Jaynes: The Blazers' 2nd Best Player Is Batum..If You Use Him

[ABM]

http://www.csnnw.com/pages/landingd...ayer-Well-its-Ba=1&blockID=633580&feedID=8351

Have you seen the last two Blazer games? Batum has provided a blend of shot-making, versatility, rebounding and defense like no other Trail Blazer can offer.

Ah, but it's two games, you say. Just two games. Well, fair enough. Thing is, I don't see anyone else on the roster capable of doing things at both ends of the floor the way Batum does -- even if it is just for TWO games. And for me, when coaches see the overall contribution he has brought the last two games, their mission should be to provide a platform for him to bring that every night.

Folks, nobody else on the team has the all-around tool box Nic Batum owns.

The key thing about Batum is that he's a two-way player. He can defend three positions and consistently has done that for the Trail Blazers over the last two seasons. He is a one-on-one defender AND a shot-blocker who can defend about 80 percent of the players in the NBA.

And he's made big strides on offense. Although Batum is shooting nearly 50 percent from three-point range this season, he's shown he's more than just a long-distance shooter.

He's putting the ball on the floor and taking it to the basket. He's had trouble finishing, but that will come with more attempts. In fact, the playing time is the missing piece now with Batum -- he simply must start getting more minutes on the floor.

If you're going to develop players, they need to play -- and play free and comfortably. Batum came here as a teenager with a lot to learn but he's worked hard to get better and been a starter almost since the day he walked in the door. This season that has not been the case. Coach Nate McMillan was playing him 20 minutes per game until the recent injury to Marcus Camby.

Let's get this straight: Batum is a starter. He's a key player and ought to be treated as one. And I don't much care where you have to start him but you better get him on the floor 35 minutes per night because nobody else is bringing as much as he can contribute. And they better be minutes where he's not looking over his shoulder, worrying about getting yanked off the floor for making a mistake.

His potential alone ought to be earning him more minutes. And the fact this team was trying to sign him to a contract extension while using him as a 20-minutes-per-game sub is flat-out ridiculous......................

 

[Nikolokolus]

I have no doubt Nate will fully utilize Nic at some point this season ... it might take him 30 games to come around, but he will.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Facepalm, just gives the batum lovers more ammo.....sigh

 

[Blazinaway]

I have no doubt Nate will fully utilize Nic at some point this season ... it might take him 30 games to come around, but he will.

why wait at all, he deserves IMO more minutes than anyone on the team except LMA

 

[RoyToy]

Hard for me to read to want to read the article when the first sentence is ridiculous.

 

[ABM]

Hard for me to read to want to read the article when the first sentence is ridiculous.

Well, he is, perhaps, our best all-around player? All things considered, who's better in that department?

 

[Nikolokolus]

Facepalm, just gives the batum lovers more ammo.....sigh

"Ammo?" I don't understand? He's got a PER of 18+, his true shooting percentage is nearly 60%, he's lights out from three, he's defending very well and he's 23. I'm a Blazers lover and insofar as I think Nic makes them better I want them to use him.

 

[Eastoff]

Everyone knows Gerald is playing awful on the road. Start Nic on the road.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Hard for me to read to want to read the article when the first sentence is ridiculous.

If Gerald Wallace could shoot a lick you could say the same (and more) for him ... but he doesn't.

 

[RoyToy]

If Gerald Wallace could shoot a lick you could say the same (and more) for him ... but he doesn't.

And if Nic was capable of putting the ball on the floor and attacking the basket without a clear lane like Gerald can Jaynes might be on to something

And almost no one in the NBA can finish at the rim like Gerald can

Only reason Nic's been killing it is because he's shooting 48% from 3. His overall FG% is actually under 44%.

When his jumper stops falling, look out.

 

[Eastoff]

And if Nic was capable of putting the ball on the floor and attacking the basket without a clear lane like Gerald can Jaynes might be on to something

And almost no one in the NBA can finish at the rim like Gerald can

Only reason Nic's been killing it is because he's shooting 48% from 3. His overall FG% is actually under 44%.

When his jumper stops falling, look out.

Nic can finish at the rim just fine for a SF. Gerald can finish like a PF with wheels.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I'd like to see Barry Bonds become Batum's personal trainer. Nic's game could use a some strength and a little road rage.

Actually the same could be said for LMA's game too.

 

[Nikolokolus]

And if Nic was capable of putting the ball on the floor and attacking the basket without a clear lane like Gerald can Jaynes might be on to something

And almost no one in the NBA can finish at the rim like Gerald can

Only reason Nic's been killing it is because he's shooting 48% from 3. His overall FG% is actually under 44%.

When his jumper stops falling, look out.

Nic has historically been a pretty good shooter from distance, his current pace is probably unsustainable for a whole season, but would it really be shocking to see him shoot 42% from three for the year? Also, is it really all that crazy to think that some of those tip-ins that he was missing might start falling too?

Secondly, have you seen how little lift Gerald is getting on his forays to the rim? When his hops give out, look out.

 

[illmatic99]

The only things he needs to become a bonafide star are: 1) above average handle, 2) desire, and 3) his coach's confidence in him.

Kaleb or someone needs to get after him on his ball handling skills. Same with Wes. He has #2, but he doesn't have the raw, physical ability that Nic does.

 

[RoyToy]

Nic has historically been a pretty good shooter from distance, his current pace is probably unsustainable for a whole season, but would it really be shocking to see him shoot 42% from three for the year? Also, is it really all that crazy to think that some of those tip-ins that he was missing might start falling too?

Secondly, have you seen how little lift Gerald is getting on his forays to the rim? When his hops give out, look out.

He'll undoubtedly cool down from 3. He's actually shooting 51.5% from 3 this month.

As far as everything else, considering he's mostly shoots jumpers (even from 2 ), I don't really expect his FG% to jump too drastically.

He's a nice player. I still don't buy like some people that he'll be anything more than that. Ultimate role player.

 

[Nikolokolus]

He'll undoubtedly cool down from 3. He's actually shooting 51.5% from 3 this month.

As far as everything else, considering he's mostly shoots jumpers (even from 2 ), I don't really expect his FG% to jump too drastically.

He's a nice player. I still don't buy like some people that he'll be anything more than that. Ultimate role player.

Everyone's certainly entitled to their opinion, but so far that's mostly all we have on Nic. I for one would sure like to find out one way or another -- meaning go to him early and often until/unless he can't handle it.

 

[ABM]

I'd like to see Barry Bonds become Batum's personal trainer. Nic's game could use a some strength and a little road rage.

Actually the same could be said for LMA's game too.

Our guys are so nice, though. Would we really want/need to experience those swelled heads?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Our guys are so nice, though. Would we really want/need to experience those swelled heads?

Nice doesn't get you out of the first round of the playoffs.

 

[B-Roy]

Pair him with the right point guard and you could get Shawn Marion like production...

 

[Nikolokolus]

Pair him with the right point guard and you could get Shawn Marion like production...

Damn. Thanks for shattering my dreams jerk

 

[Eastoff]

Our guys are so nice, though. Would we really want/need to experience those swelled heads?

Bonds used HGH? I thought it was steroids.

 

[mook]

I don't know about Batum being our second best player, but he's certainly at least the third best. And the difference between what he's doing lately and LA and Wallace isn't so much. You have to find 35 minutes for the guy, whether that means play Aldridge a lot at center or benching Crawford and Matthews more.

Probably a mix of both, although I prefer playing Aldridge at C. LMA produces quite well at that position. He's not the string bean he used to be.

 

[BBert]

And if Nic was capable of putting the ball on the floor and attacking the basket without a clear lane like Gerald can Jaynes might be on to something

And almost no one in the NBA can finish at the rim like Gerald can

Only reason Nic's been killing it is because he's shooting 48% from 3. His overall FG% is actually under 44%.

When his jumper stops falling, look out.

I love Gerald Wallace. He can certainly bull his way to the rim at will. But once he gets there he misses more than Nico does, including gimmees.

 

[handiman]

This reminds me of everyone saying last year how Kurt Rambis was a horrible coach because of his benching of Kevin Love early in the season. While it may well be that Rambis truly was a bad coach, whether by luck or by brilliance, his handling of Love turned the guy into a monster! Same thing has to be considered here with McMillan and Batum... The guy's playing the best ball of his career, while in a reserve role for the first time. Doesn't seem so far fetched to leave him in that role as long as it's working.

 

[BBert]

He's a nice player. I still don't buy like some people that he'll be anything more than that. Ultimate role player.

What's wrong with being an "ultimate role player"? Every team needs a glue guy like Nico, and that's his floor.

 

[BBert]

This reminds me of everyone saying last year how Kurt Rambis was a horrible coach because of his benching of Kevin Love early in the season. While it may well be that Rambis truly was a bad coach, whether by luck or by brilliance, his handling of Love turned the guy into a monster! Same thing has to be considered here with McMillan and Batum... The guy's playing the best ball of his career, while in a reserve role for the first time. Doesn't seem so far fetched to leave him in that role as long as it's working.

I honestly don't mind Nico feasting off the bench (instead of Crawchuck). I do care that he get more minutes to do so.

 

[Nikolokolus]

This reminds me of everyone saying last year how Kurt Rambis was a horrible coach because of his benching of Kevin Love early in the season. While it may well be that Rambis truly was a bad coach, whether by luck or by brilliance, his handling of Love turned the guy into a monster! Same thing has to be considered here with McMillan and Batum... The guy's playing the best ball of his career, while in a reserve role for the first time. Doesn't seem so far fetched to leave him in that role as long as it's working.

I have a better narrative that makes more sense: Kurt Rambis was an idiot and kept his best player off the floor in favor of Darko-fucking-Milicic ... Maybe Love was a beast all along (backed up by his per36 numbers) and what he needed was a full-time role to show everybody just how good he was?

Keeping Nic in reserve role as some sort of strategy to turn him into a "beast" rings pretty hollow to me. Reserves are reserves because they usually have a lot of limitations and maybe one or two really well defined skills that fit a specific niche. That doesn't really describe Nic to me (Wesley on the other hand ...).

 

[illmatic99]

I think a comparable player for Nic is Luol Deng. He's consistently the second or third best player on a top team while making a huge defensive impact.

He got 6 years, 71 mil.

 

[HailBlazers]

I think a comparable player for Nic is Luol Deng. He's consistently the second or third best player on a top team while making a huge defensive impact.

He got 6 years, 71 mil.

Unfortunately I think your right on there. Blazers got some tough decisions to make this off-season..

 

[MickZagger]

And if Nic was capable of putting the ball on the floor and attacking the basket without a clear lane like Gerald can Jaynes might be on to something

And almost no one in the NBA can finish at the rim like Gerald can

Only reason Nic's been killing it is because he's shooting 48% from 3. His overall FG% is actually under 44%.

When his jumper stops falling, look out.

The problem is, Wallace hasn't been finishing.