Batum hurt?

[Rastapopoulos]

Apparently the reason for Batum's scant minutes last night was that he was experiencing some pain. If he's re-injured that shoulder...

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Batum says he "tweaked it" but feels fine:

Batum tweaked his shoulder in the second quarter while playing defense on Ronnie Brewer and it was heavily bandaged after the game. Brewer made a sudden cut while he was running through the Jazz’ constantly-moving offense and ran directly into Batum’s shoulder.

With 8:38 left in the first half, Batum pulled himself from the game and headed straight for the Blazers’ locker room to get evaluated by assistant athletic trainer Geoff Clark. He missed the rest of the first half but played eight minutes, 29 seconds after halftime, finishing with eight points.

After the game, Batum called his injury “no big deal,” and said he intended to play Thursday night against the San Antonio Spurs at the Rose Garden. But Batum was annoyed at Brewer, saying the Jazz’ starting shooting guard went at his shoulder intentionally.

“I know he did it on purpose because he tries to get me every time,” Batum said. “Last game, he did the same.”

 

[maxiep]

This is what I hate about the NBA. In the old days, you would have had someone like Mo Lucas to deliver a cheap shot to Brewer as a warning not to hit Nico's shoulder again.

 

[julius]

That's why one of our big men needs to start knocking opposing players on their asses.

 

[Nate Dogg]

We need Pendergraph to get in their faces.

 

[oldguy]

This is where the team is missing Joel big time. Joel would make sure that Brewer got the message.

Go Blazers

 

[Wheels]

who was it who Pendergraph knocked on his ass last night? I cant remember.

 

[Sedatedfork]

who was it who Pendergraph knocked on his ass last night? I cant remember.

I thought it was CJ Miles, but I'm not sure.

 

[Wheels]

I thought it was CJ Miles, but I'm not sure.

you may be right.. thanks But I absolutely loved that it happened!

 

[handiman]

We need Pendergraph to get in their faces.

Ironic, seeing as it was Pendergraph that basically went at Batum's sore shoulder his first day back of regular practice. Not much difference between that and what Brewer did in the game.

 

[Boob-No-More]

When this happens, we need one of our bigs to step up and deliver a moving pick that keeps on moving the very next time down the court. I'm talking a hard pick, from the blind side with arms up and elbows out - literally run over the guy from behind. As long as there are no punches, elbows thrown or blows to the head, it won't be called a flagrant foul, but it will send a message - you go after one of our guys, I'm coming after you.

BNM

 

[THE HCP]

Ironic, seeing as it was Pendergraph that basically went at Batum's sore shoulder his first day back of regular practice. Not much difference between that and what Brewer did in the game.

What are you talking about?

 

[julius]

What are you talking about?

Yah Willis, what you talkin' about?

 

[mook]

A small part of me is actually relieved about this news. It means Batum was having an off-game for a reason. This was definitely his worst game since returning.

 

[Minstrel]

A small part of me is actually relieved about this news. It means Batum was having an off-game for a reason. This was definitely his worst game since returning.

I didn't see the game, but he seemed to have had as efficient a game as the others. The main negative was not many minutes. He went 3-3 (2-2 from three-point territory) for 8 points, with a couple of boards and no turnovers in only 14 minutes.

Was his defense lacking?

 

[mook]

I didn't see the game, but he seemed to have had as efficient a game as the others. The main negative was not many minutes. He went 3-3 (2-2 from three-point territory) for 8 points, with a couple of boards and no turnovers in only 14 minutes.

Was his defense lacking?

He just seemed as though he were frozen out of the game. Play after play was some sequence of Blake/Aldridge/Pendergraph, without Batum even touching the ball. He just seemed camped out in a corner on the far side of everything, and he wasn't active in making himself more involved. He hit shots when it was swung to him, but he just wasn't that aggressive.

In hindsight I think he and his teammates realized he was hurt and really shouldn't be asked to do much more on the offensive end. It makes sense now, but at the time I was pretty frustrated.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

When this happens, we need one of our bigs to step up and deliver a moving pick that keeps on moving the very next time down the court. I'm talking a hard pick, from the blind side with arms up and elbows out - literally run over the guy from behind. As long as there are no punches, elbows thrown or blows to the head, it won't be called a flagrant foul, but it will send a message - you go after one of our guys, I'm coming after you.

BNM

"They pull a knife, you pull a gun. They put one of yours in the hospital, you put one of theirs in the morgue. That's the Blazer way"

 

[THE HCP]

He just seemed to be kind of floating more then normal.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

I didn't see the game, but he seemed to have had as efficient a game as the others. The main negative was not many minutes. He went 3-3 (2-2 from three-point territory) for 8 points, with a couple of boards and no turnovers in only 14 minutes.

Was his defense lacking?

I think it was more he just wasn't involving himself at all like we had seen in the last several games.