Blatche For Most Improved Player?

After changing his jersey to number 32 to 7 last off-season, Wizards forward Andray Blatche took a more serious approach to his game. He worked tremendously hard to improve his game and worked with head coach Flip Saunders to become the player Washington's management, has been waiting on since they drafted him pick 43 in the 2005 NBA draft.

In the beginning of the season, Blatche played impressive as he averaged 21.0 points per game through the first three games of the season.However,when Antawn Jamison returned after suffering from a shoulder injury, Blatche minutes were reduced and he fell behind in Saunders rotation.

When the team started to struggle and dealing with the distraction of Gilbert Arenas and Jarvis Crittenton, general manger Ernie Grunfeld traded away Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison,Brendan Haywood, Deshawn Stevenson. The trades made a way for more young players to get a chance to show their talents including: Blatche, Nick Young, Javale Mcgee.

With Butler and Jamison being traded, Blatche had to become the leader and produce night in and night out for the team. He did just that averaging 21.1 points per game, in the month of January and carrying Washington on his back.

Blatche had become the player around the league everyone was talking about, and he had turned out to be the player the Wizards hoped he would when they drafted him in 2005.In a game against the Charlotte Bobcats on March 23, Blatche was benched by Saunders for ignoring him when Saunders tried to explain something to him.

"I'm disappointed. I'm the most disappointed I've ever been in 15 years with a player," Saunders said. "Most disappointed."  That situation between the two had everyone thinking that Blatche was a selfish player and a head case.

The situation was resolved the next day, as Blatche was in the starting lineup against the Indiana Pacers. Although Blatche, and Saunders had disagreement Blatche still had a great season for Washington he was their best player and showed up in big games. Blatche should be a candidate for most improve player, because no one in the NBA saw him producing as he did. Next season him and Gilbert Arenas will try to lead Washington back to the playoffs next season since two years ago.