Focus Centers on Blatche's Continued Improvement

There are games like Saturday's 96-74 home win over the Miami Heat when Andray Blatche shows the skills that led Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld to sign him to a five-year contract last summer.

In helping the Wizards (15-14) get over the .500 mark, the third-year center-forward often was the most effective player on the court and finished with 18 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks.

The issue for Blatche, who came to the NBA after one year at a prep school and turned 21 in August, has always been consistency in preparation, effort and production. Before Saturday's game, Blatche had been held to eight or fewer points in nine straight games.

"That will be the next step in a lot of steps," Wizards Coach Eddie Jordan said when asked about getting consistency out of Blatche. "There are a lot of steps to be made from all of our young guys."

Veteran DeShawn Stevenson, who also entered the NBA from high school, says Blatche is still maturing.

"That's something he's going to have to learn," Stevenson said. "I think he can get it. He's 21. Hopefully, he can get it. He has a lot of gifts so it's just a matter of bringing it every night and playing the way we know he can play."

Blatche continues to work on developing a more consistent outside shot and said his main focus has been on playing sound defense, rebounding and blocking shots, an area where he excels (1.7 per game).

"I'm concentrating on the things the coaches want me to do," Blatche said. "They want me to concentrate on rebounding and defense, so that is what I'm trying to focus on. The offense will come."