Its becoming more obvious that Matthews and Batum

[MIXUM]

Should not even be close to untouchable. The more I watch these guys, I realize they are just pieces around a good team. They arent legit every night scorers who will guarantee 15-20 a night. they are streaky players who tend to disappear from night to night. They are very good defenders but if ya cant score you cant win. My thinking is they are more of 3-4 option rather then a 2nd option. Now that LA has emerged as a star, he needs another next to him. Roy would be perfect but that ship has sailed. The BLazers should really offer wes or nic and see what kind of deal they can get or get into for a legit 2nd option. Im am so tired of these games last night where you know they are of no value on offense. If Rudy doesnt go fucking crazy we lose that game. Its that simple. Anyhow, cho needs to shut his mouth about not trading these two. Good players, yes. Untouchable no.

 

[Klinky]

Wow, they should hire you as a scout. You've already mapped out the future for a player that's played 2.5 seasons and another who has played 1.5 seasons, yet they are already holding down the fort as starters as well as posting respectable numbers.

They're not untouchable, but we damn well better make sure what we're getting back for them is well worth it.

 

[axs88]

I don't think anyone think they are legit 2nd/3rd options on a contending team. They are inconsistent but both are young (Matthews in terms of seasons played) and play good defense. No, they should not be untouchable, and yes, without Roy, the Blazers need a legit 2nd option to go far in the playoffs, but that's nothing new.

 

[MIXUM]

im glad someone is using their brain and not heart this morning!

 

[hasoos]

I think Wesley has been a bit banged up lately which has effected his performance. Batum's problem is that he plays soft. Sometimes guys take a few years to toughen up. Sometimes they never do. Neither one of them was untouchable to begin with, but this is only Wesleys second season and he is on schedule to become a 20 point per game scorer within a season or two. He is averaging 16 now, and he hasn't even been playing as well as he can.

Right now though IMO, the main problem Portland needs to address is the bench. You don't trade starters for bench players. What Cho really needs is to find a replacement for Mills who is flat out horrible unless he is scoring, then he is mediocre. He needs to bring in a new backup PF type and he needs a real backup SF. Basically a whole new bench. That is what would help the team the most right now.

 

[illmatic99]

Batum had 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 blocks yesterday, and 5 clutch points that ensured our victory yesterday. And his defense in the fourth quarter was unbelievable.

Stop just looking at the points column.

 

[hasoos]

Batum had 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 blocks yesterday, and 5 clutch points that ensured our victory yesterday. And his defense in the fourth quarter was unbelievable.

Stop just looking at the points column.

Can you explain to me why I can't expect to have offense with my defense? Just a little offense. Yes parts of Batum's game are good. But other parts are completely missing. I don't think it is too much to ask for the starting small forward to score a dozen points per game along with the defense. When I say a dozen points per game, I mean a dozen points per game. Not scoring 27 one game and then nothing for 2 games. Show up every night. That is what makes good teams is players who show up to play every night. Not just part of the time.

 

[Weav]

Batum had 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 blocks yesterday, and 5 clutch points that ensured our victory yesterday. And his defense in the fourth quarter was unbelievable.

Stop just looking at the points column.

Oh, snap!

 

[THE HCP]

They would be our 5th and 6th option is everybody was healthy. They weren't brought here to be go to guys. I'm very happy with what they have brought this year.

 

[MIXUM]

oh they have been great this year. matthews saved our season. but im saying you cant think of these guys as cornerstones. they are very very good role players.

 

[andalusian]

im glad someone is using their brain and not heart this morning!

So, when you say "the season is over" it means you use your heart, but when you say "they are not stars, just good role players" you are using your brain.

Good to know you have brain days.

 

[maxiep]

They would be our 5th and 6th option is everybody was healthy. They weren't brought here to be go to guys. I'm very happy with what they have brought this year.

This. The bottom line is that Matthews wasn't meant to be a starting two, and he shouldn't be on an elite team. I think he'll be terrific off the bench. As for Nico, he's not about stats--he's supposed to do all the intangibles. Looking at a boxscore is not the way to evaluate his game.

 

[julius]

The season is over, who cares?

 

[craigehlo]

If Batum can get us a talented, young PG in a trade, I'd do it. But I don't see any available on the open market right now.

 

[B-Roy]

They're both average offensively. Maybe a bit above average, but not great. Andre is good, but if you paired Batum and Matthews with someone like Nash or Paul, you could probably make up for a lot of their offensive deficiencies.

 

[blazedanugz]

sad to say but MIXUM is right....i love both players and i still think batum could be something great. im sorry everyone but if you really think matthews is a great "core" piece then you are mistaken. i love his hustle and his work ethic but he just doesnt have it. nice brick off the side of the backboard to start the game off last night..... will the real brandon roy please stand up

 

[julius]

Yeah, we should totally just get rid of Matthews. I mean shit, if he's not already consistent 140 games into his career, he'll never be!!! TEH!!!111!

 

[mook]

They're both average offensively. Maybe a bit above average, but not great. Andre is good, but if you paired Batum and Matthews with someone like Nash or Paul, you could probably make up for a lot of their offensive deficiencies.

Batum, Matthews and Aldridge just seem like such a great fit for Steve Nash. Sadly, the Suns have won 6 of their last 7.

 

[BBert]

Batum, Matthews and Aldridge just seem like such a great fit for Steve Nash. Sadly, the Suns have won 6 of their last 7.

I don't care how old Nash is, he'd make us great.

 

[Nikolokolus]

oh they have been great this year. matthews saved our season. but im saying you cant think of these guys as cornerstones. they are very very good role players.

That's probably true, but in the interim they may have to serve as stopgaps until this roster can be rebuilt - and that could be a couple of years - I don't see either guy as being likely to be dealt, mostly because what can you expect to get back in return? Does a package of Batum and Matthews packaged with an expiring like Joel get you enough of an upgrade to make this a vastly better team? I doubt it.

 

[Rhal]

Mathews/Batum are both still really young. There both great defenders and are a little inconsistent on offense. MAthews has been playing with horrible ankles for over a month because we can't afford to rest him and the big knock on Batum since we drafted him was his ability to become passive on the offensive end.
Neither one of them is untouchable but you don't trade either one of the unless you get back a top 5 player at PG or C, since there is no way in hell that's happening they are pretty much untouchable.

 

[Natebishop3]

Good thing Matthews is only in his second season and Batum is only 22.

 

[MIXUM]

Lmao.... Oh boy. Where did I hear that before. Hmmmm


Wait I got it. Travis outlaw threads, martell Webster threads. Sergio Rodriquez threads. Rudy Fernandez threads.

 

[julius]

Lmao.... Oh boy. Where did I hear that before. Hmmmm
Wait I got it. Travis outlaw threads, martell Webster threads. Sergio Rodriquez threads. Rudy Fernandez threads.

Well, none of those guys ever averaged 15+ ppg in their NBA careers (as Wesley is currently doing).

But I've heard that the season is over.

 

[Rhal]

Lmao.... Oh boy. Where did I hear that before. Hmmmm


Wait I got it. Travis outlaw threads, martell Webster threads. Sergio Rodriquez threads. Rudy Fernandez threads.

The only player in those 4 that have the potential of Batum was Webster but Webster was nowhere near the defender Batum is. Were a small market franchise that can't just up and trade these players because if we screw up we can just sign someone from FA in the summer that is just as good. FA do not like going to small markets and when they do the small market has to overpay. So were stuck with trying to develop talent and once they start showing some inconsistency the "fans" jump all over the management to magically turn that player into someone who is a star in this league. That just doesn't happen, were the blazers not the lakers who can turn crap into Pau Gasol because the GM of the grizzlies wanted to suck up to the lakers.

 

[Natebishop3]

Lmao.... Oh boy. Where did I hear that before. Hmmmm


Wait I got it. Travis outlaw threads, martell Webster threads. Sergio Rodriquez threads. Rudy Fernandez threads.

You show me where Travis Outlaw, Martell Webster, or Sergio Rodriguez put up numbers consistently like Matthews has this season and then I'll be impressed. Until then you can just keep making up some more hyperbole.

Batum and Matthews have been 10x more effective this season than any of those players you just named. Go fish.

 

[andalusian]

Lmao.... Oh boy. Where did I hear that before. Hmmmm


Wait I got it. Travis outlaw threads, martell Webster threads. Sergio Rodriquez threads. Rudy Fernandez threads.

Excuse me? You were the ones that was pro-Webster over Batum. The Webster threads were you...

 

[Minstrel]

Lmao.... Oh boy. Where did I hear that before. Hmmmm

With Scottie Pippen and Eddie Jones. Well, they were probably before your time.

 

[jlprk]

Batum had 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 blocks yesterday, and 5 clutch points that ensured our victory yesterday. And his defense in the fourth quarter was unbelievable. Stop just looking at the points column.

He played 40 minutes, so those stats are less adequate than they seem. For box score performance last night (besides the obvious, Aldridge and Rudy), look at Mills in his 12 minutes.

 

[B-Roy]

He played 40 minutes, so those stats are less adequate than they seem. For box score performance last night (besides the obvious, Aldridge and Rudy), look at Mills in his 12 minutes.

Mills was the reason we almost lost this game. I don't want to look at him.