Batum undercuts his own defenders

[Rastapopoulos]

Every Summer when a lot of European players opt to play for their national teams, there's a significant number of US fans who bitch and moan about how they're not doing what's right for the teams that pay their salary. "They should be working on their games instead!" say these complainers: "They'll have more injuries in the NBA season!" And people like me defend people like Batum and say STFU, it hasn't hurt Tony Parker, etc.

And then Batum goes and says this:

By simply observing the stats sheet, one would come to the conclusion that he wasn’t engaged. This media publication did. There might be more to it. Batum says last night wasn’t a case of him just not showing up, it was due to defenses playing him differently.
“The last three, four games people are really pushing me to my left hand,” Batum said. “Last year they let me play how I wanted to play on both ends and now they’re denying my right hand so I have to go left. I’m not really used to it. I didn’t really work on it. I tried to work on it this summer but I was in real-game situations so it was hard to do that. Creating jump-shots on my left side will be the next step for me.”

Well... at least he's honest...

 

[illmatic99]

Saw this last night, and just shook my head. WTF, man.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

You'd think he'd be used to being forced to the left living in a liberal city like Portland.

 

[BlazerWookee]

Good thing he's genetically predisposed to keeping his hands up on defense.

BTW, that's quite possibly the funniest thing maxiep has ever said.

 

[magnifier661]

I think as a fan base, we really need to see improvement to the next level. He should definitely be our third best player, and at times, he's shown he can be that man. My biggest beef is he reminds me of one of those players that is content with his natural talent. If he developed more than "driving right", like slashing or post up offense, he would be in argument for our second best player.

 

[HailBlazers]

Well... at least he's honest...

Word.

 

[Strenuus]

I think as a fan base, we really need to see improvement to the next level. He should definitely be our third best player, and at times, he's shown he can be that man. My biggest beef is he reminds me of one of those players that is content with his natural talent. If he developed more than "driving right", like slashing or post up offense, he would be in argument for our second best player.

He's defintely there consistently as the most frustrating player on the team. I really like him, but it's sure waning.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

15 every night would be way better than 22 one night and 8 the next

 

[FromWayDownTownBang]

15 every night would be way better than 22 one night and 8 the next

Agreed

 

[Natebishop3]

I've accepted who Batum is, just like I've accepted Aldridge. I don't think Nic is going to be much of a scorer. He's a versatile player who fills up the stat sheet. That's what he does.