What happened in Vegas didn’t stay in Vegas.
In each of his three appearances during the NBA summer league, Andray Blatche struggled initially, then threw off his headband in disgust before settling down and actually having a good game. He came home having averaged 19.7 points and 11.0 rebounds.
Guess what he did in the Wizards’ preseason opener? Yep.
“I don’t know,” said Blatche. “It’s just my thing. I come out with it on. Whenever I take it off, that’s when you know it’s time for business. I’m trying to get in that mindset the whole time. But the headband, I don’t know what it is. I just come out with it on, and then something goes wrong, I take it off, and that’s when I get more ‘Grrrr.’”
Similarly against Memphis on Tuesday, he missed his first four attempts from the field before scoring 11 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter.
Blatche, who changed his number to “7” this year to symbolize that he’s working on his game seven days a week, has said repeatedly that he’s trying to be more consistent and professional. But it’s still a struggle to be on the right level as soon as he sets foot on the floor.
“I need somebody to slap me before the game or something,” said Blatche.
Saunders looking for rebounds, intends to start Stevenson
Wizards head coach Flip Saunders said he plans to start DeShawn Stevenson at shooting guard against Dallas on Friday in place of Nick Young, who was in the first five for Washington’s preseason opener.
“We’ll make Nick go and chase Jason Terry around a little bit,” said Saunders.
After giving up almost half of the Grizzlies’ points on second chances and turnovers, Saunders has emphasized rebounding against the Mavericks.
“Get a [expletive] rebound, that’s what I told them to do,” said Saunders. “Get some contact on somebody and go after it. It’s hitting somebody and chasing the ball. Those are things that we’re going to have to do.”
From training camp on the road to road trip
The Dallas game will be Washington’s only preseason contest at Verizon Center, a good reason why newly-acquired Mike Miller hasn’t been in town long enough to get to the know the city any more than how to get from home to work and back.
“We’re not here very long, won’t be in too much rhythm,” said Miller of the Wizards’ short stint in Washington after a week in Richmond. “You get to come back in front of the home crowd, show them one time before the season starts.”
