The Washington Wizards have had a tumultuous year following Gilbert Arenas’ legal troubles. After Arenas’ year long suspension, the Wizards traded away key players Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison in an effort to rebuild their team. It was hard to see how any positives could be found in a season that everyone in DC (including myself) seems to have written off.
Little did they know they would have something to keep the Wizards front office hopeful, (and fans bothering to watch) in the form of Andray Blatche. Since the trade of Jamison on February 17th, Blatche has been putting up amazing numbers: 24 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.1 blocks. Wow.
Rarely does one see such immediate improvement. Literally overnight (33 points, 13 rebounds following the announcement of the trade), Blatche went from being a role player to the go-to guy.
Known usually for his immaturity and inconsistency, Blatche has suddenly developed a game that can only be described as something between LaMarcus Aldridge and Zach Randolph. Watching him play nowadays, it seems as though he has had this ability all along, that he was somehow hiding it and just needed the opportunity to showcase it.
So given this sudden improvement, is Blatche the next franchise player for the Wizards? Can he put up these kinds of numbers next season, and in seasons after that? Charles Barkley recently called Blatche “a looter in a riot”, which I take to mean that Blatche is benefitting from the increased playing time and chaotic situation on the Wizards (although you never know with Charles Barkley, in his world there may actually be a riot in which Blatche was looting something).
You won’t see me saying this often, but Barkley has a valid point. Blatche is averaging 38 minutes a game since the trade. That’s a hefty minute log, and it could be argued that Blatche is just benefitting from a lot of time on the court.
Adding to the doubt of Blatche’s potential to be a star is the fact that this guy has been mostly disappointing for 5 whole years, something which a dozen or so good games can’t really erase.
I’m a bit more optimistic about what Blatche will do in the future. In the last couple of games, he has been dominating the post on both sides, throwing it down on offense, hitting jumpers, even running the floor; stuff he simply didn’t do at one time ever before in his professional career. There is also the fact that Washington simply does not have anyone else, even if they sign a big name free agent.
Unless the Wizards sign or draft a big man in the summer, which I don’t see as likely given the improved play of Javale McGee as well, Blatche will continue to enjoy all the looks and minutes he needs to be dominant. Finally, even though he has played enough seasons to be considered more a “veteran” than a “young prospect”, Blatche is only 23 and has plenty of time to improve and make his recent upsurge a consistent stat line for years to come.
Though the 2009-2010 season is one the Wizards (and their fans) would love to forget Andray Blatche has given everyone hope that the future will hold something to remember.
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