MF23 wrote:The Wizards staff isn't doing him any favors having him play like this. Blatche is lazy both ways on the court. He's inconsistent and gets pushed around all over the court. Every big man in the league should start chumping' him. It's aggravating that there doesn't seem to be expectations for the Wizards this season. If this were a contending team Blatche's efforts wouldn't justify rotation minutes. Look at him. You get a sense when you watch him play that he is content with his level of effort. It's why he will never be an all-star or a starter on a team in contention.
I remember someone on this board saying what significant improvement does Al Hartford provide that would justify trading or signing him over keeping Blatche. Is there not an indifference between those two? Is Al Hartford lazy, out of shape, pushed around and transparently content with losing? What about Paul Milsap, Nene, Haslem or any other notch below all-star level playing big man on a playoff contender? People need to wake up and figure out whether this guy is a loser or if he's going to make a change within him. Flip apparently isn't going to do much in regards to Blatche except for hoping he gets is together. In my opinion this is the reason why Flip didn't get it done in Detroit. He can't get into his players to give the extra push like Larry Brown or Chuck Daley did. That is a subject for another time and this thread is focused on Blatche. I was just making a case that the weaknesses in Blatche have a connection with the Wizards as a whole. He's played for nothing but players coaches and has had the same easygoing FO his entire career.
Don't get me wrong. I'm pleased he's become as productive as he's been while being a 2nd round pick. EG deserves kudos but coming real soon a determination is going to have to be made on this man. Somebody has to be held accountable for his performance this season because it correlates to the Wizards winning and losing. It's obvious he isn't playing right or in shape. Who's fault is that and what's going to be done to improve it?
I'm becoming motivated to write Ted Leonsis. I believe I can give him a perspective that would be entertaining and enlightening. Food for thought with a little spice in it about blatche and other things.
As so often happens here, I think you are jumping the gun a little.
Sure the things you mention about focus and killer instinct are issues, but lets not forget the bigger picture that I wrote out earlier in this thread about Dray.
Give the kid credit that he plays through injuries. He was also are only real PF option before we got Lewis. Now Flip has him slated for 32 minutes a game so he can gauge what is in his tank and leave it all out there. And if he is not being effective or playing right, Flip can let it ride or pull him. As I said earlier here, this is the year to really coach Dray up. Problem is, he was injured over the summer and then got injured again during the season and there was no back up for him and Flip has needed to start more starting line up due to injury than any other NBA team.
I think with all the changes to this team that just happened, Dray as the leading scorer on the team, we trying to show he was a lead dog so he tried to hard to be the scorer. He and the team would probably benefit more from him just playing a role like KG does. Let Nick go off and let Kirk, Howard and Lewis do their things. Go grab some rebounds, box out, play D, show a physical presence, get inside, and take the catch and pop when open. Stop the one on one stuff dribbling to much.
I will be really interested to see what changes happen in his game and effort over the next 10 games. I want to see Flip coach him to get better angles and leverage in the post instead of all the gimmick moves. He isn't a great leapers, but he does has height and mass and a touch around the rim. He should be able to get position and keep it so he can score and get fouled.
He is still a young man. Time for him to became a tougher NBA level more mature man.
Like he said, it is mental. But that is what separates good players from playoff level great players. It is mental. Making the right decision. Having drive. Fighting through it.
Should be interesting to see what happens. Things seem to be working out for Nick, so Flip can be effective. But that is the way it goes with young soft minded talented players sometimes. Look at how they did Big Baby. They actually made that dude cry while sitting on the bench. Now he is more mentally tough.
most people don't have good enough to handle bounce the ball hard while moving and jump as the ball is rising in the air and then catch the ball in mid air with both hands. But blatche use to do it last season and refs would call him for travel. Maybe his athleticism has dropped significantly since last season but he was the only powerforward i had ever seen execute a hop step with his left hand catching the ball in mid air while driving to the basket. Only guards with advanced dribble skills can perform that move which is why Blatche had the potential to be in a class of his own. that move is unstoppable for a guard and flat out cheating if a powerforward can do it with his left hand when his dominant hand is right. 
