Blazers' Batum blossoms on France's national team

[PapaG]

Solid read by Freeman in the O.

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2009/09/blazers_batum_blossoms_on_fran.html

Blazers' Batum blossoms on France's national team
Posted by Joe Freeman, The Oregonian September 14, 2009 16:19PM
Categories: Nicolas Batum

The Trail Blazers' offseason has been sprinkled with contract negotiations, free agent pursuits and rehabilitating players. But through all the newsmaking endeavors, an equally noteworthy event has developed quietly thousands of miles from Portland.

Nicolas Batum, fresh off his breakout rookie season, has shown both maturation and an improved game this summer during high-level international competition in Europe.

Batum, who starts alongside fellow NBA players Tony Parker, Ronny Turiaf and Boris Diaw on the French national team, has displayed increased confidence, a newfound aggressive nature and versatility while playing in EuroBasket, a premier international tournament.

"The best players in the league are always trying to add something to their games (in the offseason)," Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard said. "You're either getting better or getting worse. Well, I really feel like he's gotten better."

When training camp opens in two weeks, the Blazers figure to have three starting positions up for grabs -- point guard, small forward and center. Batum will compete with veteran Martell Webster to retain the starting spot at small forward he unexpectedly earned about this time a year ago.

And heading into camp, coach Nate McMillan says, Batum is the favorite.

Although reports from Blazers workouts suggest that Webster has looked phenomenal in recent weeks during pickup games at the practice facility, the fact remains that the one-time starter missed virtually all of last season with a foot injury and only last month was cleared to resume full basketball activities.

... continued at link

 

[BenDavis503]

I would be very disappointed if Nic isn't starting. He is pretty much my favorite Blazer!

 

[Mediocre Man]

I would be very disappointed if Nic isn't starting. He is pretty much my favorite Blazer!

Nate said he isn't going to mess with the starters. If Webster starts over Batum, but Blake and Joel stay starters then McMillan will have once again have talked out of his ass.

 

[PapaG]

Nate said he isn't going to mess with the starters. If Webster starts over Batum, but Blake and Joel stay starters then McMillan will have once again have talked out of his ass.

Nate never said that other than he knows the starters on Day One of camp. That line-up could change by Day Two of camp, couldn't it?

 

[Foulzilla]

Nate said he isn't going to mess with the starters. If Webster starts over Batum, but Blake and Joel stay starters then McMillan will have once again have talked out of his ass.

Where did you hear this? I heard him say that last year starters are still the starters until proven otherwise. You have to beat them in training camp to take their spot. This is in no way talking out your ass.

 

[Further]

my favorite quote from the article.

"Last year he blended, did whatever Nate asked and whatever the team needed," Pritchard said. "(Now) he's showing that he can make more plays. He looks a little bigger and even a little more athletic and you know how athletic he is.

Everything he has going for him already, and now to become even more athletic, wow. And I love that he really seems to be building the repertoire of a complete player. Where will his holes be in 3 years?

 

[Boob-No-More]

I would be very disappointed if Nic isn't starting. He is pretty much my favorite Blazer!

I don't think it will happen, but if Webster beats Nic out for the starting spot, it would be great for the team because it will mean that as much as Nic has improved over the summer, Webster has improved even more.

Again, I doubt it will happen, but if it does, if Webster does outplay Batum and earn the starting spot, we would be stacked at SF with two young studs.

BNM

 

[Mediocre Man]

Where did you hear this? I heard him say that last year starters are still the starters until proven otherwise. You have to beat them in training camp to take their spot. This is in no way talking out your ass.

Never once has McMillan said they are the starters until proven otherwise. if so, I am sorry. What he has said is that he does not want to mess with the starters because they won 54 games. Brandon even questioned him on it. Nate told Brandon that Blake and Joel were starting. He has said over and over that the starters from last year will be the same.

 

[PapaG]

Never once has McMillan said they are the starters until proven otherwise. if so, I am sorry. What he has said is that he does not want to mess with the starters because they won 54 games. Brandon even questioned him on it. Nate told Brandon that Blake and Joel were starting. He has said over and over that the starters from last year will be the same.

We need to have some sort of S2 bet on this. If the line-up on 10/27 differs from the end of last year, I win. If the line-up is the same, you win. If injury influences a line-up change, nobody wins.


What is the prize?

 

[Mediocre Man]

We need to have some sort of S2 bet on this. If the line-up on 10/27 differs from the end of last year, I win. If the line-up is the same, you win. If injury influences a line-up change, nobody wins.


What is the prize?

I think it will change. I am just saying that that is not what Nate said. Nate said the starters on his 54 win team would not change.

 

[PapaG]

I think it will change. I am just saying that that is not what Nate said. Nate said the starters on his 54 win team would not change.

So what? I agree with that, at least when camp opens. Taking that literally makes it appear to me like you are inventing a criticism, especially if you also feel the line-up will be changed. Oden will start and Miller will start. Those are the changes I predict at this point.

 

[Foulzilla]

Never once has McMillan said they are the starters until proven otherwise. if so, I am sorry. What he has said is that he does not want to mess with the starters because they won 54 games. Brandon even questioned him on it. Nate told Brandon that Blake and Joel were starting. He has said over and over that the starters from last year will be the same.

The exact quote from here:

Still, McMillan said Steve Blake will enter training camp as the starting point guard, ahead of Miller. "Hey, that team last season won 54 games,'' McMillan said.

Enter training camp. So again, I ask where you heard he definitely wasn't going to change the starters?

 

[Eastoff]

Where did you hear this? I heard him say that last year starters are still the starters until proven otherwise. You have to beat them in training camp to take their spot. This is in no way talking out your ass.

I heard it as well that Batum's starting spot would be his to lose. I can't phrase this as I want in my mind, but basically he would be the starter by default.

 

[mgb]

I heard it as well that Batum's starting spot would be his to lose. I can't phrase this as I want in my mind, but basically he would be the starter by default.

It's his to lose, but he could lose it. That's not saying he's starting no matter what as MM seems to be implying.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I heard it as well that Batum's starting spot would be his to lose. I can't phrase this as I want in my mind, but basically he would be the starter by default.

I remember that Batum said he was told this (or something like that) during his exit interview . . . but I could be wrong.

Who is the poster who constantly updates us on Nic's blog entires (cool posts) . . . he/she probably knows off the top of their head.


That being said . . . clearly every position except SG and PF are wide open this training camp.

 

[Eastoff]

well I think I have an idea who is going to be our SF.
<----

 

[Mediocre Man]

The exact quote from here:



Enter training camp. So again, I ask where you heard he definitely wasn't going to change the starters?

That is A quote, not THE quote. Nate has also said several times that he sees no reason to change his starting lineup because the team won 54 games with it.

Then there is the exchange with Brandon B. Roy: "I called Coach [McMillan] + he said Andre and Greg are coming off the bench. I said, 'Coach, you sure about that?' He said, 'Yeah!'

 

[PapaG]

That is A quote, not THE quote. Nate has also said several times that he sees no reason to change his starting lineup because the team won 54 games with it.

Then there is the exchange with Brandon B. Roy: "I called Coach [McMillan] + he said Andre and Greg are coming off the bench. I said, 'Coach, you sure about that?' He said, 'Yeah!'

So, you admit you don't think the starting line-up will be the same as last year, yet you continue to push your criticism of McMillan.

I have to stop listening to you regarding Nate at this point.

 

[Foulzilla]

Then there is the exchange with Brandon B. Roy: "I called Coach [McMillan] + he said Andre and Greg are coming off the bench. I said, 'Coach, you sure about that?' He said, 'Yeah!'

I provided a link to back up my claim. Where is yours?

 

[Mediocre Man]

I provided a link to back up my claim. Where is yours?

It's been in Blazers edge, the Oregonian, the Columbian, Dwight Jaynes blog.......I'm sure you can find it.

 

[Foulzilla]

It's been in Blazers edge, the Oregonian, the Columbian, Dwight Jaynes blog.......I'm sure you can find it.

So you don't have one? I provided one from the Oregonian on this specific subject. You have the burden of proof here, as you're making the assertion.

 

[Mediocre Man]

So you don't have one? I provided one from the Oregonian on this specific subject. You have the burden of proof here, as you're making the assertion.

http://www.blazersedge.com/2009/8/11/985363/the-next-steps-for-brandon-roy

[QUOTE"I think it's an open race," Roy stated, before laughing as he recounted his first conversation with Coach McMillan after the Miller signing, "First thing when I called Coach, he said Andre and Greg are coming off the bench. I said, 'Coach, you sure about that?' He said, "Yeah! We won 54 games with this team. That's what we are going to go in with."][/QUOTE]

If you didn't see them, then oh well. If you saw them and are just being an ass, then oh well.


I know Nate has said other things as well, but he stated as fact, that he is not changing the starting lineup that won 54 games. We have even had a few topics about it in this forum.

 

[mgb]

http://www.blazersedge.com/2009/8/11/985363/the-next-steps-for-brandon-roy

[QUOTE"I think it's an open race," Roy stated, before laughing as he recounted his first conversation with Coach McMillan after the Miller signing, "First thing when I called Coach, he said Andre and Greg are coming off the bench. I said, 'Coach, you sure about that?' He said, "Yeah! We won 54 games with this team. That's what we are going to go in with."]

If you didn't see them, then oh well. If you saw them and are just being an ass, then oh well.


I know Nate has said other things as well, but he stated as fact, that he is not changing the starting lineup that won 54 games. We have even had a few topics about it in this forum.

The bold is the important part and what others have said. Most likely he means going into TC which matches his other statements.

 

[Mediocre Man]

The bold is the important part and what others have said. Most likely he means going into TC which matches his other statements.

In could easily mean the season as well. You are reading into his words. "Andre and Greg are coming off the bench" is pretty much something you can't read into.


Like I said, I can't imagine Miller not starting, but I am going by what Nate has said this entire off season.

 

[Natebishop3]

My favorite part of the article:

All the while, he's played multiple positions -- including point guard -- in helping France advance to the championship round.

Point guard eh?

 

[mgb]

In could easily mean the season as well. You are reading into his words. "Andre and Greg are coming off the bench" is pretty much something you can't read into.


Like I said, I can't imagine Miller not starting, but I am going by what Nate has said this entire off season.

I think you're the one trying to read into his words what you want because you are trying to find something negative about Nate. He didn't say at any time that when it's the opening game of the reg season that we are going with the same starters. It should be obvious to anyone that he means going into TC and then as others has said competition will determine who will start. That doesn't mean Nate might not decide he'd rather have Miller coming off the bench, but TC will tell.

 

[Foulzilla]

If you didn't see them, then oh well. If you saw them and are just being an ass, then oh well.

If you think people asking for more information on your claims is being an ass, you must really hate most forum users. You're the one who was calling out McMillan based on a supposed quote of his. As is, I think you're reading more into that quote than is there, which is why I specifically wanted a link instead of something phrased in your own words. Thank you for providing it so I could see for myself. Based on this quote, I still think its unreasonable for you to say:

Nate said he isn't going to mess with the starters. If Webster starts over Batum, but Blake and Joel stay starters then McMillan will have once again have talked out of his ass.

It seems to me you were twisting the quote in an attempt to take a shot at McMillan. Nowhere in that quote does it say he won't mess with his starters. Roy even says in the quote you provided:

I think it's an open race

 

[mook]

I never actually saw that article, so thanks for posting it. It's pretty obvious that Roy thinks it's an open competition to see who starts from that article.

Here's the Pritchard quote that interested me most:

Here's what's going to happen in my mind: Andre, Steve, Rudy and Brandon will be a leadership group so to speak. Now they all have some experience, right? They've all been in the trenches. I want to see them as a group lead the organization, lead the team. Because as backcourt guys it's a little bit easier. That doesn't mean LaMarcus doesn't have a hand. But I believe in a collective responsibility.

Kind of funny to see Rudy, a guy who's only played one year in the NBA, referred to as a team leader. I definitely don't have a problem with it. But where else do you see a 24 year old sophomore bench player being defined in a leadership role? Maybe on a 25 win team, but not 54.