The District always knew what Andray Blatche was capable of achieving. But for those from outside the Beltway, only seeing was believing.
“Woo, I knew he could play. But seeing him first-hand, he’s special,” said recently-acquired Wizard Quinton Ross after Blatche’s 25 points and 11 rebounds in Monday’s win over Chicago, his third double-double in four games. “He’s got all the tools in the world.”
Blatche is averaging 25 points and 10.3 rebounds since the All-Star break, barely a month after Wizards head coach Flip Saunders suspended him a game for bad behavior and ripped him for his playground-style behind-the-back dribble in the lane.
“I thought that he needed a wake up call to understand that the status quo wasn’t going to make it for him,” said Saunders.
Blatche took heed, and fortune turned in his favor when Antawn Jamison was traded to Chicago, opening the door for the 23-year-old, who had 68 starts in his first 287 career games.
“When you got a guy that’s 20 and 10 in front of you for your whole career, it makes things a little more difficult,” said Wizards guard Mike Miller. “But this is about opportunity, and he’s stepping up. The whole thing is sustaining it. That’s the one thing you realize with Antawn Jamison was when he was here, it was 20 and 10 every night. You could bank it. If [Blatche] wants to take it to the next step, that’s where it’s going to be.”
In the vacuum created by the departure of Jamison, Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson, Blatche also has found himself thrust into a leadership role as the longest tenured player currently in the Wizards’ locker room.
“I actually didn’t see that coming no time soon in my head,” said Blatche.
Said Saunders, “He has had a different attitude from the standpoint of a more serious approach prior to the game, during the game, and after the game … As I’ve told him, ‘When you start playing like this, now your expectations become higher. Not only that, now teams are going to set their defense up to defend you and stop you from going into your key moves.’ It’s part of his whole progression.”
