11-5-10-5-5

[Further]

I think this deserves its own thread. And by the way, he should have six blocks but the refs were dumbasses. Great all around game.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

The foul called on him was a clean block and the replay backed that up.

 

[HailBlazers]

Damn B

 

[Draco]

AK47 also had a 5x5 game years ago, its pretty rare that may have been the last one. Good job Nic!

 

[Haakzilla]

...fantasy juggernaut!

 

[Further]

Julius posted this link in another thread, AK did it twice and was one of 7 players to get 55555 in the past. Hakeem did it seven times. His most amazing was 29-18-9-5-11 and 38-17-6-7-12. Those just seem impossible.

 

[RoyToy]

What's funny about that line is it's a lot like his game

Decent/good at everything, great at nothing

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Hakeem and David Robinson are two of four players to ever have quadruple doubles as well, but Olajuwon had 1 steal and Robinson had 2.

[video=youtube;KkpT0QdUDIY]

34-10-10-2-10

 

[Further]

What's funny about that line is it's a lot like his game

Decent/good at everything, great at nothing

I'd say that for a SF, 10 assists, 5 blocks are both great. Not out of this world, but great. How many SF's have gotten ten assists once this year? Or blocks or steals?

I just looked it up, forwards
10 assists Lebron 3 times and Durant
5 blocks Batum2, Ibaka4, Maxiell3, Sanders4, Josh smith3, and four other players once each
5 steals Batum2, Kawhi2, 4 other players once.

 

[KingSpeed]

What's funny about that line is it's a lot like his game

Decent/good at everything, great at nothing

How are 5 blocks not great? Same with 5 steals. Are there other SFs who do better than that every night?

 

[RoyToy]

Luke Babbitt could if he wasn't held back

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Luke Babbitt could if he wasn't held back

...by his lack of ability.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

What's funny about that line is it's a lot like his game

Decent/good at everything, great at nothing

That's what I like best about his game. No weaknesses.

 

[Mediocre Man]

The first 5X5 since 2006

 

[blue9]

Yeah, that's a heck of a performance! Especially with an ailing back. That's what I like about Nic - he's so versatile that even when he's not able to score he's still able to positively impact the game. I think he has better court vision than Lillard - he just always has a knack for making easy passes for easy scores.

And while on the one hand I kind of agree with the comment about him being good at everything but great at nothing, I also think he's a top 5 SF. And that in itself is pretty great.

 

[mook]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five-by-five_(basketball)#Five-by-five

A five-by-five is defined as a performance in which a player accumulates a total of five in five statistical categories—points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks—in a single game.[102] Statistics for steals and blocks were not kept in the NBA until the 1973–74 season, so NBA five-by-fives were only possible from that season onward. Hakeem Olajuwon (six times) and Andrei Kirilenko (three times) are the only players to have recorded multiple five-by-fives (based on records since the 1985–86 season).[102] Both are also the only players to record five-by-sixes (at least six in all five statistical categories).[102]

 

[mook]

Watching Batum last night I kept thinking about an in-his-prime AK47. Pretty much the ultimate glue guy.

 

[blue9]

That's what I've always felt about Batum - ultimate glue guy. He shouldn't be your primary (or even secondary) scoring option. He's far too good at so many other things that if you make him the focus of your offense it'll take away from the other facets of his game. I LOVE seeing him distribute the ball.

 

[magnifier661]

That's what I've always felt about Batum - ultimate glue guy. He shouldn't be your primary (or even secondary) scoring option. He's far too good at so many other things that if you make him the focus of your offense it'll take away from the other facets of his game. I LOVE seeing him distribute the ball.

He reminds me of how Pippen was used in Chicago. Just does everything!

 

[blue9]

Yeah, except I think the Pippen comparisons are a bit unfair to Nic. He was a much better ball handler and seemed to be a lot bigger and more powerful. Maybe merging Pippen with Prince - Nic's better than Prince but not as good as Pippen.

 

[magnifier661]

Yeah, except I think the Pippen comparisons are a bit unfair to Nic. He was a much better ball handler and seemed to be a lot bigger and more powerful. Maybe merging Pippen with Prince - Nic's better than Prince but not as good as Pippen.

Oh I am not comparing their talent. I am comparing what Pippen's job in Chicago was; like it is with Batum's in Portland.

 

[jlprk]

Good game. But don't disappear now for a few games.

(Actually, I think Batum's consistency problem is more on the coach.)

 

[Draco]

Oh I am not comparing their talent. I am comparing what Pippen's job in Chicago was; like it is with Batum's in Portland.

I don't understand that comparison at all. Pippen was a lock down defender who could shut down the leagues best PG, SG, or SF and run a teams offense. For years he was the best perimeter defender in the game. Being able to bring the ball up the court and initiate his teams offense for the entire game gave the coach the flexibility to play a SG at PG and camp him in the corner. The Bulls had many of these guard lineups with shooters like Paxson or Steve Kerr or a defender like Ron Harper. They were able to play together because Pippen could handle the ball. The Bulls could also run a big lineup with Kukoc and Jordan on the court. Batum isn't even an average NBA defender, he rates as one of the worst SF’s by most synergy stats. Yes Batum is great at blocks, especially in transition, but he can’t defend his man one on one, he can’t handle the ball, and he can’t run an offense for more then a portion of a possession.

Comparing Batum to Pippen is as silly as comparing Babbitt to Bird.

 

[magnifier661]

Batum isn't even an average NBA defender, he rates as one of the worst SF’s by most synergy stats. Yes Batum is great at blocks, especially in transition, but he can’t defend his man one on one, he can’t handle the ball, and he can’t run an offense for more then a portion of a possession.

I don't have the advanced stats; but I'm gonna have to disagree with you on this one. Blocking shots isn't the only thing he does. He steals the ball and his long arms disrupt many passing lanes and shots. Also, I seem to remember Batum was also one assigned to defend other PG, SG and SF. He is good at initiating the offense too. He just isn't bringing the ball up.

 

[blue9]

Batum isn't even an average NBA defender, he rates as one of the worst SF’s by most synergy stats.

That's just silly. Maybe this just goes to prove that all these "synergy" stats are a load of bunk. If you can't see that Nic is a tremendous defender, that's on you. The fact of the matter is that he's generally always guarding the opposition's best player - you know, players like Durant and LBJ. He's not gonna shut those guys down. But he's pretty effective in making them WORK HARD to get the ball, and then making them shoot over the top rather than letting them drive to the hoop. That's good defense even when it results in his man making a long jumper.

And let's not forget that Pippen was allowed to hand-check - it's a lot easier to shut down the opposition when you can put a hand on their hip. But yes, he was much better at dribbling, and was generally a more powerful player.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

That's just silly. Maybe this just goes to prove that all these "synergy" stats are a load of bunk. If you can't see that Nic is a tremendous defender, that's on you. The fact of the matter is that he's generally always guarding the opposition's best player - you know, players like Durant and LBJ. He's not gonna shut those guys down. But he's pretty effective in making them WORK HARD to get the ball, and then making them shoot over the top rather than letting them drive to the hoop. That's good defense even when it results in his man making a long jumper.

And let's not forget that Pippen was allowed to hand-check - it's a lot easier to shut down the opposition when you can put a hand on their hip. But yes, he was much better at dribbling, and was generally a more powerful player.

Most of the time when he guards guys like LBJ and Durant, they have better stats than they average. Batum is one of the most overrated defenders I've ever seen. But I've come to terms that some people will just keep thinking it. Batum is incredibly weak on defense and doesn't have good lateral quickness.

 

[blue9]

No, it's because we've been one of the worst defensive TEAMS for the past 6+ seasons. Nic's doing his part, but an individual can't make up for poor team defense. No individual can make up for poor team defense. Defense starts with the coach and ends with the individual players.

 

[BlazerWookee]

Wait. I thought he was overpaid?

 

[HailBlazers]

No, it's because we've been one of the worst defensive TEAMS for the past 6+ seasons. Nic's doing his part, but an individual can't make up for poor team defense. No individual can make up for poor team defense. Defense starts with the coach and ends with the individual players.

Very astute post. Batum can guard any position, especially with the proper help.