Stat Line(s) of the Day: April 2nd

We had a few really good nights last night, and a few particularly atrocious ones. So we picked one of each to spotlight, plus a few other good lines down below.

Andray Blatche (WAS): 36 points, 19 rebounds (16 offensive), 4 assists vs. Cavaliers

Blatche, 24, is having a career year

The record for offensive rebounds in one game is 21, set by Moses Malone back in 1982, but that's not to say that Andray Blatche had a bad game...on the contrary. Blatche went off on the Cavs, tying a career-high with his 36 points and setting a franchise record with those 16 offensive rebounds. Those boards helped the Wizards to a 56-38 rebounding differential, leading to the Wizards taking 12 more shots than the Cavs (and making eight more), leading to a Wizards eight-point victory. The 24-year-old center is in the midst of his best season ever, averaging 16.2 points and 8.1 rebounds in 34 minutes per game, starting 56, for the Washington Wizards. Blatche was originally a 2005 draft pick out of high school, and has taken a few years to develop--it took Blatche until his fourth season to average double-digits in points, but his PER (player efficiency rating) is up near 17, which is very very solid. To give you an idea, it puts Blatche as the 57th-best offensive player in the game. Not a first option by any means, but he's rated above players such as Chauncey Billups, Jrue Holiday, and Andrea Bargnani--not really bad company either. 

Fausto Carmona (CLE): 3 IP, 11 H, 10 R (10 ER), 2 HR vs. White Sox

Well, I don't think Fausto Carmona wanted to start the season off with an ERA of 30.00, but that's just what he did yesterday against the White Sox.  Giving up six runs in the first three innings was bad enough, including two home runs in the 3rd to Carlos Quentin and new White Sox slugger Adam Dunn.  But then, it took the first four batters to reach base in the 4th inning (single, walk, single, double) for manager Manny Acta to finally (and mercifully) pull the plug on Carmona's day. He was relieved by the equally effective Justin Germano, who promptly hit Paul Konerko before  (after getting one out) allowing a double, a single, and two more doubles. Chicago managed to battle back from a 14-0 deficit for a somewhat respectable, though quite deceiving, 15-10 loss.

Honorable Mentions:
J.P. Arencibia (TOR): 3-for-4, 2 home runs, 1 triple, 5 RBIs vs. Twins
J. Crawford (WAS): 21 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists, 2 blocks vs. Cavs
P. Elias (NJD): 3 G, 4 SOG, 15:51 TOI vs PHI