Checking In With Andray Blatche
SportzWiz checking in…Last week Andray Blatche was in town to do some in-game video shoots (some very funny stuff, we will have behind the scenes video at a later date) and I had the chance to catch up with him after the shoot to tallk about his summer.
WashingtonWizards.Com: You elected to play on the Wizards Summer league team. What was your motivation behind that decision?
Andray Blatche: I used Summer League mainly as conditioning and on learning the new system that Flip (Saunders) is installing.
WW.Com: You have spent a lot of time working with the coaches this off-season. What have you been focusing on in those individual workouts?
AB: We have been focusing on being aggressive on defense, conditioning and also on my low post moves.
WW.Com: In several interviews you’ve talked about your relationship with the new staff. What is it about Flip Saunders that has made this transition so easy?
AB: He has helped me a lot. He has really helped me build up my confidence and I play much better when I’m confident. He just always gives me positive feedback and it boosts me and makes me work harder.
WW.Com: Training camp is just over one month away. What are your goals heading into camp?
AB: I’m looking for a great camp and a great season.
WW.Com: You have had the opportunity to work and play with a lot of your teammates this summer. Do you have any predictions on a player that is going to have a breakout season?
AB: In general, I think the whole team is ready to breakout. I think we are going to shock a lot of people and get deep into the playoffs.
WW.Com: Just last week, the team signed Fabricio Oberto. What were your thoughts when you heard about the signing?
AB: I was very excited when I found out they were going to sign him. He’s a hard worker. He’s very aggressive. He’s a good defender. He knows the game really well so I think it was a very good signing on our behalf.
WW.Com: Summer is a chance for a lot of players to get away from basketball for a little bit, did you have the opportunity to take a trip this summer?
AB: I actually just came from Jamaica. I just had a basketball camp over in Jamaica in Kingston. After that I came right back home.
Posted: August 18th, 2009 under Wizards.
Comments
Comment from Jaba
Time August 18, 2009 at 12:34 PM
What are your goals heading into camp?
AB: I’m looking for a great camp and a great season.
That’s wonderful, Andray! Hope camp WILL be better than your answers!
Comment from GlingGling
Time August 18, 2009 at 1:28 PM
Oh, some harsh critics around here.
Comment from rgz
Time August 18, 2009 at 2:54 PM
How about asking if he spent any time in the weight room and training to add 10+ pounds – no?
Comment from Babakism
Time August 18, 2009 at 3:07 PM
notice how he said he went to jamaica and then “right home” lol poor guy. I think this is the year he fixes his reputation.
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time August 18, 2009 at 3:37 PM
Andray needs to get some media training from Brendan Haywood!! Still, come on, leave the young man alone — he has a birthday coming up this Sunday. He’ll turn all of 23 if you can believe that! 
Comment from Wizards4Life
Time August 18, 2009 at 4:17 PM
in 2 days ill be 28 and i dont want to belive that but he will be ok down the road this is the first time anyone from the media wanted to talk to him so i am sure he will grow into it…
Comment from SportzWiz
Time August 18, 2009 at 4:46 PM
dray is actually very good with the media.
he was leaving a 45 minute shoot and heading into a workout with Flip. Just was trying to catch up a little bit and find out how his summer was going.
Comment from wizards_fusion
Time August 18, 2009 at 7:56 PM
I actually like all the concise answers Blatche gave. It sounds like he’s all business, which is a good thing. He may be in a hurry but still – I think he knows something special can happen this year.
Although I enjoyed watching Nick Young school Summer League cats, I think we can all agree that if Blatche has a breakout year, he’ll help out the team more than Nick can. Nick is like a missile – he’ll attack a target locked-on. Andray is more like a bomb – he’ll go off and cause more havoc around him instead of at just one person.
Expectations are really high now (esp. after Gil’s Barry Farms surprise debut). Currently, the speed of the game is over Gil’s head a bit. But, once he gets back on the court, he’ll control the pace instead of the other way around. If Gil gets a bunch of turnovers, we’ll have to be patient since he’s trying to make plays.
Is it time to change the SI cover to feature Arenas and the Wizards?
http://hoopedia.nba.com/images/thumb/2/24/SI_3-27-1995.jpg/180px-SI_3-27-1995.jpg
Comment from getabigboyoffense
Time August 18, 2009 at 9:26 PM
SportzWiz, Thanks for setting the record straight about ‘Dray and the media.
I think that wizards_fusion has hit-the-nail-on-the-head; Nick is a missile and ‘Dray can be a neutron bomb, but it’s not just them. There are going to be a lot of missiles and bombs going off throughout the NBA this year as the teams play the Wizards. Even though we lost a LOT of games last year, there were only a few blowouts. We were in most game until the fourth quarter playing with a greatly reduced team and the worst coach in the history of basketball. There is one other team in the NBA that can boast of three bona-fide All-Stars in the starting lineup…the Celtics…and they’re hurt and old. The Wizards have the very best bench and a group of young, future all-stars who have had some experience (actually, every one of them has started several NBA games).
2009-2010 is the season of the Wizards. Just CAN NOT wait!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment from getabigboyoffense
Time August 18, 2009 at 9:33 PM
Tom M., for the record, and in case you are sending a gift, ‘Dray’s birthday is Saturday. He was born August 22, 1986.
However, your sentiments are right on”…come on, leave the young man alone — he has a birthday coming up this Sunday. He’ll turn all of 23 if you can believe that! ” – Tom M.
Comment from GrifonRacing
Time August 19, 2009 at 12:00 AM
I agree on the surface it seems like just so much rhetoric, but, Andray has NEVER given answers like that before. It was always more of the Nick, Dominic, and Andray vlogs. Nothing very serious. I agree with Wiz Fusion… this is the first time I’ve ever heard Andray talk positively about looking forward to basketball. Working out with Gil shows he is serious. He seems to like the new coach and is willing to go the extra step for him. The new coach seems to be taking him under his wing and appears to be getting the job done. Coaches in the past take a note: this is how it’s done.. don’t bench him.. don’t humiliate him…. teach and guide him and he will turn out to be the player we all thought he could be. Just takes the right guy. I think Andray will find himself and his game because we found the “right guy”.
Comment from GrifonRacing
Time August 19, 2009 at 12:09 AM
OMG to be 23 again
Happy Birthday Andray
Comment from datonypony
Time August 19, 2009 at 4:26 AM
Lol sportwiz you posting things up only makes us more agitated thinking about the season coming up! 
I like dray, I believe he can be someone in this league!
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time August 19, 2009 at 7:53 AM
I remember Dray doing a vlog where he went out on the street and interviewed people. He was trying to keep up with the hilarious rookie duo of Nick (with his goofy sly humor) and Dom (who was sort of the sincere straight man). So, yes, Dray can do media — he can *be* media, as he was with his vlog.
Getabig — you’re right, it’s Saturday that Andray turns 23. The bloggers need to remember to send him a big birthday hello that morning.
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time August 19, 2009 at 8:53 AM
Michael Lee has a nice Wizards Insider piece on Randy in this morning’s Post.
Comment from jmpalomo
Time August 19, 2009 at 11:46 AM
Link to Michael Lee’s post on Randy Foye:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/wizardsinsider/2009/08/getting_to_know_foye.html
I really hope Andray “BLOWS UP” this year. I am tired of waiting for him to at least “sniff” his potential.
Comment from jmpalomo
Time August 19, 2009 at 1:27 PM
Do you remember…….Calbert Cheaney?
He just officially retired to become a Special Assisitant for the Warriors.
He hasn’t played for 3 years but decided to not try for a rebound in the league.
Pretty good player but never developed for the Bullets/Wizards as the #6 pick in the draft should have been.
Comment from millie mill
Time August 19, 2009 at 1:55 PM
Would you guys do this trade?
Andray Blatche and Javaris Crittenton to the Bulls for Tyrus Thomas.
Comparing Blatche to Thomas.
Andray Blatche: Age 23, PPG-10, RPG-5.3, BPG-1, MPG-24, AST-1.7, TPG-1.6
ESPN Hollinger Profile:
Scouting report: A long, slender guy who is starting to fill out, Blatche is still a bit overmatched physically for the center spot but should be able to hold his own within two years or so. He’s got a high skill level for the position, with a difficult-to-block jump hook and a knack for diving down the lane to score on screen-and-rolls. He also has shown an ability to hit mid-range Js — you wouldn’t necessarily want this as your first option, but it’s a nice fallback late in the clock.
Defensively, Blatche not only needs to add strength but also improve his focus and concentration. In particular, his gullibility for shot fakes remains off the charts. And while he showed improvement in his professionalism and demeanor it remains a concern, given how his first two pro seasons went.
Tyrus Thomas: Age 23, PPG-10.8, RPG-6.4, BPG-1.9, MPG-27.5 AST-1, TPG-1.6
ESPN Hollinger Profile:
Scouting report: Thomas’ defensive metrics did improve quite a bit from his rookie year, so that’s one positive. He drew 17 offensive fouls and the Bulls were 3.7 points per 48 minutes better with him on the court, and despite a lack of strength his outstanding quickness and leaping ability for his size should make him a top-notch player at this end. He’s also an above-average rebounder who can go way above the rim for his boards.
Offensively, Thomas can face up from 15 and also has the ability to put it on the floor, although he’s way too ambitious about starting the break himself and creates a lot of turnovers that way. But the biggest problem right now is finishing at the basket. Between his lack of strength and occasional out of control drives, he’s had an unusual amount of trouble converting. You wouldn’t think this would be a problem for such a high flier, but apparently it is.
These are 08-09 Scouting reports.
Comment from GlingGling
Time August 19, 2009 at 1:55 PM
Foye sounds better and better every time I read or see see something about him. It’s nice to know that he got better in the latter part of last season. Upward growth is a good thing, it sounds like he’s got a very clear head, or three… (see article).
Comment from Wizfan4life
Time August 19, 2009 at 1:58 PM
So I just saw on espn.com that Allen Iverson has narrowed it down to 3 teams: the Heat, the Knicks, and the Bobcats….I don’t think he will go to the Knicks because they have almost no money, he wouldn’t go to the Heat because I can tell it won’t work with him and Wade on the floor at the same time, so my guess is he will go to Charlotte….If that is the case, the Bobcats could possibly make the 7th or 8th playoff spot this coming season looking at their current roster
Comment from Wizfan4life
Time August 19, 2009 at 2:00 PM
Oh yeah, speaking of Miami, what are they doing with Jermaine O’neil? Are they re-signing him, or is he going to sign with another team?
Comment from GlingGling
Time August 19, 2009 at 2:01 PM
millie mill, while it sounds like an improvement, it doesn’t sound like enough of an improvement, especially looking at per48 stats. With how well it seems Andray has bonded with Flip it seems even less worth the trouble. The only reason I personally would attempt that trade is to give Critter potentially more playing time on another team. But I like Critt and we’d be down to 13 players again after the trade.
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time August 19, 2009 at 2:02 PM
Actually, if AI goes to any team, that team will likely get a little worse and certainly not better. Especially a good team, although no good team is interested in him.
I really *hope* he goes to Miami, as we’ll be fighting w/ them this season for playoff position.
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time August 19, 2009 at 2:10 PM
Thomas is a more productive player than Andray, but he is not one of my favorites.
I am kind of interested to see how Javaris develops, too. Although, we do have too many guards.
Still got my fingers crossed we’ll bring a rookie big — Heytvelt or Richard Hendrix (he’s virtually a rookie but not officially so) — to camp.
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time August 19, 2009 at 2:13 PM
Jermaine O’Neal is under contract this year — he’s making @ $23m, if you can believe that. He was the most overpaid player in the league last year, with AI right behind him:
Comment from millie mill
Time August 19, 2009 at 2:40 PM
I would not trade Blatche for Thomas. Personally I don’t understand how Thomas is rated higher than Blatche. Thomas plays more minutes than Blatche and Blatche shoots a better % from the field. Everything about these two are almost even. Except Thomas jumps higher.
I just asked about the trade so I can have something to talk about?
Comment from getabigboyoffense
Time August 19, 2009 at 4:01 PM
Let’s see if I have this correct. jmpalomo, you think that a 23 year-old NBA basketball player who averaged 10 ppg, over 5 rpg and almost 2 assists per game while playing only 24 minutes per game with a bonehead for a coach last year has yet to sniff his potential? You certainly have TREMENDOUS expectations for this young man.
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time August 19, 2009 at 6:03 PM
uh oh — getabig is back 
Hey… Andray was only 22 when he did those things. He’s still not 23.
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time August 19, 2009 at 6:16 PM
Here’s an interesting exercise — comparing Andray’s numbers last season to his numbers the season before. One thing that would do is isolate, at least to some degree, the influence of Tapscott.
In fact, Andray’s numbers were a little bit down last year from the year before. Mostly his rebounds and blocks were pretty significantly down.
What was better last year was his rate of committing fouls. An average NBA PF commits 4.9 personal fouls per 48 minutes. In ‘07-8, Andray committed 7.4 fouls per 48 — that’s really bad. In fact, had he been average that year in fouls, he’d have had a net above average productivity.
So last year, he actually improved in an area where he’d been pretty awful. He still committed 5.9 fouls per 48 — 1 more than an average power forward. But that was still a significant step.
But… playing for Tapscott his rebounds went down by 1.5 per 48 and his blocks went down by 1.2 per 48.
Another way to say it: if Andray does no more than return to ‘07-8 form — except for fouling! — he’ll be a much improved player. If he improves under the tutelage of the new staff (and keeps the fouls down), he can be very effective. That’s what we’re hoping for obviously.
Comment from tyrone20000
Time August 19, 2009 at 6:59 PM
I do not believe Chicago would give up an energetic Thomas for a slow Blatche. Better give up a draft pick and another player. Thomas is light years better on the floor.
Comment from M2
Time August 19, 2009 at 8:46 PM
Chicago wouldn’t even look at that trade once (let alone twice)…
Thomas is an athletic spaz on the floor similar to our man McGee… Can’t find stats to account for that type of energy.
Blatche sluggishly runs up & down the court tugging on his shorts (because for some reason, after years in the league he still hasn’t figured out that there’s a drawstring in them… Oh wait, it’s because he’s not even 23 yet right? Gimme a break) trying to stay out of everyones (himself included) way!
Comment from datonypony
Time August 19, 2009 at 10:26 PM
Haha Tom for the most overpaid players did you consider t-mac? He played alot worse than Jermaine or A.i last season.
Comment from GlingGling
Time August 20, 2009 at 3:30 AM
Wow, I didn’t know we had so many Blatche haters.
As long as we’re comparing Thomas and Blatche it’s important to understand they are different types of players. First off I love watching both of them. They can be sensational, though in different ways.
Thomas is an above the rim monster. His primary assets are his energy and his hops and he uses them well. But let’s look at the downside. Have you ever watched a Tyrus Thomas highlight reel? Notice how 95% of his sweetest plays are dunks and putbacks?
Blatche is a different player. He has moves, something Thomas does not. Blatche has finesse that is rarely seen in a PF. Blatche can get things to go down and sometimes I don’t even know how. Blatche highlights are usually layups or similar around the basket plays. That said, historically he is a sloppy player (fouling, slow down the court, inconsistency). Despite sloppiness his per48 stats are comparable to Thomas’s.
At this point I consider them at the same level (even if one can say one is marginally better than the other). After this season we shall see who lies where. Based purely on extrapolating improvements year over year Thomas looks like he is in better shape. Keep in mind, however, that Blatche’s 07′-08′ numbers were the same or higher in areas that are considered Thomas’s strengths (rebounds and blocks).
If these guys were traded, it’s doubtful it would have even a marginal effect for either team (except both would be worse for messing up established chemistry).
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time August 20, 2009 at 7:48 AM
I can’t see Andray being traded — and even though he hasn’t really been very productive yet, I don’t see any great reason to hate on him.
His ‘07-8 numbers were good with the sole exception of fouls. He fouled less last year. Lets hope he can keep improving on that and otherwise just return to previous year numbers from his drop offs this last season.
It’s hard to keep in mind — and I have this problem too — just how *young* Andray Blatche is!
Comment from SportzWiz
Time August 20, 2009 at 9:06 AM
I mentioned on the top about the Andray Video shoot…One of the questions Andray was asked was what would he be if he wasn’t a basketball player, he responded that he would have just graduated college this past summer, so he’s not quite sure what he would have been/studied.
He’s the same age as some nba rookies this year. Andray Blatche is 9 months younger than Tyler Hansbrough and 15 months younger than Sam Young.
Comment from SportzWiz
Time August 20, 2009 at 10:01 AM
fyi…Randy Foye and Mike Miller will be coming in for their video shoots today…
Comment from Rick
Time August 20, 2009 at 10:04 AM
so if andray had been a rookie this year, where would he have gone in the draft? top 5? top 10?
Comment from millie mill
Time August 20, 2009 at 12:03 PM
He would have gotten drafted #3 and would have been playing OK City with Kevin Durant.
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time August 20, 2009 at 12:44 PM
How can we know where he’d have been drafted? If he was headed for the lottery, no way would he have stayed in college 4 years and entered the draft as a senior.
If he’d stayed in college 1 year, he’d have been in the ‘06 draft with Bargnani, LaMarcus Aldridge, Tyrus Thomas, and Shelden Williams (4 of the top 5 picks). Without any doubt he’d have been in the top 10 that year — Patrick O’Bryant and Mohammed Saer Sene went 9 and 10. Of all these players, only Thomas has been significantly better, and LaMarcus Aldridge has been just slightly better, than Andray Blatche — so he’d have been a pretty good pick at that position too!
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time August 20, 2009 at 12:55 PM
If Andray had stayed in college 2 years, he’d have been in the ‘07 draft with Oden, Horford, Noah and Hawes (4s and 5s picked in the top 10). Except for Hawes, all those guys are more productive than Andray at this point. Still, I think Andray would have been picked in the top 10 that year as well.
In ‘08, he’d have been w/ Beasley, Love, Brook Lopez and Jason Thompson (4s and 5s picked in the top 12 – tho MB is really a 3 in the league). Love is by far the best of those players, but all of them played reasonably well as rookies. No question, all the same, Andray would have been picked high in the lottery again.
In all, Ernie stole Andray Blatche! Which doesn’t mean that he has yet developed into a good NBA player.
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time August 20, 2009 at 12:59 PM
By the way, Jeff Green was the 5th pick in ‘07, and Dominic McGuire was the 47th pick. McGuire has been *much* more productive in his first 2 years than Green.
Ernie picked another steal!
(Now, if he’d only taken Dejuan Blair this year! )
Comment from GrifonRacing
Time August 20, 2009 at 1:21 PM
Ernie’s episode of “brain freeze” on that one will stick in our collective craws for a long time I’m afraid.
I’m optomistic now, but, if Blair were sitting on the bench along side Brendan, JaVale, and Oberto I’d be “very” optomistic.
Comment from SportzWiz
Time August 20, 2009 at 1:33 PM
mike miller just finished his video shoot and is a very funny guy on camera but whenever he answered a questoin about basketball his tone was very serious.
Comment from SportzWiz
Time August 20, 2009 at 1:38 PM
Tom there is no question about it….Late 2nd round picks rarely make an impact like dray and dom have.
Comment from GlingGling
Time August 20, 2009 at 2:13 PM
SportzWiz, two great picks. Very fun players to watch. Both have a ton of skill.
Comment from M2
Time August 20, 2009 at 3:14 PM
Hahahahaha… Now we’re comparing Jeff Green & Dom McGuire?
You think OKC or any team in the circumstance would trade Green for DMac?
Wow… Mr Stats, Tom Mandel
& I get sooooooo tired of the Blatche age thing.
No doubt in three years we’ll all be saying “even though Dre is in his 22nd year in the league we have to remember that he’s only going on 26.”
If Dre Blatche was on any other NBA roster none of you would think about him even a little bit. Matter of fact, none of you would even know who he is…
You’re being “homers” when assessing Dre.
ALL GOOD… I’m ready & willing to jump on a bandwagon of some sort the minute he creates one worth jumping on. In the meantime, I see Dre pretty dag-gone clearly…
Comment from gray16
Time August 20, 2009 at 3:38 PM
m2 i think you’re being a little harsh on blatche. i think if he was on another team, we would either know about him because he was on a good one, like josh powell, or because he would be that guy to light you up and wonder who the heck he was.
and we can say all we want about blatche, but when you look at a lot of the best teams’ backup pfs, i see no reason why blatche can’t compete with them. (lakers have powell, cavs have powe, boston has davis, magic have nick anderson) dre can compete with all of these guys imo.
but on another note, can’t wait to see mike miller and foye in wizards jerseys. this should be a fun year for sure.
Comment from wizards_fusion
Time August 20, 2009 at 3:48 PM
@ Tom M:
“By the way, Jeff Green was the 5th pick in ‘07, and Dominic McGuire was the 47th pick. McGuire has been *much* more productive in his first 2 years than Green.”
Um – where did you get this information? Under no circumstance am I able to conjecture your sentiments.
I’m looking at Jeff Green’s stats from NBA.com and you know what? His stats are shockingly similar to Caron Butler’s stats during his first 2 years in the league.
Green: http://www.nba.com/playerfile/jeff_green/career_stats.html
Butler:
http://www.nba.com/playerfile/caron_butler/career_stats.html
Jeff Green is an excellent complementary player to Durant. At the moment, I can’t say Dom is an “excellent” player, but he sure has blossomed and has gotten noticed by not just Wizards fans. Dom’s services will be highly desirable by many teams trying to get a guy with a specialty skill.
Comment from wizards_fusion
Time August 20, 2009 at 3:54 PM
*conject; not conjecture^
Comment from GlingGling
Time August 20, 2009 at 3:55 PM
M2, it’s only natural to notice who’s around you.
Comment from SportzWiz
Time August 20, 2009 at 4:33 PM
wiz_fusion here are some stats that im sure Tom can go into more depth on, but here you go…
McGuire is a better rebounder (5.5 in 26 minutes vs. 6.7 in 36 minutes). has more assists (2.5 to 2.0). Dom is a little better .8 to 1.0 in 10 less minutes per game..Avg’s twice as many blocked shots…has half as many turnovers per game…fouls are about even.
Green is a better scorer, but every other category favors dom…
Comment from millie mill
Time August 20, 2009 at 5:02 PM
M2 is right in one way. We do seem to like Blatche abilities more because we are from this area.
Living in the DC area I didn’t know much about Jermaine O’Neal until he broke out in his fifth season playing in Indiana. Of course everyone thinks Jermaine O’Neal is way overpaid but he had to be pretty good to even get a contract like that.
Both O’Neal and Blatche came out of high school. Both played behind real good power forwards (Rasheed Wallace and Jamison). Look at both their production in the first four years
http://www.nba.com/playerfile/andray_blatche/career_stats.html
http://www.nba.com/playerfile/jermaine_oneal/career_stats.html
I think this is why people still say remember Blatche is only 23.
Comment from tyrone20000
Time August 20, 2009 at 5:11 PM
I am a homer and I believe the Wizards can win a championship this year. I do not believe Blatche would play a significant role nor do I think this guy play to win. He may have improving stats but his demeanor is just like Jason Campbell. Everyone wants to give them excuses but some people just don’t have what it takes to be a winner. As far as Blatche is concerned, he got his shot last year and helped us to 19 wins.
Comment from M2
Time August 20, 2009 at 5:24 PM
Man where do I start?
Green shoots better from the foul line, has a better court sense, better assists to turnover etc… It’s not even close (comparing he & Dom)… Any one with any sense that’s not a Wiz fan would look at this discussion a laugh hysterically thus discrediting anything else we banter about here.
So lets dead the Green / Dom discussion, it’s ridiculous.
GG per your: “M2, it’s only natural to notice who’s around you.”
- That’s my point exactly, understand that exact context & perspective when assessing Dre’s abilities… it’s all I’m asking.
& G16 per your: “we can say all we want about blatche, but when you look at a lot of the best teams’ backup pfs, i see no reason why blatche can’t compete with them.”
- Absolutely have no problem comparing Dre with “BACK-UP” PF’s in the league…
I’m still not sure he’s at the top of that class, but I’ll certainly continue to watch him develop in hopes that he’ll get there.
When we all start talking about him being some sort of an unrealized all star is where I jump in & ask the congregation for levity.
I PRAY that Blatche becomes something even close to what O’Neal was/is. I just don’t see it.
Comment from M2
Time August 20, 2009 at 5:29 PM
I do think TY2000’s ambition regarding our squad is justified.
But with that said, if we win the entire thing this year, I do think Blatche will contribute significantly (thus becoming one of the NBA’s best back-up power forwards)…
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time August 20, 2009 at 8:41 PM
M2, like many people, overvalues scoring — points per game is all that matters to him.
Or so we must conclude since, every 48 minutes last year, Dom got 1.2 more rebounds, blocked one more shot, got 2 more assists, turned it over 1 fewer time, and shot just about the same FG% as Jeff Green. But he didn’t shoot as much, so he didn’t score as much, therefore he can’t be as good.
M2 thinks Jeff has “better court sense” — I guess, getting more steals, more assists, fewer turnovers and more blocks must indicate Dom lacks “court sense.”
Btw, Dom has a 2.1 to 1 assist to turnover ratio. Jeff Green has more turnovers than assists.
But… he does shoot a lot. Not a high FG%, but if you shoot a lot you do score more points than guys who don’t shoot a lot. So, you really just have to be a better player, right? ;>
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time August 20, 2009 at 8:49 PM
Lets put it slightly differently. Suppose I just pointed to player A and player B:
Player A outrbounds player B by a lot
Player A commits fewer turnovers than player B
Player A gets more assists than player B
Player A blocks more shots than player B
Player A shoots 43.9% and player B shoots 44.5% — both pretty low, so neither should be taking a lot of shots for their teams to score efficiently enough to win games.
Player B takes twice as many shots as player A.
Now, without names — who would you say is the better player? Not much doubt huh?
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time August 20, 2009 at 8:50 PM
Oh, I forgot:
Player A gets slightly more steals than player B.
Comment from GrifonRacing
Time August 20, 2009 at 10:29 PM
A lot of players in the league hustle. Dominic hustles every minute he is on the floor and turns it into productive basketball. Not all “hustle” players can say that. The only knock on him is he doens’t score a lot. We really don’t need him to score. We need him to do exactly what he does… defend, rebound, block, assist, and steal. I might trade Nick Young for Jeff Green…. Nah.
Andray’s age isn’t as important to his basketball development as it is to his overall maturation. He is still very young and needs a coaching staff that will “stroke” him a little. If he is encouraged and praised instead of belittled and benched I think we will see Andray play with a sense of purpose this year. If that happens and he develops consistent, good, dependable play the sky is the limit for us.
Comment from Babakism
Time August 21, 2009 at 3:24 AM
I don’t feel like looking it up but how do jeff greens stats compare to andray blatche. obviosly they play a different position but I bet andrays stats over the last 2 years are probobly better.
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time August 21, 2009 at 7:41 AM
It’s a little more complicated than that. Green’s stats as a rookie were pretty dismal. He was much better last year as a 2d year player — but not quite as good in raw numbers as Andray.
But, you can’t compare guys who play different positions in that way. Bigs, who play near the basket, naturally accrue more rebounds and they usually shoot a much higher % as well. Handling the ball less, they are also subject to fewer TOs.
Main point, tho, is that Jeff Green got a lot better his 2d year. He may continue to improve. Still, even though he starts for the Thunder, he wouldn’t start many other places at this point. Andray actually declined a little in the dismal year we had last year, so we’re looking at whether he takes a jump under the new staff.
Comment from datonypony
Time August 21, 2009 at 7:12 PM
But Tom one thing I have to say about points per game and taking how many shots that you have to consider is this, a player who has say 45% FG might not be able to keep it 45% the whole game if he is having to play a whole lot of minutes and take a lot of shots due to psychological or physical factors. So, taking that into consideration, we take arenas for example, not very spectacular FG but he is willing and has the courage to take that many shots and turn it into points efficiently, whereas, if we took a normal player with the same FG% and we get him to take around 20-25 shots a game…. Yeah I think you might get the point. So,points per game is quite important as someone has to get the shot up in that 24 seconds and your mentality affects that along with other factors. So, in a sense, Dom vs Green, Dom is better at everything else, but Green scores more, it isn’t quite lopsided as it looks.
Wow, My first ranting long contructive post. PLEASE someone comment or reply or make an argument to this or else I will slit my wrist and no one will ever see me here again.
Comment from getabigboyoffense
Time August 21, 2009 at 9:27 PM
“uh oh — getabig is back ” – Tom M.
My friend, what does that mean? I’ve always said that I enjoy everything that everyone contributes to the blog.
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time August 22, 2009 at 7:43 AM
datonypony — you are right that people have different roles on a team. Plays are designed to run through options, and one guy is designated to take more shots than another guy.
But if that guy shoots a higher % he is doing more to get a win. Therefore, if he shoots a lower % he is doing *less* to get a win. All you can do is measure.
Moreover — and people *often* forget this fact — if your team didn’t get the rebound, you never had the chance to take that shot. Or if you turned it over, or if you committed a foolish foul. Etc.
Because scoring points is the most entertaining part of basketball, fans tend to overvalue the contribution to winning made by the guys who score a lot.
The most obvious example of this overvalueing is AI. He is one of the most extraordinary guys to watch in the history of basketball. Diminutive, unafraid, an amazing scorer. But… he doesn’t help his team win as many games as people think. When Iverson left Philly, they became a better team. When he left Denver, they became a better team.
Not a dig on AI — he’s amazing.
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time August 22, 2009 at 7:44 AM
Getabig — I responded to your question in the next thread. As I say there, it was meant as a friendly gesture. You are one of the big reasons I participate in this blog.
Comment from tyrone20000
Time August 22, 2009 at 3:12 PM
AI is a basketball leader. The 76ers and Nuggets were not bad teams. Maybe it was team chemistry, but AI is 100% a winner and team player! Take Blatche off the Wizards and I’d be surprised if anyone outside of Washington would notice. I would bet the farm if we lose Blatche for a legit big we would get better, but that does not mean AI and Blatche are the same
Comment from tyrone20000
Time August 22, 2009 at 3:16 PM
By the way I would love to see Blatche change his game to a focused, hard charging, do whatever it takes to win the game type player.
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time August 22, 2009 at 5:57 PM
ty — no one compared AI and Andray. We were talking about Dominic and Jeff Green of OKC. The numbers show me (and so does watching games, btw) that Dominic is a better NBA player than Jeff Green.
Comment from datonypony
Time August 22, 2009 at 7:06 PM
But after A.I left philly, have they ever gone into the playoffs as deep as when he lead them into the finals? I don’t think so. I agree that scoring is overrated and how grabbing the rebound, not turning the ball over and all those other things are essential, however, there are also games where a team can do EVERYTHING right, good rebounds, hustle, no turnovers, great defense, but… Couldn’t score that night. Then, it’s still a big L as basketball is still a game about how many points you score. I know that this hardly ever happens but yeah. I agree that Jeff Green is not as good on other areas than DOminic though.
Comment from Helpside
Time August 25, 2009 at 12:06 AM
Did you guy’s take a look at the L.A. Lakers cream puff Schedule. Somebody hate the wiz kids.
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Comment from M2
Time August 18, 2009 at 12:01 PM
Kicking rocks… whistling
But thanks anyway WWB.com