If Batum stays, should we rest him?

[Draco]

Resting a healthy player for more than a game is a bad idea. He would get out of game shape and be more susceptible to injuries. If we want to limit his minutes to 30mpg and have him sit out back to backs it could work well. It would improve our defense if the guys could be more intense the minutes they are on the court. I'm doubtful it would happen but I would be very intrigued to see it.

Another change I want is stop having LaMarcus play an entire quarter. They went away from that in the playoffs since he was tired defending Zach. Let's see him bring that defensive effort in the regular season with an extra breather in the first and third quarters.

 

[OneLifeToLive]

Not alright with it. Neither is Nic Batum if you listen to his presser.

Talking points.

 

[blue32]

Why do we rest Nic Batum? We freaking pay him a ton to play for us, not gallivant around in other leagues.

If we rest him, he deserves to take a cut in pay!

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

He's beat down by the time training camp starts.

Conflict of interest here with Team France. Nic has no problem cashing his checks though.

 

[Tunchi]

I hate batum like everyone else but isn't he resting from now till August? That's like damn near 3 months. What's the big deal if he plays for two weeks in France that's not even starting in another 3 months?

I don't get what the big deal is? Lol

 

[blue32]

I hate batum like everyone else but isn't he resting from now till August? That's like damn near 3 months. What's the big deal if he plays for two weeks in France that's not even starting in another 3 months?

I don't get what the big deal is? Lol

The big deal is he always complains to the media about him being tired or not having enough rest because he doesn't take enough days off after the NBA season. (When asked why he sucks).

I may be paraphrasing there , but that is the general gist of it.

 

[BBert]

I hate batum like everyone else but isn't he resting from now till August? That's like damn near 3 months. What's the big deal if he plays for two weeks in France that's not even starting in another 3 months?

I don't get what the big deal is? Lol

I don't hate Batum.

I do think Nic has let himself get run down by not having taken any time off since he was 19 years old (or before), and playing competitively overseas every year. And I am well on record as saying I don't like it.

But I agree with you that if he does in fact take some much needed time off, the couple of weeks of playing in France shouldn't be a big deal. Moreover, he is going to need some run to get in shape and get tuned up for training camp.

 

[magnifier661]

I hate batum like everyone else but isn't he resting from now till August? That's like damn near 3 months. What's the big deal if he plays for two weeks in France that's not even starting in another 3 months?

I don't get what the big deal is? Lol

In previous years, Batum does more than just play 2 weeks in the world games. He said that there is a lot of pre-training events that he did as well. If he only played the 2 week series, I don't think anyone truly has a problem with that.

 

[blue9]

I suspect that as Nic gets older he'll play for France less and less (see Tony Parker). This seems to be the first year that Nic will actually be taking a (small) step back from his national commitment. We'll see how it pays off next season - I suspect he'll be much better than he was this past season. It would be foolish to trade him now. However, if he comes back next season and is still shooting 30% then we can trade him at the deadline - he'll have just as much value then as he does now, and possibly more.
I'm not a fan - AT ALL - of NBA players playing for their national teams. But a lot of you have a double standard, where you laud Lillard for playing (or wanting to play) for Team USA but vilify Nic for playing for France. Can't have it both ways.

 

[tester551]

Also see where he had an run-in with one of our coaches in the last playoff game when they tried to give him advice - and he angrily responded " He knew what he was doing". Arrogance that he fully believes the way he is playing and conducting himself - is the correct way for the teams success. Team plans and philosophy be damned.

I didn't see this or see this reported anywhere. Do you have any documentation that it happened?

 

[jlprk]

The thread assumes that Batum's bland playing derives from 1) fatigue and injuries from summer games in France, but there are 3 other theories. 2) He just isn't as good of a player as we think or he thinks (he demands to play like a PG). 3) The summer season in France prevents him from working on skill improvement every summer, like an NBA player should do.

I don't have any evidence to support this but is it possible his problem is not needing more rest but needing more conditioning, more strength (not adding bulk) and more working on his skills. This is really my objection to playing with France, takes time away from what he should really be working on. I think he is one player on the team who is not continually working on being better (although Lopez might be in the same boat or could be so athletically limited than he can't improve much). I am ready to let go of him if we can get something good in return.

4) Stotts plays the starters to exhaustion, and Batum is the most susceptible because his game is all about running around like a rabbit all day.

We have Terry "Play the starters until we're up 30 or down 30, then with 2 minutes left, I'll make a decision based on a rabbit in the rafters twiddling his nose to give me the cue to take out the starters" Stotts.

 

[magnifier661]

I suspect that as Nic gets older he'll play for France less and less (see Tony Parker). This seems to be the first year that Nic will actually be taking a (small) step back from his national commitment. We'll see how it pays off next season - I suspect he'll be much better than he was this past season. It would be foolish to trade him now. However, if he comes back next season and is still shooting 30% then we can trade him at the deadline - he'll have just as much value then as he does now, and possibly more.
I'm not a fan - AT ALL - of NBA players playing for their national teams. But a lot of you have a double standard, where you laud Lillard for playing (or wanting to play) for Team USA but vilify Nic for playing for France. Can't have it both ways.

There is a bit of difference of Team USA because the entire roster are starter material. On team France, their starting 5 actually plays starter minutes. In team USA, the starters play limited minutes.

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

This.

Plus, fuck Raymond Felton.

Yes. Right in the donut hole.

 

[BBert]

4) Stotts plays the starters to exhaustion, and Batum is the most susceptible because his game is all about running around like a rabbit all day.

This is exactly right. A couple of years ago I believe I read that Batum put more miles on the court than any other player in the league.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

This is exactly right. A couple of years ago I believe I read that Batum put more miles on the court than any other player in the league.

Yep. SportVue (or SportVu) tracking. It was last year. This year I think Lillard might have won.

 

[HailBlazers]

3) The summer season in France prevents him from working on skill improvement every summer, like an NBA player should do.

Honestly, other than risk of injury, this is my biggest complaint. Nic could seriously benefit from some added polish and new offensive moves.