Batum Comparison

[Luther]

I was checking out the power rankings for early March and Reina compared him to an interesting player.....

I saw a lot of Latrell Sprewell in his game when watching him at Le Mans

Read more: http://realgm.com/src_feature/1633/20100304/nba_team_rankings_for_early_march/#ixzz0hM2CqJUa

 

[Eastoff]

Is Nic Batum gonna have to choke a bitch?

 

[Shooter]

I don't see it. Sprewell was a slasher and a bit reckless in his play, whereas Nic is always smooth and under control. I think the Scottie Pippen comparison is more apt.

 

[BlazerWookee]

Sprewell's a douche.

The only knock on Nic is his frenchism.

 

[Luther]

I don't see it. Sprewell was a slasher and a bit reckless in his play, whereas Nic is always smooth and under control. I think the Scottie Pippen comparison is more apt.

Comparing him to Scottie Pippen doesn't make any sense. Yea he's good on defense and they jump similar but Pippen is ONE OF THE BEST PLAYERS IN NBA HISTORY.........Spree was solid on defense (made all nba defensive team) and was a solid shooter. He made 4 All-Star teams too....I love Batum but he is going to be a long shot to make one ASG.

 

[MickZagger]

Comparing him to Scottie Pippen doesn't make any sense. Yea he's good on defense and they jump similar but Pippen is ONE OF THE BEST PLAYERS IN NBA HISTORY.........Spree was solid on defense (made all nba defensive team) and was a solid shooter. He made 4 All-Star teams too....I love Batum but he is going to be a long shot to make one ASG.

People always take comparisons way too literally. When people say they remind him of Scottie Pippen, it doesn't mean he's going to be as good as Pippen. They are just saying his style of play, long arms, instinctive defense, ability to effortlessly glide to the hoop all resemble the way Pippen played. It doesn't necessarily mean he's going to be as good as Pippen. But, I will say this, I think that as a solid starter in the NBA at the age of 21, he's better than Pippen was at Central Arkansas at the same age.

 

[julius]

Comparing him to Scottie Pippen doesn't make any sense. Yea he's good on defense and they jump similar but Pippen is ONE OF THE BEST PLAYERS IN NBA HISTORY.........Spree was solid on defense (made all nba defensive team) and was a solid shooter. He made 4 All-Star teams too....I love Batum but he is going to be a long shot to make one ASG.

You're comparing Batum as a 2nd year player (like 20 games into his 2nd season), to what Pippen ended up being in his prime.

Pippen was 23 by the time his 2nd season started. Batum is 22 just now.

Their stats (albeit, Batum's are limited for his 2nd year) are not significantly different. And that was with Pippen being the 2nd leading scorer on the Bulls that year.

 

[MickZagger]

You're comparing Batum as a 2nd year player (like 20 games into his 2nd season), to what Pippen ended up being in his prime.

Pippen was 23 by the time his 2nd season started. Batum is 22 just now.

Their stats (albeit, Batum's are limited for his 2nd year) are not significantly different. And that was with Pippen being the 2nd leading scorer on the Bulls that year.

Batum isn't 22 until December of next season.

 

[julius]

Batum isn't 22 until December of next season.

you're right, I misread the date and my math sucks.

 

[1 Eye Jack]

His game is almost identical to Prince's really no need to compare him to anyone else. If he turns out to be as good as Prince I would be estatic. Prince played great shut down defense, created extra opportunities, hit big shots, and was a glue type player. He'll never demand shots but is fully capable of having the offense ran through him at times. If Oden can stay healthy for a couple of years we have the making of a 5-7 year championship run.

 

[Shooter]

People always take comparisons way too literally. When people say they remind him of Scottie Pippen, it doesn't mean he's going to be as good as Pippen. They are just saying his style of play, long arms, instinctive defense, ability to effortlessly glide to the hoop all resemble the way Pippen played.

Bingo.

 

[Minstrel]

You're comparing Batum as a 2nd year player (like 20 games into his 2nd season), to what Pippen ended up being in his prime.

Pippen was 23 by the time his 2nd season started. Batum is 22 just now.

Their stats (albeit, Batum's are limited for his 2nd year) are not significantly different. And that was with Pippen being the 2nd leading scorer on the Bulls that year.

The problem with comparing them at the same age is that Pippen of 22 or 23 didn't project to become the player he did. It was an unexpected and massive jump in development that got Pippen to Hall of Fame caliber. Lots of players will equal or better what Pippen did at an early age, but almost none will have that anomalous development path after age 23.

I think Pippen works as a stylistic comp, though. They're very similar types of players, even if Batum is hugely unlikely to ever be that good. Prince is a realistic comparison in terms of talent, IMO.

Pietrus is a worst-case scenario (and to "reach" that worst-case, Batum would have to regress from where he is now).

 

[Further]

This is kind of a weird comparison, but a better Stacey Augman.

 

[Draco]

This is kind of a weird comparison, but a better Stacey Augman.

I always liked Augmon. He was a highly regarded talent early in his career, he played on team USA. Just never developed like people thought he might, he scored well on Atlanta but was more of a niche defensive specialist after that.

Batum can shoot the 3, Augmon was worthless that far out. They're great defenders. Hopefully Batum capitalizes on more of his potential, whereas Augmon never quite did.

 

[Minstrel]

This is kind of a weird comparison, but a better Stacey Augman.

It's not a weird comparison on defense and body type...but Augmon had no real ball-handling skills and shooting skills, while Batum does.

I did love Augmon, though.

 

[CanadianBlazer]

Is Nic Batum gonna have to choke a bitch?

LOL!!!

Sprewell was a great player. But I do not see this comparison at all. Totally different games. He never was really a good blocker or stealer. More offensive game. Nic has a great defensive game.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Early 2000's AK47.

 

[Shooter]

This is kind of a weird comparison, but a better Stacey Augman.

I don't recall Augmon shooting the ball as well from outside as Batum, but I could be mistaken.

 

[Further]

Batum is a better shooter than augman for sure, especially from distance, but Stacey did have a nice mid-range shot if I remember correctly. But I was mostly thinking of how they moved, especially on defense. But even on offense, the other night, when Batum moved from high wing down to the baseline and to the hole, that looked a lot like Augman except much prettier. But on D, they both have that natural gift, long arms, smooth but quick feet. As I said, I think Batum will be better than Augman, he probably already is, but their games seem similar.

Batum will be better than Augman and worse than Pippen, but has a style somewhere in between.

 

[THE HCP]

I say Grant Hill more then Pip. The Sprewell comparison is actually way off!

 

[MickZagger]

Early 2000's AK47.

Early 00's Kirilenko could only dream of shooting 45% from 3 point land.

 

[Draco]

Early 00's Kirilenko could only dream of shooting 45% from 3 point land.

AK was more of a help defense shot blocker. Batum is more of a one-on-one G/F containing defender. You can stick him on quick PG's or wings, I don't think AK had the lateral quickness to defend quick PG's.

 

[BGrantFan]

Batum has yet to show the ability to be able to play a point forward position, which is one of the reasons Pippen was such a nightmare to defend. I like the Prince comparison, and I'd be thrilled with that sort of SF for the next ten years.

 

[THE HCP]

Batum has yet to show the ability to be able to play a point forward position, which is one of the reasons Pippen was such a nightmare to defend. I like the Prince comparison, and I'd be thrilled with that sort of SF for the next ten years.

I think he'd be OK handling the rock. He has no chance because Andre and brandon are 2 of the most ball dominating guards in the game.

 

[Minstrel]

Batum has yet to show the ability to be able to play a point forward position, which is one of the reasons Pippen was such a nightmare to defend.

Agreed about Pippen, but Batum did show some of that ability for the French national team over the summer. Whether he'll be able to translate that to the NBA is an open question, but at least the possibility is there.

Not to be Pippen, necessarily, but to emulate his offense style as well.

 

[Nikolokolus]

The funny part for me, in all of these arguments over who he most resembles, is that if he ends up being just 3/4 as good as any of them (Sprewell, Prince, Pippen, Hill, AK47 and even Augmon) this team is going to be in pretty good shape.

ps. If he stays healthy, I predict Price-like numbers and impact with better playmaking ... or a poor man's Grant Hill (in Hill's prime).

 

[Minstrel]

The funny part for me, in all of these arguments over who he most resembles, is that if he ends up being just 3/4 as good as any of them (Sprewell, Prince, Pippen, Hill, AK47 and even Augmon) this team is going to be in pretty good shape.

Well, when a raw 19/20 year old looks as natural and graceful on the court as Batum did last year (with some production) and then follows it up with solid improvements the next...it's fair to start thinking of him as a potentially special talent. I don't think he'll be Pippen or Hill, but someone with the impact of a Prince of Spree is reasonable.

ps. If he stays healthy, I predict Price-like numbers and impact with better playmaking

Better play-making than Mark Price? Wow...that would be impressive, considering his defensive value. And props to using a comp with a different body type and skin colour!

 

[illmatic99]

 

[THE HCP]

I wonder who made that video. At the beginning you saw the transition that says Nic's name and then it says 3rd quarter. At the end it just says Blazers. Those are called interstitials or stitials. I use those at the beginning and end of every package I do. I have NEVER in my life used a 3rd quarter stitial. Wonder who this person is and where they got it from.

 

[donkiez]

You guys all have it wrong, Batum is a one of a kind player who's skill and playing style will be used as a bench mark for future players.