Andray Blatche Trolls The Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards suck. No getting around that. They suck so bad that toward the end of Monday night’s loss, as the San Antonio Spurs wound down a 26-point lead, fans yelled for the defending Wizards to foul. Yes, Verizon Center faithful, those who had not yet headed for the hills, wanted the Spurs to shoot free throws. Why? So fans could have a chance to boo those free throws into misses; so they could potentially win free chicken sandwiches if a Spur missed both.
And then there’s Andray Blatche. Ted Leonsis and Ernie Grunfeld once had the idea of constructing a bridge to nowhere when they rewarded Blatche with a contract extension in 2010. Blatche returned the favor with lazy basketball and an unmotivated existence. Then the Wizards amnestied him last July. Of mice and men, of Andray Blatche.
But everyone had moved on. Well-wishers have expressed hope that Blatche would turn the corner. And he has, to an extent. In 12 games with the Brooklyn Nets, Blatche is sporting a career-high PER of 20.6, which is 26th best in the NBA this season amongst those who have played at least 200 minutes. Still, the revitalized Blatche will always carry with him the stigma of the past. Because the Internets say so.
And sure, Blatche is playing well, but it’s not rare that such evaluations of his nights show up on Nets blog, The Brooklyn Game (from Nov. 23rd):
There is no Nets experience more maddening, more akin to riding a sparking roller-coaster than watching Andray Blatche play basketball. He compounds moments of wizardry with a frustrating airheadedness.
Andray is as Andray does. Speaking of, you wonder if he thinks about the Wizards…
He does, as relayed by NBA.com’s John Schuhmann via Twitter.
Andray Blatche to reporters in BKN locker room: “Anybody seen how the Wizards are doing?”
— John Schuhmann (@johnschuhmann) November 26, 2012
This revelation, as Washington was set to tip-off against San Antonio, trolled for the reactions of Wizards fans far and near, as well as media. And later on, after his Nets beat the New York Knicks in overtime, Blatche took back to the Twitter machine.
Feels good to be part of a winning organization
— andray blatche (@drayblatche) November 27, 2012
Idc wat a wiz fan say yes I was outta shape Ill give yal that but no body n that organization tried to help me with
— andray blatche (@drayblatche) November 27, 2012
You wonder if Wizards management notices. You wonder if they care. Everyone has moved on, right? Well, except for one catch: Washington is paying Blatche $23 million for this season and the next, and the next. That type of money could buy at least 1.5 Trevor Arizas.
