Andre Blatche: A Lean Hot Plate Williams

Point forwards are considered the hybrid players that are skilled enough to set up and run an offense just like a really good point guard. Usually these are NBA forwards who are as comfortable playing with their back to the basket as they are facing up and blowing past a defender with a crossover dribble. Scotty Pippen, Ervin "Magic" Johnson, Anthony Mason, and Lamar Odom fit into this category. 

Watching Andre Blatche play for the Washington Wizards over the past four seasons has been exciting and at times head-scratching. Andre plays the game with excellent court vision, the likes of which I haven't seen from a Washington forward since perhaps the days of Chris Webber.

No, wait, come to think of it, not since the days of John "Hot Plate" Williams. That's right, I brought back "Hot Plate."

The comparison is not as cut and dry as skinny and fat—we may be witnessing the birth of a point forward in Washington. Andre and John had a similar style of play and each were 22 years of age when they started to arrive as NBA players. 

Just as "Hot Plate" liked to grab a rebound, push the ball the length of the court, cross over an opposing player, and throw a no look pass to Jeff Malone for a wide open three, Andre does the exact same thing when given the opportunity to run the offense.

When "Hot Plate" played for the Bullets during the 88-89 season, he averaged 13.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in 29 minutes per game as a starter.

Andre so far this season has averaged 8.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 17 games played this season. However, the six games under new head coach Ed Tapscott have seen him average 12 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 20 minutes per game. 

Extended playing time in addition to more confidence has translated into seeing Andre turn the corner this season. It also helps to have your jump shot fall leaving him to add the variety to his game that we have seen throughout the past three summer leagues. There he likes to pass out of the post or match up against a small forward, power forward, or center not used to seeing a guy with good ball handling skills. 

The time is now for Andre to step up for the Wizards and become the point forward fans know that he can be. Let's hope that Coach Tapscott gets him to realize that this season before Gilbert Arenas returns.