In the first four games this season without Batum - west conference player of the week. Next game without Batum - career high 43 points. Coincidence? I really don't think so.
Just a coincidence, I think, Nate. Lillard does know, though, that he has to step up if people are out. For the long haul, we're better with Batum.
If it were true, who's fault would it be? Dame can take over a game anytime he wants. Batum does not prevent him from doing so. Dame does. He chooses to wait and let his teammates get involved first. 16 pts tonight....after regulation. You can't argue with the strategy as he tends to be fresher at this end of games this way. One complaint about Batum is he disappears at times. Maybe that is because he has 4 other teammates that need the rock too.
4 games? come on. He had nice stretches when we were without Aldridge also, next thing you'll say, we should move him...oh, wait.
Obviously... Seriously though, I feel like Lillard plays better when he dominates the ball more. When he shoulders more of the distributing load. Batum takes the ball out of his hands.
Of course Dame is better with the ball more... However do you want Dame to have to shoulder a huge load like this every night? Batum takes a lot of pressure off him and allows him to do work in the 4th.
Dame and Aldridge had to shoulder a larger load because we are still lacking one more scorer. We have two amazing stars and then there's Wes, but we have been sorely lacking the scoring punch that Kaman had been giving us off the bench. Batum is not a scorer. We still need another scoring wing. Dorell Wright was supposed to be that guy.
Now, this may not get anyones rocks off (Like any of the Greens would) but... http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=ml5zux6 then turn around and do this... http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=k7t8mvh
So there's a couple problems with that trade. Firstly, Detroit would have Daron AND Jennings. That would not work. Secondly, the Kings lose a pretty good point guard and only get Augistin in return. Third, the Blazers don't really need Collison. I think Blake is a pretty decent backup.
I think Detroit wants to unload Smith, all they would get is expiring deals for flexibility. Their season is over anyway. Sacramento would get VERY versatile up front and Augustin isn't THAT bad and proved he could run an offense last season (In Chicago). Collison could be our bench scorer, Blake would assume the role Dame had when Mo was on the floor last season. I think a potential lineup of: Lillard / Blake Matthews / Collison Batum / Crabbe Aldridge / Wright / Freeland Lopez / Kaman / Robinson could be extremely deadly.
