Batum last night

[Natebishop3]

There was an interesting debate going on in the game thread about Nic's performance last night.

Some were unhappy with his shooting and his turnovers.

Honestly, I completely agree that some of those passes were just mind boggling, BUT I am encouraged. Since day one some of the people on here have compared Nic to Scottie Pippen, and I didn't see it because Pip had one of the best all-around games in the history of the NBA.

Batum is starting to get there.

Did he shoot poorly? Yes.

Did he make some bad passes? Yes.

But he also made some damn good passes. He's looking for his teammates, he's rebounding the ball, he's playing defense, and he's doing more than just shooting threes. I think Stotts has really gotten to him in a way that Nate McMillan never did. Nate always had him sitting in a corner waiting for the ball, while Stotts has encouraged him to do other things and expand his game.

I am very encouraged by how Nic is playing this season. Points are important, but what he has been providing is so much more valuable to the team.

Last night he had 9 boards, 8 assists, 2 steals, and 13 points. Normally he'd add one or two blocks to that line. I think Nic is a legit threat to put up a triple double on any given night. That's special.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

And thanks to David Kahn, we have him locked up long term!

 

[Natebishop3]

And thanks to David Kahn, we have him locked up long term!

You have to wonder what kind of effect Stotts has had on Batum though.

 

[Boise Blazer]

You have to wonder what kind of effect Stotts has had on Batum though.

You also cant help but wonder where Batum might be at this point if Nate had developed him better

 

[Natebishop3]

You also cant help but wonder where Batum might be at this point if Nate had developed him better

If Nate had developed him at all. Instead he just said, "get in the corner and wait for the ball".

 

[magnifier661]

You have to wonder what kind of effect Stotts has had on Batum though.

I think so. It's pretty clear Batum has a green light. That's something Nate never gave him. With each game that "green light" is vastly improving his confidence.

 

[RR7]

I said either in pre-season, or VERY early on, I wasn't too concerned about his scoring. While it was nice, I always knew he could get hot and score 30 points on any given night. What I wanted to see was more playmaking and more playmaking responsibilities. He's averaging a career high 3.8 assists per game, and is over 5 in December. That little side of the lane pick and roll he has working with Hickson has been great, and probably where he gets a big chunk of his assists. It's the one aspect of his game I really wanted to see improve, and it has, considerably.
So last night, he had a poor shooting night, had turnovers, but sitting at the game, I wasn't concerned about those as much as I was pleased with his passing overall. His AST% is over double his previous career high.

 

[BBert]

Nate didn't just 'not develop' Batum, IMO he hindered him. Nico was born for the kind of all around game he's been playing, especially racking up the assists.

Despite a few missed shots and some dicey passes, no way we win last night without Batum -- and Lillard and Hickson and LaMarcus. But I'm sure each of them 'sucked ass' in someone's eyes. C'est la vie.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I'm encouraged. I didn't get to watch the game, so I can't comment on last night specifically, but I truly believe that the best way to get better at something is to experiment and push your boundaries to the edge (and beyond) your comfort zone. Perhaps Nic ought not to play on the bleeding edge of his capabilities, but the only way to find out is to push himself.

If he's still making boneheaded passes and doing more harm than good a year from now playing like this, then maybe he should pull back, but for now -- especially in a "rebuilding" year like this one -- he should be trying to grow himself as a player.

In the end I think I'm happier to watch aggressive but sloppy Nic over passive and safe Nic.

 

[Natebishop3]

I just think it's funny because everyone is willing to give Dame a pass on TOs, but Nic is starting to add some playmaking to his game and he gets ridiculed for making TOs.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I just think it's funny because everyone is willing to give Dame a pass on TOs, but Nic is starting to add some playmaking to his game and he gets ridiculed for making TOs.

You won't hear it from me ...

 

[Boise Blazer]

Some of the all time great assist guys are up there with turnovers too. You have to take chances. Overall it makes your teammates better.

 

[tlongII]

He was horrible last night! He played better in the 2nd half, but overall it was a bad game for him. His 1st 4 TO's were absolutely cover your eyes stupid! Hey I love the guy, but let's call a spade a spade.

 

[tlongII]

I just watched a replay of the game and my opinion has not changed.

 

[Nikolokolus]

He was horrible last night! He played better in the 2nd half, but overall it was a bad game for him. His 1st 4 TO's were absolutely cover your eyes stupid! Hey I love the guy, but let's call a spade a spade.

Super. Thanks for sharing.

 

[tlongII]

Super. Thanks for sharing.

My pleasure.

 

[HailBlazers]

He was horrible last night!

And that speaks to the point of this thread, he had a bad game and flirted with a triple double.

 

[tlongII]

And that speaks to the point of this thread, he had a bad game and flirted with a triple double.

True. I think he's a great player.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Batum is a renaissance man; he can give you some scoring, with shots from anywhere, he can get you some defense with steals and good lateral movement. He can recover a fast break with amazing blocks. He manages to get some essential rebounds in crunch time. He's a little wild and turns the ball over trying to get cute sometimes, but for all he gives you, the turnovers are well worth it. Even his "bad" games are starting to fill up the stat columns now.

He's like our Ichiro.

 

[HailBlazers]

He's like our Ichiro.

He's like our second best player...

1.lillard (sure to be)
2.batum
3.aldridge

 

[BigGameDamian]

I hope Mathews is out the next few games I would like to see how the team plays more without him. I really want to see Batum at the SG spot that's his best position and he showed it last year. Batum would be one of the top SG in the NBA. Clyde came into the NBA as a SF. I would not mind starting Babbitt at the SF and putting Nic at SG.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

I hope Mathews is out the next few games I would like to see how the team plays more without him. I really want to see Batum at the SG spot that's his best position and he showed it last year. Batum would be one of the top SG in the NBA. Clyde came into the NBA as a SF. I would not mind starting Babbitt at the SF and putting Nic at SG.

If you are looking to play players in their best position then Babbitt's best position is PF. Not that we would play him there for any length of time.

 

[illmatic99]

I absolutely loved his game. I don't know what tlong is smoking but shit. The guy was all over the place and his aggressiveness on on the ball d is crazy. Dude is finally learning how to effectively use his length. He made some dumbass passes, but I can overlook that because he's looking for his teammates. His bball IQ has always been good but it shows even more when he is used the way Stotts is using him.

 

[BBert]

You hope Matthews is out? So we can play more Price, Claver and Pavlovic? (Shudder) I don't need to see more how the team plays with these guys in important roles.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

I absolutely loved his game. I don't know what tlong is smoking but shit. The guy was all over the place and his aggressiveness on on the ball d is crazy. Dude is finally learning how to effectively use his length. He made some dumbass passes, but I can overlook that because he's looking for his teammates. His bball IQ has always been good but it shows even more when he is used the way Stotts is using him.

I think Batum's basketball IQ has always been low. He doesn't do the right things at the right time. Every time he actually tries to drive and create out of an iso situation he absolutely sucks ass, he always has and he always will. You guys should be attributing those assists to Stotts.

 

[RoyToy]

He's settling for the 3 more than ever right now. It's stupid to watch. 36 of his last 49 FGA have been 3's.

And he's shooting like shit.

It must be Nate's fault.

 

[WillG]

Despite some good numbers that last game, it was a poor showing for Batum.
Those turnovers were some of the worst passes I've seen in at least a decade. Terrible.

He needs to go back to the physical play in the key, like the first few games of the season where he was rebounding and creating off of cuts.
No more camping at the three point line Batum, you're better than that! ( and getting paid appropriately)

 

[PapaG]

He was horrible last night! He played better in the 2nd half, but overall it was a bad game for him. His 1st 4 TO's were absolutely cover your eyes stupid! Hey I love the guy, but let's call a spade a spade.

13 points/9 rebounds/8 assists/+8 for the game, best of any starter.

Do some of you even watch basketball? I really don't get it.

 

[jlprk]

To those reading this in the future, what is unstated in this thread is that last night, Batum had 7 turnovers.

To those in the present, only 7 players this season have had 7 or more turnovers at least twice.

http://bkref.com/tiny/oBKSD

 

[tlongII]

13 points/9 rebounds/8 assists/+8 for the game, best of any starter.

Do some of you even watch basketball? I really don't get it.

7 turnovers and 33% shooting. Do you know anything about basketball?