to dribble is not an easy thing to do, especially when the guy is 6'11". Even if a player is within arms reach it would still be tough to react quickly enough to block a jumper.

Just look how often guys like Durant will have guys reaching out and then do that swim move to draw a foul and get to the line. Even though the defender is right there he can't react quickly enough to contest the shot. the offensive player always has the advantage because the defender has to react to him.

Horford has guys in his face all the time when he has the ball on the perimeter. He will frequently put shots right in their face anyway and they aren't quick enough to react.

Opposing defenders aren't playing Blatche that closely. If he went straight up off the catch his jumper would never get blocked, assuming they would even try to block it.

[closg00]

^^^^^interesting discussion guys.

[tontoz]

^^^^^interesting discussion guys.

Think of the way teams defend Nick. Sometimes it is a struggle to get him the ball at all. They frequently run him off screens to get him open and when he does get in the defender will get up in Nicks jersey if he can.

Blatche could be standing still for 10 seconds on the perimeter and still easily receive a pass. When he catches it his defender won't be within arms reach. He will be a step back trying to prevent him from driving.

[DCZards]

I thought the debate was over whether Blatche or McGee should start at C if Booker were to be inserted into the starting lineup...something that I too would like to see happen.

Now it seems that the debate has gone in the direction of stating the obvious ---Blatche's well-known and frustrating shortcomings and style of play.

But as Nate pointed out in his initial post on the subject, putting McGee and Booker in the starting lineup wouldn't work because neither can score beyond a layup or dunk. And with Wall in the lineup you'd essentially have three players you wouldn't have to guard from 5 feet and out.

Blatche, if nothing else, is at least a "threat" to score from the perimeter. And bringing McGee off the bench would help him avoid picking up 2 fouls in the first 4 minutes of the game.

[tontoz]

Booker is an athletic freak with a high motor. He hasnt taken many jumpers so it is a bit premature to completely write his j off. He is shooting 70% from the line and shot 70% from the line in his last year in college. His jumper doesn't look that bad.

It isn't unusual for players to improve their jumper. But a soft player will pretty much always be soft. A player with a weak motor will probably always have a weak motor. A player displaying a low BBIQ after several years in the league likely will always have a low BBIQ.

The Wizards are 27th in offensive efficiency. It is hard to visualize them getting much worse.

[nate33]

Booker is an athletic freak with a high motor. He hasnt taken many jumpers so it is a bit premature to completely write his j off. He is shooting 70% from the line and shot 70% from the line in his last year in college. His jumper doesn't look that bad.

It isn't unusual for players to improve their jumper. But a soft player will pretty much always be soft. A player with a weak motor will probably always have a weak motor. A player displaying a low BBIQ after several years in the league likely will always have a low BBIQ.

Again, you are changing the argument.

All of us like Booker. And there is certainly a chance that he improves his jumper over team. Indeed, some might agree that Booker is a better long term prospect at PF than Blatche. (I'm not there yet, but I agree that it's in the realm of possibility.) But that doesn't mean that, right now, the team can get by with Booker and McGee starting.

[DCZards]

Booker is an athletic freak with a high motor. He hasnt taken many jumpers so it is a bit premature to completely write his j off. He is shooting 70% from the line and shot 70% from the line in his last year in college. His jumper doesn't look that bad.

It isn't unusual for players to improve their jumper. But a soft player will pretty much always be soft. A player with a weak motor will probably always have a weak motor. A player displaying a low BBIQ after several years in the league likely will always have a low BBIQ.

I agree...with practice Booker's jumper will improve, as will Walls'. But we're talking about who should start NOW...not a year or two from now.

[tontoz]

Booker is an athletic freak with a high motor. He hasnt taken many jumpers so it is a bit premature to completely write his j off. He is shooting 70% from the line and shot 70% from the line in his last year in college. His jumper doesn't look that bad.

It isn't unusual for players to improve their jumper. But a soft player will pretty much always be soft. A player with a weak motor will probably always have a weak motor. A player displaying a low BBIQ after several years in the league likely will always have a low BBIQ.

Again, you are changing the argument.

All of us like Booker. And there is certainly a chance that he improves his jumper over team. Indeed, some might agree that Booker is a better long term prospect at PF than Blatche. (I'm not there yet, but I agree that it's in the realm of possibility.) But that doesn't mean that, right now, the team can get by with Booker and McGee starting.

I would argue that they aren't getting by right now with McGee/Blatche starting.

[DCZards]

I would argue that they aren't getting by right now with McGee/Blatche starting.

Let's try this again. I thought we were debating whether McGee or Blatche should start at C if Booker were to start....not whether McGee and Blatche should continue to start at C and PF.

[tontoz]

I would argue that they aren't getting by right now with McGee/Blatche starting.

Let's try this again. I thought we were debating whether McGee or Blatche should start at C if Booker were to start....not whether McGee and Blatche should continue to start at C and PF.

I would rather have McGee in for his defense. When Blatche is at center there are too many layup drills.

I just don't see Blatche as an asset on offense. Not only is his TS% in the toilet but he is also a ball stopper. He does his Globetrotter routine dribbling between his legs and behind his back while not going anywhere while everyone else watches. That puts no pressure on the defense at all.

I seriously doubt Blatche will get benched though. However at the very least he needs to get yanked in favor of Booker when he is playing like garbage which is pretty often. He has singlehandedly cost them games this year with his boneheaded plays and chucking.

[Dat2U]

I've always thought McGee could excel in a super sub role off the bench. Secondly, I think right now, Blatche's best position might be center considering how much weight he's currently carrying and how slow he is. So I'd say lets start Booker & Blatche with McGee getting the opportunity to dominate inferior talent off the bench. We get better match ups in the front court. Get a bit tougher in the starting lineup and a bit smarter as well. Our bench also improves greatly b/c there's no team in the league with a backup C that can match up with McGee's physical tools.

[Ruzious]

I've always thought McGee could excel in a super sub role off the bench. Secondly, I think right now, Blatche's best position might be center considering how much weight he's currently carrying and how slow he is. So I'd say lets start Booker & Blatche with McGee getting the opportunity to dominate inferior talent off the bench. We get better match ups in the front court. Get a bit tougher in the starting lineup and a bit smarter as well. Our bench also improves greatly b/c there's no team in the league with a backup C that can match up with McGee's physical tools.

Blatche at C and Booker at PF aren't going to beat the Little Sisters of the Poor - unless Sister Sarah has a serious hangnail issue. When you don't have good players, you gotta start some players who'd be more ideal as bench players. And there's no reason to give up on McGee - of all players - as a starter on a rebuilding team.

It's a little bit like in baseball - when you have a talented young shortstop. You're not sure if he's going to out-grow the position and force you to move him to third base or first base. But until he shows you definitively that he can't handle SS, you don't move him, because SS's who can hit like him are golden.

Keep him at shortstop. Can you imagine Javale playing shortstop? Salute!