Hopefully France ISO's Batum this Summer

[HailBlazers]

Nicolas Batum announces decision to play in basketball World Cup

With a little polish on his ball handling and post up skills, Nic could really take his game up another notch.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Damn, I was hoping he takes the summer off.

 

[THE HCP]

I'm with ya Sly. We got lucky with injuries this season or lack of them. Let's not push it.


Sent from my stolen iPad FAMS!

 

[Mediocre Man]

WORK ON BALL HANDLING.

Oh my god we need another guy or two to be able to take someone off the damn dribble

 

[VanillaGorilla]

WORK ON BALL HANDLING.

Oh my god we need another guy or two to be able to take someone off the damn dribble

YES PLEASE

 

[OneLifeToLive]

This issue is...he has played year round basketball every year since he has been in the league. He doesn't give his body and mind a break. He's been very lucky he hasn't suffered any kind of injuries. I also wonder how much all this playing take it's course on him through out the regular season and playoffs. Would he have more in the tank if wasn't playing year round. At what point does it become a conflict of interest for the Portland Trail Blazers and people that pay him the big bucks to produce.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I see the tournament is only the first two weeks of September. How much time is spent playing before the tournament?
Two weeks is nothing, but I assume they play the whole month of August as well?

 

[dviss1]

This issue is...he has played year round basketball every year since he has been in the league. He doesn't give his body and mind a break. He's been very lucky he hasn't suffered any kind of injuries. I also wonder how much all this playing take it's course on him through out the regular season and playoffs. Would he have more in the tank if wasn't playing year round. At what point does it become a conflict of interest for the Portland Trail Blazers and people that pay him the big bucks to produce.

Barring him from playing is just never gonna happen. You don't tell a guy he can't play for his country. So why complain about it? Lillard and LMA will be playing for team USA soon. There's nothing we can do about it but root for them.

 

[jlprk]

What about Meyers Leonard getting injured during his 2 Summer League weeks? What happens to his development if he can never shoot again?

 

[riverman]

What about Meyers Leonard getting injured during his 2 Summer League weeks? What happens to his development if he can never shoot again?

One of your best posts ever jlprk!

 

[riverman]

I'm glad Nic is going to play for France because he'll have a chance to convince Diaw to play with the Blazers and he'll get some more Tony Parker ball handling lessons. Didn't hurt his game this year and you know, he actually loves to play basketball. Good for his shooting touch and conditioning. He's still a really young guy.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

If it wasn't for Batum playing in France we wouldn't've known what he could do all the years that McMillan was coaching him.

I'm glad Nic is going to play for France because he'll have a chance to convince Diaw to play with the Blazers and he'll get some more Tony Parker ball handling lessons. Didn't hurt his game this year and you know, he actually loves to play basketball. Good for his shooting touch and conditioning. He's still a really young guy.

Maybe also Kevin Seraphim, who is probably in our free agent price range.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

What about Meyers Leonard getting injured during his 2 Summer League weeks? What happens to his development if he can never shoot again?

Don't you know that that's the plan? That way they can cut him without having to admit that drafting him was a huge blunder.

 

[BBert]

This issue is...he has played year round basketball every year since he has been in the league. He doesn't give his body and mind a break. He's been very lucky he hasn't suffered any kind of injuries. I also wonder how much all this playing take it's course on him through out the regular season and playoffs. Would he have more in the tank if wasn't playing year round. At what point does it become a conflict of interest for the Portland Trail Blazers and people that pay him the big bucks to produce.

I agree with you. And I think the mental fatigue has been more of a problem for Nico than physical fatigue, and is the reason for many fans' dissatisfaction with his 'consistency'. RE injuries: He did have shoulder labrum surgery a few years back, and he's seemingly had a spell of nagging minor injuries that affect his productivity pretty much every season. He's no longer 19 years old. He needs to take a damn vacation.

 

[BBert]

I'm glad Nic is going to play for France because he'll have a chance to convince Diaw to play with the Blazers and he'll get some more Tony Parker ball handling lessons. Didn't hurt his game this year and you know, he actually loves to play basketball. Good for his shooting touch and conditioning. He's still a really young guy.

Those are pretty decent reasons. I have to admit that playing with Parker last summer and taking on more of a leadership role on the France team seemed to help his game.

 

[OneLifeToLive]

I agree with you. And I think the mental fatigue has been more of a problem for Nico than physical fatigue, and is the reason for many fans' dissatisfaction with him 'consistency'. RE injuries: He did have shoulder labrum surgery a few years back, and he's seemingly had a spell of nagging minor injuries that affect his productivity pretty much every season. He's no longer 19 years old. He needs to take a damn vacation.

Agree.

 

[dviss1]

I'm glad Nic is going to play for France because he'll have a chance to convince Diaw to play with the Blazers and he'll get some more Tony Parker ball handling lessons. Didn't hurt his game this year and you know, he actually loves to play basketball. Good for his shooting touch and conditioning. He's still a really young guy.

Do you really think Nic can talk him into coming here before Parker can talk him into staying in SAS?

 

[RoyToy]

Only if France wants to lose

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Who's Batum going to nut-punch this year?

 

[BBert]

Who's Batum going to nut-punch this year?

Freeland?

Is Joel playing in some euro-whatever-tourney this summer?

 

[dviss1]

Who's Batum going to nut-punch this year?

Hopefully another one of those Spaniards (really hate that team cept for Sergio). Rudy! YEP! He should punch Rudy....