Inside the Hive | Nic Batum

[BBert]

I think now that the 5 starters are pretty much gone, he kind of has to play as many as he can.

He played the 5 starters so much because we had no bench. Now, we have a bench but not 5 quality starters.

The drop off from starters to bench players, leads to more minutes for the starters, and contributes to a lot of the slacking we see throughout NBA games. The Blazers should take advantage of our dirth of quality starters by expending max energy on defense, lots of player movement on offense, and rotating fresh bodies into the games. If we can't out talent the other team lets out hustle them and wear them out.

 

[riverman]

The drop off from starters to bench players, leads to more minutes for the starters, and contributes to a lot of the slacking we see throughout NBA games. The Blazers should take advantage of our dirth of quality starters by expending max energy on defense, lots of player movement on offense, and rotating fresh bodies into the games. If we can't out talent the other team lets out hustle them and wear them out.

You nailed it BBert!

 

[Strenuus]

The drop off from starters to bench players, leads to more minutes for the starters, and contributes to a lot of the slacking we see throughout NBA games. The Blazers should take advantage of our dirth of quality starters by expending max energy on defense, lots of player movement on offense, and rotating fresh bodies into the games. If we can't out talent the other team lets out hustle them and wear them out.

I did the abstract, you did the full piece. Well done!

 

[jlprk]

I would agree with this, but with an asterisk. IF a player is given a legit chance and time then by his second year, yes, we have seen what we have. But if he has been riding the bench behind all stars ( See Meyers)...

Nope, I disagree. If he's going to be really good, we all know it by the middle of Year 2, even if he's playing behind an All-Star.

But Meyers has a better shooting percentage from all over the court than Travis ever did. Last year for example Meyers shot 58.6% from 2pt range. When Outlaw was 22, he only shot 45% from 2. Outlaw and LA are also chuckers, whereas Meyers takes better shots. Meyers is also a much better rebounder than either of them. He may never be a big time volume scorer, but it's great to have someone that can score 15-16 per game so efficiently.

What are his stats per foul? Too bad Basketball-Reference and NBA.com don't have that. He's unable to play a full game.

 

[Strenuus]

Nope, I disagree. If he's going to be really good, we all know it by the middle of Year 2, even if he's playing behind an All-Star.



What are his stats per foul? Too bad Basketball-Reference and NBA.com don't have that. He's unable to play a full game.

Really? So in 1 1/2 years, he's supposed to be an all-star or he's done?

Why did Jermaine O'neal even try? He should have just hung it up.

 

[jlprk]

Really? So in 1 1/2 years, he's supposed to be an all-star or he's done?
Why did Jermaine O'neal even try? He should have just hung it up.

After 1 1/2 seasons, if he truly will become a star, he will be wowing us with his moves, spurts of star-level play, and 90% of realized potential.

There are rare exceptions (O'Neal doesn't count since shy 18-year-old high schoolers aren't allowed anymore), but Blazer Golden Future fans believe that awful Year 2 players are the rule, not the rare exception, for future stars.

 

[Strenuus]

After 1 1/2 seasons, if he truly will become a star, he will be wowing us with his moves, spurts of star-level play, and 90% of realized potential.

There are rare exceptions (O'Neal doesn't count since shy 18-year-old high schoolers aren't allowed anymore), but Blazer Golden Future fans believe that awful Year 2 players are the rule, not the rare exception, for future stars.

I'm sorry, I just do not agree with this. There are still 19 year olds that are rookies, so you're saying by 20 1/2 they should be all star potentials? I mean, I think Vonleh will be an all star in 5 years... but if he sucks next year, then that's it? Write him off?

This is not an easy game to be a pro at, and I don't even play and I know that. You don't either, so cut 19 year olds some slack. It's not only basketball they are worrying about, but culture shocks, travel, maturing on the fly (literally and figuratively).

Meyers sucked his first 3 years... so, he's done? He should stop trying?

That argument, IMO, holds no water.

 

[Sinobas]

Nope, I disagree. If he's going to be really good, we all know it by the middle of Year 2, even if he's playing behind an All-Star.



What are his stats per foul? Too bad Basketball-Reference and NBA.com don't have that. He's unable to play a full game.

Stats per foul? That would be a bit of a nonsensical metric to track, but easy to figure out if you wanted to.

But Meyers averages almost 5 fouls per 36 minutes. That's definitely high but to say he is unable to play a full game is hyperbole, and doesn't negate how effective he is when he is on the floor.

He averages about the same amount of fouls as Shawn Kemp did for his career.

 

[jlprk]

I think Vonleh will be an all star in 5 years... but if he sucks next year, then that's it? Write him off?

Everyone agrees that Vonleh has "it." He has already shown it, early in his career. Homers don't need to argue that we should wait 5 years. Get it? The question was, how many years do we have to wait before we stop waiting with baited breath for a player to have starter ability before we develop some certainty.

He averages about the same amount of fouls as Shawn Kemp did for his career.

Look who's #22!

http://bkref.com/tiny/X1rH8

 

[riverman]

Everyone agrees that Vonleh has "it." He has already shown it, early in his career. Homers don't need to argue that we should wait 5 years. Get it? The question was, how many years do we have to wait before we stop waiting with baited breath for a player to have starter ability before we develop some certainty.



Look who's #22!

http://bkref.com/tiny/X1rH8

I'd guess 2 more years to wait

 

[Sinobas]

Everyone agrees that Vonleh has "it." He has already shown it, early in his career. Homers don't need to argue that we should wait 5 years. Get it? The question was, how many years do we have to wait before we stop waiting with baited breath for a player to have starter ability before we develop some certainty.



Look who's #22!

http://bkref.com/tiny/X1rH8

You're looking at a single season high there champ. Last year, Meyer's PFs per 36 was almost identical to Kemp's career average. And Kemp was a pretty decent player.

 

[Draco]

Nic is yet another great example of the fact that most NBA players don't age like wine. Many thought, that because he was capable of starting at 20 he'll grow into an all-star, but it never happened. Look at his his per 36 numbers, he really peaked his 2nd season. His last season was no better than his rookie year.

And remember his playoff disappearing act last year.

His worse playoffs were 5 years ago against Phoenix. Nash couldn't guard anyone on our team and we blew them out game 1. Moved Nash off Andre Miller and guarded Batum the rest of the series. Nic couldn't score at all; destroyed our offense. 6'8" athletic ball handling good shooting small forward was shut down by the worst defensive 6'1" slow PG in the league.

 

[Sinobas]

Yes, that was pathetic....but I had this bad dream last night, that I was watching Batum play for Charlotte and he was out there tearing it up....

 

[Orion Bailey]

Yes, that was pathetic....but I had this bad dream last night, that I was watching Batum play for Charlotte and he was out there tearing it up....

Bad Dream if for only one season. Total nightmare if he does it beyond that...

 

[jlprk]

Here is The Jlprk Flowchart. Each line is a box. Each box has an arrow going down labeled yes, and an arrow to the right labeled no.

1. Year 1: Did this clown look like a future star?

2. Year 2: Did this clown have starlike moments?

3. Year 3: Did this thug become a starter?

4. Year 4: Did this thug become an above-average starter?

5. Year 5: Did this gentleman earn his giant new contract?

6. Year 6: Did this man of great character lead his team to Round 2?

The arrows to the right take a right angle and descend to this box:

Do not pay this scrub more than $2 million per year.

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

Here is The Jlprk Flowchart. Each line is a box. Each box has an arrow going down labeled yes, and an arrow to the right labeled no.

1. Year 1: Did this clown look like a future star?

2. Year 2: Did this clown have starlike moments?

3. Year 3: Did this thug become a starter?

4. Year 4: Did this thug become an above-average starter?

5. Year 5: Did this gentleman earn his giant new contract?

6. Year 6: Did this man of great character lead his team to Round 2?

The arrows to the right take a right angle and descend to this box:

Do not pay this scrub more than $2 million per year.

I have a major problem with this. The "J" in "Jlprk Flowchart should not be capitalized because jlprk is not normally capitalized. I can't believe you could make such an error. I will allow it this time as you might be having a bad day.

 

[riverman]

I have a major problem with this. The "J" in "Jlprk Flowchart should not be capitalized because jlprk is not normally capitalized. I can't believe you could make such an error. I will allow it this time as you might be having a bad day.

Good catch..threw me off too

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

Good catch..threw me off too

....and he wants to be the Crabbe Fan Club recording secretary......

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

[QUOTE="Michael has always been a big Nic Batum Fan." - Clifford[/QUOTE]

Hahahahaha! Maybe in theory, but if Batum played with Michael, MJ's Nike boot would been firmly planted in Batum's ass within the first 2 days of practice. Batum would have been a totally different player. My bet is that MJ sees him as a massive underachiever.

 

[tlongII]

Batum is far better than any small forward we have on the roster now. That is the truth.

 

[jlprk]

I have a major problem with this. The "J" in "Jlprk Flowchart should not be capitalized because jlprk is not normally capitalized. I can't believe you could make such an error. I will allow it this time as you might be having a bad day.

It's been a bad day every day since August 2, but 2 days from now I'm flying back to problem-free Bellingham! Whea!!! Northern Virginia/D.C. sucks. Give me the simple life.

 

[HailBlazers]

 

[Reep]

Subtle.

 

[Reep]

Batum is far better than any small forward we have on the roster now. That is the truth.

Better all around today, probably. Better defender today? Unlikely. Better in a year or two? We shall see.

I have nothing against Nic and hope he will become the all-star he should be. But, his mellow demeanor and inconsistent effort has been with him since before the draft. I'm not sure I see that changing just because he has a bus with his face on it.

 

[Tunchi]

Batum is far better than any small forward we have on the roster now. That is the truth.

Haha Nic sucks stop it.. Harkless is even on par with Batum and thats not saying much

 

[Strenuus]

Batum is far better than any small forward we have on the roster now. That is the truth.

Wow. What a stretch. Did you come to that conclusion all by yourself?

 

[THE HCP]

Haha Nic sucks stop it.. Harkless is even on par with Batum and thats not saying much

Do you actually watch NBA basketball? If your joking that's one thing, but damn!

 

[Tunchi]

Do you actually watch NBA basketball? If your joking that's one thing, but damn!

Ok fine he doesn't suck that might be harsh but he isn't anything special at all.. I think Harkless can give you what he does.. Last yr he averaged what like 9 points ? lol with 38% shooting.. Batum is extremely overrated

 

[Natebishop3]

Ok fine he doesn't suck that might be harsh but he isn't anything special at all.. I think Harkless can give you what he does.. Last yr he averaged what like 9 points ? lol with 38% shooting.. Batum is extremely overrated

This is incorrect. Batum doesn't suck and he IS special. He has done things on the court that most players are completely incapable of doing. With that said, what he lacks is drive. He lacks consistency. He is not motivated. If you put Dame's personality into Batum's body, you have a superstar. He has the tools, he just doesn't have the desire. That's what drove some fans nuts. He'd have one amazing game and then four mediocre games.

 

[Orion Bailey]

This is incorrect. Batum doesn't suck and he IS special. He has done things on the court that most players are completely incapable of doing. With that said, what he lacks is drive. He lacks consistency. He is not motivated. If you put Dame's personality into Batum's body, you have a superstar. He has the tools, he just doesn't have the desire. That's what drove some fans nuts. He'd have one amazing game and then four mediocre games.

Kinda sounds like LAsofty too. I am soo glad we cleaned house and got rid of the wimps. I feel for Wes that he had to play with players with so little drive.