Over at SBN’s Wizards headquarters, Bullets Forver, Mike Prada is looking on the bright side in all of this. Namely, that Jamison’s injury could provide Andray Blatche (nee 7-Day Dray) with a valuable opportunity to gain some experience playing meaningful minutes at his natural position:
SBN’s Bullets Forever Sees the Silver Lining
…let’s be clear: while this sucks in the however-long-Jamison-is-out-for term, the reality is that this gives Andray Blatche a hell of an opportunity to step in and become a consistent performer. The excuses for Blatche ended the minute he began playing for Flip Saunders, but now they’re about 500 miles in the rearview mirror. He’s finally going to get consistent minutes by default, so it’s time to see what he can do with them.
Now, you’re probably thinking, But Mike, what about last year? Blatche got the opportunity and didn’t take a major step forward. Why should this year be any different? The answer is, well, it might not be. But the circumstantial difference this time is that Blatche is firmly a power forward again. Last year, and in prior years, the Wizards used him as a center. They haven’t really used him exclusively as a power forward because Jamison’s been so durable.
But now, with Jamison injured, Blatche is going to have an opportunity to play his more natural position for a longer stretch than he ever has in his career. Those fouls you keep committing at the center spot, Andray? Now’s your chance to cut that stuff out. That lack of rebounding from having to deal with bigger guys? Not an excuse anymore. That itchy trigger finger on those jumpers? No need for that, now that you’ll be trusted with being the primary ball-rotater and screener in the Hawk offense.
The way I see it, we really needed Blatche to become better in those areas even if Jamison is healthy. Now that Jamison may miss some time, there will be more urgency in the short term for Blatche to make the necessary improvements. That may pay off down the road when Jamison is healthy again, whether it’s four days, four weeks or four months from now.
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