If not at the 3, where would you play Batum

[BrianFromWA]

Let's assume that for whatever reason (like lack of a big, PG sucktitude, whatever) that Batum when healthy will play either the 4 in a small-ball lineup or the 1 (with Roy as the primary ball-handler along with either Webster or Rudy). Which, in your opinion, is better for our team?

 

[hasoos]

Batum did great running the French team while Parker was out. That was part of the reason I was excited to get to see him play this year...

 

[andalusian]

At this point in time - I would rather see him at the 1. He is fast enough to guard many PGs, not strong enough to guard many PFs.

 

[Minstrel]

Point guard. I think he can make life difficult for opposing point guards, which would be a really big deal. Roy would handle the distributing duties.

 

[Nikolokolus]

The only question here is who is he more capable of guarding? Clearly that is against guards. Real power forwards would back him down on post-ups every trip down the court

 

[ebott]

I said 4, he doesn't have the ball handling chops to play the 1 and he couldn't possibly be any worse on defense at the 4 than Outlaw.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Where team France had him starting:

SG

The Anti-Nelly ball

PG: Roy - 6'6"
SG: Batum - 6'8"
SF: Claver - 6'11"
PF: Aldridge - 6'11"
C: Oden - 7'0"

 

[shamelessblazer]

I like the thought of Batum/Rudy/Roy a lot. Batum guarding the best of the other team's 1/2/3 and Rudy and Roy taking the other two.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

2..

 

[Kaydow]

I like the thought of Batum/Rudy/Roy a lot. Batum guarding the best of the other team's 1/2/3 and Rudy and Roy taking the other two.

I can't decide if I like Rudy or Bayless better (long term)

Batum/Rudy/Roy - looks like a pretty good shooting line-up, but only Roy attacks the rim

Batum/Bayless/Roy - 2 guys who can attack the rim, perimeter shooting not as good

 

[B-Roy]

Seriously? Point?

 

[GoBlazersGo]

"You are whatever (position) you can guard."

Honestly, I think Batum's one of those players that you can throw out there at almost any position (other than center, of course) to help you win ball games... primarily due to his defensive versatitlity. I think he'd do just fine at the 1, 2, or 4 given the situational match-ups and the combination(s) of players that you're able to throw out on the floor with him.

 

[illmatic99]

Absolutely @ 1.

He has the speed to hang with PGs on defense, and has better handles than any other non-PG on this team outside of Roy. As mentioned above, if his play in Eurobasket is any indication, dude can play guard with BRoy on the ball.

 

[MARIS61]

He's a good 3, but I'd have to be desperate to play him elsewhere. He could play some SG against some teams but we'll never need him to.

PF's would abuse him and he has absolutely no PG skills of note.

 

[LJ Ginger]

He isn't a good enough dribbler with his left hand to consistently be the point and a ball handler. With practice, he could learn to play the 1 but why?

 

[SpanishFly]

Point guard. I think he can make life difficult for opposing point guards, which would be a really big deal. Roy would handle the distributing duties.

He and Brandon can share, Batum guards the opposing PG

 

[Blazed Mania 52]

"You are whatever (position) you can guard."

Honestly, I think Batum's one of those players that you can throw out there at almost any position (other than center, of course) to help you win ball games... primarily due to his defensive versatitlity. I think he'd do just fine at the 1, 2, or 4 given the situational match-ups and the combination(s) of players that you're able to throw out on the floor with him.

Diaw-esque.

 

[STOMP]

I'm looking forward to Nicolas playing with Rudy and Roy at the 3 small spots. Let the announcers decide what the position labels are.

STOMP

 

[Draco]

Tonight I'd have wanted him at the 4 since Oden/Pryz/LaMarcus/Outlaw are out. If the roster was healthy I'd rather see him at the 1.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Wait.. Why do people think Batum has handles?

 

[oldmangrouch]

Wait.. Why do people think Batum has handles?

His play on the French national team.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

His play on the French national team.

Oh, ok. Did he really have good handles or was it just a matter of circumstance?

 

[BrianFromWA]

For two years he was one of the primary playmakers on his French team. As a 17-18 y/o.

Last summer he played PG while Parker was out in the Euro Championships.

Don't mistake being handcuffed as a rookie with a lack of a skillset.

 

[alex42083]

I wouldn't mind seeing how Nicolas would work out at PG, with everything being said here about him playing playmaker on the French team. I'd love to go big with a Nicolas/Roy/Jerryd or Rudy backcourt with LA and Greg up front one of these days.

I'd have to be convinced that he could be a creator on offense though, but in terms of being a point forward like Scottie in his later years and what Tayshaun was for a bit, who just sets up the offense.. why not see if he could do it.

 

[RayDavies]

Definitely at the 1, between the options given. Batum hasn't really demonstrated an ability to get his own shot off, other than in transition situations. I think that would make it difficult for him to be very effective at exploiting a matchup against a bigger/stronger player on offense. On D I could see him guarding any but the quickest PGs, but his ball handling (although it appeared improved with the French team) would potentially be a liability, esp in setting up half court offense.

The reason Travis has been effective offensively against some opposing PFs is that he CAN get his own shot, and is enough of a dribbler to easily create space against larger players. The only way I could see Batum being effective is to spread the floor for 3's, although opposing teams would probably cover him with a player other than their PF if that's all he (hypothetically) would do.

I guess I would say 'either 1 or 4' could work if POR were a more uptempo team. The fact that this team hovers around the bottom of the league in pace makes me think he wouldn't be very effective at either position, unless we were playing a team without a ballhawking PG or a team running with an undersized 4.

Mostly, Nic should only be defending at those positions given his current skillset. (IMO)

 

[STOMP]

Definitely at the 1, between the options given. Batum hasn't really demonstrated an ability to get his own shot off, other than in transition situations. I think that would make it difficult for him to be very effective at exploiting a matchup against a bigger/stronger player on offense. On D I could see him guarding any but the quickest PGs, but his ball handling (although it appeared improved with the French team) would potentially be a liability, esp in setting up half court offense.

Tony Parker is a pretty quick PG, yet NB did have some impressive stretches guarding him last season.

The reason Travis has been effective offensively against some opposing PFs is that he CAN get his own shot, and is enough of a dribbler to easily create space against larger players

.
Travis is taller longer heavier and jumps higher too. Batum is more agile has much better ballhandling/passing skills. Neither is a great option at guarding a frontline bruising PF, but there are more that Travis can handle then Nic. Heres a link to the best measurements on NB that I'm aware of.

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/2008-Nike-Hoop-Summit-Official-Measurements,-plus-2007-Analysis/

STOMP