Revealing McMillan quote.

[Mediocre Man]

"Hey, if he shoots the ball like that he's going to be tough to keep off the floor," McMillan said.

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2010/02/portland_110_minnesota_91_batu.html

So I guess now, we all know why Nic doesn't play as much as most of us think he should play. Apparently he has to shoot 64% from the floor, 63% from 3pt range and 100% from the FT line for Nate to consider keeping him on the floor.

Seems a little harsh, but that's why he's an NBA coach and I only coach high school basketball.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

If you mean "revealing once more of your complete and tedious obsession" then I guess I agree.

 

[ABM]

Roy chimes in....

"Those type of guys are the difference in the championship teams. But for us to be at that level, we are going to need Nic to play at a high level more consistently. When he shows that, and shows he can play in the fourth quarter, that's when I will say we are for real."

It's all good, MM. I'd hardly think Nate and Roy had somehow conspired to keep Nik off the floor.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Roy chimes in....



It's all good, MM. I'd hardly think Nate and Roy had somehow conspired to keep Nik off the floor.

I'm tired of those bastards grinding me down.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

That quote bothered me a little bit also. It just seemed to reflect a lack of hope or lack of confidence that Batum would continue doing so well.

I would have preferred if Nate said something like: "I think Batum will continue getting big minutes, because not only is he a great defender, but he has also developed his offensive game. I night even start to run a few plays for him every game."

 

[MARIS61]

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2010/02/portland_110_minnesota_91_batu.html

So I guess now, we all know why Nic doesn't play as much as most of us think he should play. Apparently he has to shoot 64% from the floor, 63% from 3pt range and 100% from the FT line for Nate to consider keeping him on the floor.

Seems a little harsh, but that's why he's an NBA coach and I only coach high school basketball.

I'm sure there are many, many, more valid reasons.

 

[yenniedn]

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2010/02/portland_110_minnesota_91_batu.html

So I guess now, we all know why Nic doesn't play as much as most of us think he should play. Apparently he has to shoot 64% from the floor, 63% from 3pt range and 100% from the FT line for Nate to consider keeping him on the floor.

Seems a little harsh, but that's why he's an NBA coach and I only coach high school basketball.

It's all good, Mediocre. This way, when you're an NBA coach in a few years and showing Nate how it's really done, we can all say that we knew you when you were just a lowly high school coach and a mediocre internet forum poster! Don't forget us little people when you're making your NBA millions!

 

[mook]

FTA:

Roy, who has endorsed Batum's ability since Day 1, says he can see a blend of the Lakers' Lamar Odom and former Laker Ariza in Batum. Andre Miller said he can see Utah's Andrei Kirilenko. And McMillan said he sees some of Detroit's Tayshaun Prince.

That's the quote that probably bugs me a little more. Mostly because I don't think Prince or Odom is the high end of what he could be. Given his age and rate of improvement (and the fact that the team hasn't yet run a play for him in two years) I think he's got the potential to be the second best player on this team.

Batum can definitely fill that defensive SF role, but I think he could also wind up doing a lot more.

 

[illmatic99]

Maybe Roy is simply tempering the expectations in the media. Didn't he say something about Oden being better than Howard after only a few practices together last season?

 

[Tince]

Wow, that was so revealing...

 

[ABM]

Wow, that was so revealing...

I've come to conclude that mediocre man is a crappy basketball coach and thusly projecting those insufficiencies onto Nate.

 

[Nikolokolus]

FTA:



That's the quote that probably bugs me a little more. Mostly because I don't think Prince or Odom is the high end of what he could be. Given his age and rate of improvement (and the fact that the team hasn't yet run a play for him in two years) I think he's got the potential to be the second best player on this team.

Batum can definitely fill that defensive SF role, but I think he could also wind up doing a lot more.

How does that bug you? Lamar Odom might be one of the most underrated (although mercurial) players in the league, and Ariza is a helluva wing defender. Roy saying that Nic possesses traits of both guys is high praise in my opinion -- a wing who can handle the ball, create and score like Odom and defend like Trevor Ariza would be a damn fine player for this team to have.

The more I think about it, a blend of Odom and Ariza (if Nic ever fully realizes that potential) would basically be Pippen 2.0.

Who knows what the finished product will be, but considering his age, athleticism, and already well rounded game (he defends, understands the team game, passes, rebounds, etc.) I think the sky's the limit for this guy.

 

[Tince]

I love that people think Batum is being slighted and yet he's been compared to two guys who started on championship teams and two of the most versatile forwards in the league.

With such lofty expectations, it's no wonder a lot of people think we're always failing or not as good as we should be.

 

[e_blazer]

I've come to conclude that mediocre man is a crappy basketball coach and thusly projecting those insufficiencies onto Nate.

I didn't know about the basketball coach until today. I just figured he was full of crap and projecting it.

 

[The Sebastian Express]

Always good to see that some people still can't see Nate's own insufficient qualities.

 

[mook]

I love that people think Batum is being slighted and yet he's been compared to two guys who started on championship teams and two of the most versatile forwards in the league.

With such lofty expectations, it's no wonder a lot of people think we're always failing or not as good as we should be.

I didn't say I expected him to be better than those guys. I said it's pretty limiting to think of him in those terms when he has the potential to be better than them.

I'm not down on him or the team at all because he's not Scottie Pippen 2.0 at his current age. But I'm also a little put off that the collective quotes seem to indicate his future lies in being a high quality role player.

It's not just the team/coach. I think Batum himself limits himself too much. Far, far too often the ball will swing to him on the perimeter and if the three isn't there he'll just keep swinging it.

I'd like to see him practice some Travis Outlaw-type moves where he takes one dribble, rises and shoots. If he can add that to his game, he'll be so much more deadly. Because he already has the three pointer and (unlike Outlaw) he also knows how to attack the rim. It's not really the kind of move you expect from a Bruce Bowen/Tayshaun Prince-type small forward, but it's the kind of skill that can come in handy when the defense keys in on Roy late in the game.

 

[RoyToy]

I love that people think Batum is being slighted and yet he's been compared to two guys who started on championship teams and two of the most versatile forwards in the league.

With such lofty expectations, it's no wonder a lot of people think we're always failing or not as good as we should be.

People on this forum are great at making ridiculous expectations, then get mad when those players don't live up to their ridiculous expectations. Funny how it works like that.

I don't even bother responding to people who bash Nate over the simplest things. They just don't get it and never will.

 

[Tince]

I didn't say I expected him to be better than those guys. I said it's pretty limiting to think of him in those terms when he has the potential to be better than them.

I'm not down on him or the team at all because he's not Scottie Pippen 2.0 at his current age. But I'm also a little put off that the collective quotes seem to indicate his future lies in being a high quality role player.

It's not just the team/coach. I think Batum himself limits himself too much. Far, far too often the ball will swing to him on the perimeter and if the three isn't there he'll just keep swinging it.

I'd like to see him practice some Travis Outlaw-type moves where he takes one dribble, rises and shoots. If he can add that to his game, he'll be so much more deadly. Because he already has the three pointer and (unlike Outlaw) he also knows how to attack the rim. It's not really the kind of move you expect from a Bruce Bowen/Tayshaun Prince-type small forward, but it's the kind of skill that can come in handy when the defense keys in on Roy late in the game.

The way I read the quote was that he had qualities similar to those players. I never saw anything that said they thought he couldn't be better than AK47, Odom, etc. Did you?

 

[STOMP]

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2010/02/portland_110_minnesota_91_batu.html

So I guess now, we all know why Nic doesn't play as much as most of us think he should play. Apparently he has to shoot 64% from the floor, 63% from 3pt range and 100% from the FT line for Nate to consider keeping him on the floor.

Seems a little harsh, but that's why he's an NBA coach and I only coach high school basketball.

While I definitely wouldn't want you as the Blazer coach, I would throw down 5$ to see you do some interpretive dancing. Your ability to read into throwaway/cliche quotes and project them into whole new wild realms is... really something

STOMP

 

[maxiep]

Batum is starting, so I don't understand what the problem is.

 

[andalusian]

While I definitely wouldn't want you as the Blazer coach, I would throw down 5$ to see you do some interpretive dancing. Your ability to read into throwaway/cliche quotes and project them into whole new wild realms is... really something

Bill Waltonesque, maybe, only not funny.

 

[EGame]

I think Batum is in a fine position, he got to be a starter, what more do you want at this point? Now if only he can give Bayless a longer leash, the kid can't learn much when it is the same as last year, 1 screw up and welcome back to the bench.

 

[Tince]

Batum is starting, so I don't understand what the problem is.

The problem is some people need to manufacture stuff to complain about.

 

[oldmangrouch]

No doubt, Blazer fans can have unrealistic expectations and be over-the-top optimistic.

OTOH, I don't recall the Blazers discouraging high expectations for this season. If fans are frustrated and disappointed, maybe they have a reason. "Wait till next year!" is getting rather tiresome.

 

[Minstrel]

OTOH, I don't recall the Blazers discouraging high expectations for this season. If fans are frustrated and disappointed, maybe they have a reason. "Wait till next year!" is getting rather tiresome.

You're right. The team should have been honest and, before the season began, informed fans that the team would be suffering four times more player-games lost to injury than the league average, and that simply making the playoffs would be a win.

Instead, they deliberately covered up all the future injuries that hadn't yet happened and pretended to think this would be a good year. Their hype machine knows no shame!

 

[julius]

While I definitely wouldn't want you as the Blazer coach, I would throw down 5$ to see you do some interpretive dancing. Your ability to read into throwaway/cliche quotes and project them into whole new wild realms is... really something

STOMP

But remember STOMP, he's a high school basketball coach. So, there's that.

 

[MARIS61]

Let's settle this once and for all.

We need a game with Nate's team against Mediocre man's team.

May the best coach win.

 

[yenniedn]

Let's settle this once and for all.

We need a game with Nate's team against Mediocre man's team.

May the best coach win.

"Game coming SOON!!!"

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

I understand that many people find MM's constant anti-Nate posts annoying; but I think there must be some people (like me) who enjoy having a wide range of viewpoints. So, if we want him to keep posting , maybe it isn't necessary to pile on him so much. Basically, he's just making a point that a lot of people agree with; that Nate might want to appreciate Nic more. I would rather see this thread go in the direction of wondering if a guy with the athleticism and smarts of Nic Batum might be developed as an important offensive option. We seem to have several players on the team who seem to choke up at the ends of games (one of the reasons Roy ends up doing so much); maybe Nic is needed.

Anyway, MM, I may not always agree with your strong sentiments, but I'm always happy to see your posts.

 

[Tince]

I understand that many people find MM's constant anti-Nate posts annoying; but I think there must be some people (like me) who enjoy having a wide range of viewpoints. So, if we want him to keep posting , maybe it isn't necessary to pile on him so much. Basically, he's just making a point that a lot of people agree with; that Nate might want to appreciate Nic more. I would rather see this thread go in the direction of wondering if a guy with the athleticism and smarts of Nic Batum might be developed as an important offensive option. We seem to have several players on the team who seem to choke up at the ends of games (one of the reasons Roy ends up doing so much); maybe Nic is needed.

Anyway, MM, I may not always agree with your strong sentiments, but I'm always happy to see your posts.

The quote provided has no relation to Nate playing or not playing Nic.

If Nic played that well every night, he would be our best player, but the reality is that he is still inconsistent. If Bayless played as well as he did at San Antonio (earlier in the year), he would be tough to keep off the court. I see NOTHING alarming about the quote.

MM piles on Nate for little or no good reason and I'm sure he doesn't mind that we disagree with him.