Nic's amazing D on Bryant

[illmatic99]

From Basketball Breakdowns
[video=youtube;F-Q4GVXGMlE]

 

[chris_in_pdx]

Nic wasn't the only one playing excellent D on Kobe, Martell seems to have gotten over his slump and star-struck attitude towards The Rapist. Webster played very good heads-up D against Bryant as well.

 

[illmatic99]

Marty did okay as well, but he had some lapses here an there. Good game overall for both of those guys.

 

[dpc]

Marty did okay as well, but he had some lapses here an there. Good game overall for both of those guys.

Lapses? You mean like when he ran up and hugged Kobe in the last seconds of the game?

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

A prime example why you can't judge Batum on his PPG/RPG.

He's already nearing elite status as a defensive wing.

 

[THE HCP]

So this season I can remember Nic locking up Dirk, Kobe and CP3! No bad for a 21 year old smelly Euro!

 

[HailBlazers]

Nic = Kryptonite

 

[illmatic99]

Nic = Kryptonite

That would imply that Kome = Superman, which we know is obviously not true.

I prefer: Nic = Batman, while Kome = Joker

 

[Shooter]

Great analysis! That's one of the best game reports I've ever seen. You can really see why Bryant had such a tough time on offense.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

The other night Barrett said Batum's reach is 7'4" and can touch the rim on his tippy toes. It'll be interesting to see how much better he can get as he continues to get stronger.

 

[BBert]

The other night Barrett said Batum's reach is 7'4" and can touch the rim on his tippy toes. It'll be interesting to see how much better he can get as he continues to get stronger.

Not to mention once he gets some vet respect from the refs, especially once he's been named all-defense a couple of times.

 

[BlazerBeav]

"Here, watch as Fisher delivers, uh, let's call it a block...."

 

[PHXBlazer1]

I remember at one point, nbadraft.net had Nic projected at #2 overall, behind D-Rose! Granted, I think that was even before the '07 draft had occurred, so he was like 17 or something, but scouts saw the potential a long time ago. I'm just extremely happy we ended up with him!!

 

[PHXBlazer1]

"Here, watch as Fisher delivers, uh, let's call it a block...."

Haha I was crackin up at that! Fuckin refs

 

[Minstrel]

He's already nearing elite status as a defensive wing.

I'd say that he's already there. How many players would you rather have defend players like Parker and Paul, Kobe and Nowitzki? I'm not sure there's anyone. That's just an amazing variety of physical characteristics and styles that he's great at defending.

Really, about the only type of player that he doesn't currently match up excellently with is big, powerful wings like Carmelo Anthony or LeBron James. But give him a year or two to fill out his frame and I think he's going to be the best defender for virtually any perimeter player in the game.

 

[HailBlazers]

You can really see why Bryant had such a tough time on offense.

So much so he choked two free throws! Never seen that before, highlight of my month!

 

[STOMP]

I'm a big Batum fan and all, but that sure didn't seem like Kobe was at his best. He wasn't getting the usual bounce on his jumper which was of course the given reason he missed the last couple of games. I couldn't believe their last possession where he didn't seem to make much of an effort to free himself to receive the ball for the last shot.

regardless, I'll take it

STOMP

 

[PtldPlatypus]

The other night Barrett said Batum's reach is 7'4" and can touch the rim on his tippy toes.

That seems difficult to believe. I'm sure he can get close, but I doubt he can get all the way up to 10'. Oden's pre-draft wingspan was over 7'4", and his standing reach was only 9'4". Elton Brand is taller than Batum with a bigger wingspan, and his standing reach is 9'2". Going up on tip-toes doesn't get you 10" higher, even if you have NBA size feet.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

That seems difficult to believe. I'm sure he can get close, but I doubt he can get all the way up to 10'. Oden's pre-draft wingspan was over 7'4", and his standing reach was only 9'4". Elton Brand is taller than Batum with a bigger wingspan, and his standing reach is 9'2". Going up on tip-toes doesn't get you 10" higher, even if you have NBA size feet.

Wingspan includes chest width; Batum is skinny as a rail, much skinnier than Oden and Brand, meaning his arms need to be longer to make up for his skinny chest. Add the tiptoes and you've got a 10' standing reach.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Really, about the only type of player that he doesn't currently match up excellently with is big, powerful wings like Carmelo Anthony or LeBron James.

I think Dante Cunningham is going to be our guy down the road who guards them. For now, Webster does pretty well.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Wingspan includes chest width; Batum is skinny as a rail, much skinnier than Oden and Brand, meaning his arms need to be longer to make up for his skinny chest. Add the tiptoes and you've got a 10' standing reach.

Him being skinny is not going to make that much of a difference. Check the draftexpress measurements. Several other players through the years have had similar measurables:
--Taj Gibson: 6'8.5" barefoot, 7'4" WS, 214 lbs, 9'1" standing reach
--Brandan Wright: 6'8.75" BF, 7'3.75" WS, 200 lbs, 9'0.5" standing reach
--Kevin Durant: 6'9" BF, 7'4.75" WS, 215 lbs, 9'2" standing reach

I think it's safe to assume that Nic fits somewhere in with these guys. No way he gets up to 10' on tiptoes.

 

[Draco]

If Barrett said he was "close" to 10' perhaps he just meant he was withink 10" or so which would be 9'3" standing reach. Thats still pretty freaking tall for a wing but its a bit less than Sabonis or Yao.

 

[HailBlazers]

That's WazUp

With Batum in our lineup, I'm okay with not having Durant

Batum = Superstar Stopper

 

[BlazersBlood]

That's WazUp

With Batum in our lineup, I'm okay with not having Durant

Batum = Superstar Stopper

I love Batum, but let's not get carried away. Durant is an elite scorer and can score on anybody, including Batum. What would be nice is to have both of them.

Batum to guard PGs
Roy @ SG
Durant @ SF
Aldridge @ PF
Whoever @ C

 

[BGrantFan]

I love Batum, but let's not get carried away. Durant is an elite scorer and can score on anybody, including Batum. What would be nice is to have both of them.

Batum to guard PGs
Roy @ SG
Durant @ SF
Aldridge @ PF
Whoever @ C

Who plays PG on offense? Batum would be sitting behind Durant and would have a much different role.

 

[THE HCP]

Usually Jeff Green plays the 3.

 

[STOMP]

If Barrett said he was "close" to 10' perhaps he just meant he was withink 10" or so which would be 9'3" standing reach. Thats still pretty freaking tall for a wing but its a bit less than Sabonis or Yao.

Though I've posted it a few times before, here is the only measurement link of Batum I know of. Nic checks in well under MB's claim with a 8'8.75 standing reach.

To head off the usual arguments, yes this was a few years back when NB was 18. Though it's very unlikely, it's possible he could have significantly grown. There are some minor differences between these measurements and the pre-draft measurements for the guys who did both, but the Nike Hoops summit numbers were usually slightly bigger.

STOMP

 

[BlazersBlood]

Who plays PG on offense? Batum would be sitting behind Durant and would have a much different role.

Roy & Durant would be handling the ball on offense, like they already do.

 

[Wheels]

that Defense right before the end of the 1st half was a thing of beauty!

 

[HailBlazers]

let's not get carried away. Durant is an elite scorer and can score on anybody, including Batum. What would be nice is to have both of them.

Carried Away? I said I'm okay with not having Durant, Batum slows him down enough, same for Kobe

I believe your the one getting carried away by saying if only we had both, I wish we had CP3 and Roy but you know what they say about hindsight