Yes, it looks like Wizards center Andray Blatche will be playing tonight, Game time 7:05 PM eastern
Oh damn. Blatche is playing, and all the square line movement is for nothing. Bet the under foolishly on the news that he was out, now betting the fade so I can salvage that wasted bet.
Tempers flare as Wizards remain trapped in losing spell
Steve Ginsburg
WASHINGTON
Wed Mar 24, 2010 12:38am EDT
<script language="javascript">addImpression("10036173_Related News");</script> <script type="text/javascript">removeImpression(); </script> <script language="javascript">addImpression("10036174_Related News (Auto)");</script>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Washington Wizards' woeful run continued with a 95-86 overtime loss to the Charlotte Bobcats on Tuesday, the home team's 12th consecutive defeat made worse by a blazing row between the coach and one of his players.
Sports
Wizards coach Flip Saunders benched Andray Blatche in the first quarter after the forward, who has been one of the few bright spots in a dreadful season, refused to return to the action after the two argued over his defensive contribution.
"I took him out of the game because I wanted to talk to him about not getting back on defense," Saunders told reporters. "He didn't want to hear it.
"I told him 'if you don't want to talk, don't want to be coached, you're not going to play.' We had coaches go up to him three different times. He just said he didn't want to play."
"In 15 years (of coaching), I've never seen anything like it. Never."
Blatche is averaging career highs of 12.7 points and 6.2 rebounds this season and has been particularly impressive since breaking into the starting line-up about five weeks ago.
"He can be pissed at me but you never leave your team mates hanging out to dry like that," Saunders added.
"No matter what. Especially when you've lost 11 games in a row and have a chance to win one. It's uncalled for."
Saunders said he did not believe Blatche, who scored four points but no rebounds in seven minutes against the Bobcats, would play against Indiana on Wednesday.
The Wizards (21-48) made a good start to the campaign but have struggled since December when floor leader and three-times All-Star Gilbert Arenas was suspended for the remainder of the season for bringing guns into the locker room.
Saunders and general manager Ernie Grunfeld opted to revamp the team in an effort to build for the future, a decision that has backfired remarkably with mounting losses and dwindling Verizon Center crowds.
In Tuesday's defeat, Al Thornton hit a three-pointer with nine seconds left in regulation to tie the score at 82-82 and force overtime but the Wizards were swamped in the extra session.
The 23-year-old Blatche, playing in his fifth NBA season, was also a no-show in the Wizards' locker room after the game.
"I am really disappointed in him," Saunders said. "Since he's been starting, 60 percent of the offense is run through him. He thinks I yell at him because he takes bad shots. He's taken twice as many shots as anybody.
"Coaches aren't wrong. When a coach wants to teach you something, you can't think you're above that."
Watch the game on tv on the internet at 7:05 PM Eastern
http://www.atdhe.net/15857/watch-was...indiana-pacers