USA vs France, Sunday Aug. 15

[RiseWithDE]

Exactly, as I remember it it was the injury that limited minutes, not the coaches. I guess some people just have such an axe to grind with Nate they will just make shit up to try and make their case.

No, we actually watch the games to make our case.

 

[RoyToy]

Well you infer that Batum's 24 mpg and continued improvement has something to do with Nate utilizing him properly. IMO you overrate Nate way too much.

Standing on the wing or corner watching Roy and then chasing around the other team's PG (because no one else will play decent defense...lack of accountability by the staff) on the other end does little to develop him properly. Batum's improvement is due to Batum's work ethic and maturity. The Blazers are dropping the ball on his potential.

Sorry, I definitely don't see it that way. Not only do I think you overrate Batum's overall potential(as do many), you're just one of the many people who over-criticize Nate.

 

[RiseWithDE]

Sorry, I definitely don't see it that way. Not only do I think you overrate Batum's overall potential(as do many), you're just one of the many people who over-criticize Nate.

Well, the fact that "many" over-rate Batum and under-rate Nate (Under-Nate?) is telling.

 

[Tince]

LOL... I was told this was a much more objective forum. The rose colored Nate-McGoggles are prevalent in here as well huh? Lemme try again:

"Nate has squeezed all we can get out of Batum. No Nate, no defensive master and offensive Swiss Army knife Batum, no Batum on French National team."

There. Do I blend in better?

I must have missed your answer to my question.

How is he being under-utilized? I didn't say I disagreed with you, I was just curious how you felt he wasn't being used correctly.

Do you think his ball handling skills warrant him being a play maker? His passing skills warrant him being more of a distributor? Post game superior enough to clear out the block for him?

I apologize if I offended you by asking a pointed question, I didn't think it would make you defensive.

 

[RoyToy]

Exactly, as I remember it it was the injury that limited minutes, not the coaches. I guess some people just have such an axe to grind with Nate they will just make shit up to try and make their case.

Yup. I remember Mike and Mike making jokes that they would tell Jay Jensen the wrong amount of playing time for Batum so he could play more when the Blazers were trying to limit his minutes.

Also, Batum's playing time went up every single month when he came back from his injury.

22min in Feb
25min in Mar
29min in Apr

Damn that McMillan for bringing him along nice and slowly coming back from a pretty serious injury.

 

[RoyToy]

Well, the fact that "many" over-rate Batum and under-rate Nate (Under-Nate?) is telling.

No one has said McMillan is underrated. He's just unbelievably over-criticized it's sickening.

 

[RiseWithDE]

I must have missed your answer to my question.

How is he being under-utilized? I didn't say I disagreed with you, I was just curious how you felt he wasn't being used correctly.

Do you think his ball handling skills warrant him being a play maker? His passing skills warrant him being more of a distributor? Post game superior enough to clear out the block for him?

I apologize if I offended you by asking a pointed question, I didn't think it would make you defensive.

Your "pointed" question has been addressed by a few in here. Including me a couple of times. Read through the thread. I can cut/paste for you but it'll take some time.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Yup. I remember Mike and Mike making jokes that they would tell Jay Jensen the wrong amount of playing time for Batum so he could play more when the Blazers were trying to limit his minutes.

Also, Batum's playing time went up every single month when he came back from his injury.

22min in Feb
25min in Mar
29min in Apr

Damn that McMillan for bringing him along nice and slowly coming back from a pretty serious injury.

I also remember the Mike's questioning Nate on air about why Batum didn't play as much. Rice was always going after him.

 

[Mediocre Man]

No one has said McMillan is underrated. He's just unbelievably over-criticized it's sickening.

Equally as sickening how is is over lauded in here by some. He has done NOTHING as a coach to deserve such praise.

 

[RiseWithDE]

I must have missed your answer to my question.

How is he being under-utilized? I didn't say I disagreed with you, I was just curious how you felt he wasn't being used correctly.

Do you think his ball handling skills warrant him being a play maker? His passing skills warrant him being more of a distributor? Post game superior enough to clear out the block for him?

I apologize if I offended you by asking a pointed question, I didn't think it would make you defensive.

Regarding your questions about "play making skills" being required to be utilized more or "passing skills" to become a distributor or "post game" to be plopped in the paint... Did we forget the aspects of motion offense, moving w/o the ball..and if Nate is not that sophisticated, maybe giving Batum a few touches by design from the wing to use his length and agility to attack a hopefully spread out offense?

I'm SURE you don't want him to be a hybrid Kidd/Durant/Boozer to warrant a few touches in the offense... Um, right?

 

[RoyToy]

Equally as sickening how is is over lauded in here by some. He has done NOTHING as a coach to deserve such praise.

I'd like to know where those posts are because I've never seen them.

 

[RoyToy]

I also remember the Mike's questioning Nate on air about why Batum didn't play as much. Rice was always going after him.

And I'm sure the answer would be he just came off a serious injury. He did come back like at least a month early I believe.

 

[RiseWithDE]

I'd like to know where those posts are because I've never seen them.

So people are either lukewarm about him or very unimpressed?

Sounds like someone we need to keep around for another 5 years.

 

[Tince]

Regarding your questions about "play making skills" being required to be utilized more or "passing skills" to become a distributor or "post game" to be plopped in the paint... Did we forget the aspects of motion offense, moving w/o the ball..and if Nate is not that sophisticated, maybe giving Batum a few touches by design from the wing to use his length and agility to attack a hopefully spread out offense?

I'm SURE you don't want him to be a hybrid Kidd/Durant/Boozer to warrant a few touches in the offense... Um, right?

I don't know what "we" forgot. i apologize for not giving more examples such as a motion offense, off-the-ball skills, etc. I figured I would give you a few examples of ways he could be utilized to help jog your memory since you were dodging my question.

I'd love for him to be a Kidd/Durant/Boozer hybrid, that'd be awesome! I'm not sure why you trying to take the angle that he doesn't' warrant more touches, because I think he does, I never said he didn't. You seem kinda defensive about the issue.

So far I've asked a simple question and got two separate responses, neither of which were answers to my question, so I think I understand what that means.

Anyway, I love Batum and the Blazers, so I hope he has a great year. Cheers!

 

[RiseWithDE]

I don't know what "we" forgot. i apologize for not giving more examples such as a motion offense, off-the-ball skills, etc. I figured I would give you a few examples of ways he could be utilized to help jog your memory since you were dodging my question.

I'd love for him to be a Kidd/Durant/Boozer hybrid, that'd be awesome! I'm not sure why you trying to take the angle that he doesn't' warrant more touches, because I think he does, I never said he didn't. You seem kinda defensive about the issue.

So far I've asked a simple question and got two separate responses, neither of which were answers to my question, so I think I understand what that means.

Anyway, I love Batum and the Blazers, so I hope he has a great year. Cheers!

Well, help me with some logic here. Do you think that warranting more touches and being underutilized go hand in hand? Did you not just answer your own question? And if so, didn't I just answer your question a few times since I said the same thing?

I think you're dodging the answer. Cheers back at ya.

 

[RoyToy]

So people are either lukewarm about him or very unimpressed?

Sounds like someone we need to keep around for another 5 years.

Problem is you can't guarantee just because you fire Nate you'll end up with a better coach. After about 6-7 coaches in the league there's not really an upgrade out there, and those 6-7 coaches aren't going anywhere anytime soon.

 

[Tince]

Well, help me with some logic here. Do you think that warranting more touches and being underutilized go hand in hand? Did you not just answer your own question? And if so, didn't I just answer your question a few times since I said the same thing?

I think you're dodging the answer. Cheers back at ya.

I think Batum has grown from his first summer league, to his rookie season, to last years campaign. I think he'll continue to grow next year and turn into a very nice player. I don't think he's been put in a bad position to be forced to do more than he's ready for nor do I think his growth is being put in front of the growth of the team. I'm quite happy with Nic and Nate.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Problem is you can't guarantee just because you fire Nate you'll end up with a better coach. After about 6-7 coaches in the league there's not really an upgrade out there, and those 6-7 coaches aren't going anywhere anytime soon.

I disagree. Surprising, I know .

I think it has more to do with the right coach for the right team than anything else. Nate was brought in because we had a bunch of knuckleheads, and needed a strong figure as head coach. Now, this team needs someone who has a better grasp on offensive and defensive strategies.

There are a lot of examples of coaches getting with the right team at the right time. I think that's what this team needs.

 

[Tince]

I disagree. Surprising, I know .

I think it has more to do with the right coach for the right team than anything else. Nate was brought in because we had a bunch of knuckleheads, and needed a strong figure as head coach. Now, this team needs someone who has a better grasp on offensive and defensive strategies.

There are a lot of examples of coaches getting with the right team at the right time. I think that's what this team needs.

What available coach do you think would be the right fit here?

 

[RiseWithDE]

What available coach do you think would be the right fit here?

Mike Budenholzer, San Antonio Spurs

To get a sense of how successful Budenholzer has been as an assistant coach, just know that he came into San Antonio the same year Greg Popovich did. All those rings Pop's got, Budenholzer's got, too.

Budenholzer is an offensive guy, known especially for running offenses in the last two minutes of a quarter. He makes his rounds to summer camps and training sessions working on a number of things, but as the heir apparent to the San Antonio Spurs' coaching throne there's no question where he sits in the hierarchy of the league's top assistants.

Elston Turner, Houston: Other than the Utah Jazz’s Phil Johnson and Jerry Sloan and the San Antonio Spurs’ Mike Budenholzer and Gregg Popovich, there may not be a more solid relationship between a head coach and his top lieutenant than the one between Houston Rockets head coach Rick Adelman and Turner. They have been together for the past three years in Houston and for six years before that in Sacramento. Turner also was an assistant for four years in Portland. He nearly got the Phoenix Suns job two years ago instead of Terry Porter and was a finalist last summer for the Minnesota Timberwolves job that went to Kurt Rambis. He turned 50 last June and appears more than ready for his first head-coaching job.

Is this the straw men you're looking for?

 

[RiseWithDE]

JVG and TP would do well with these players too.

 

[Mediocre Man]

What available coach do you think would be the right fit here?

I am not trying to make this sound pissy, but since I don't know every single coach out there, it is hard to say. I will say this though.

The type of coach this team needs now, IMO, is someone who has had success in the playoffs. Someone who is a "players coach." Someone who is more imaginative on both offense and defense. Someone with a lot of fire (when needed) on the sidelines.

 

[RiseWithDE]

I am not trying to make this sound pissy, but since I don't know every single coach out there, it is hard to say. I will say this though.

The type of coach this team needs now, IMO, is someone who has had success in the playoffs. Someone who is a "players coach." Someone who is more imaginative on both offense and defense. Someone with a lot of fire (when needed) on the sidelines.

I'm sure these guys were OK with Cho, and didn't need a s2 approved list before it was a good idea.

 

[Mediocre Man]

JVG and TP would do well with these players too.

Either of the VG's would be great.

Porter has always been a sentimental choice for me, but I'm not sure he is a guy that could get us to the next level. Certainly not worse than Nate though....IMO.

If we are looking to go assistant, Budenholzer is easily my first choice, and I think Monte Williams would have been very good as well.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Has Batum been playing any pg? I know he did last summer when Tony Parker got hurt. Batum can't play pg in the NBA but I'd like to see him initiate the offense from time to time.

 

[MickZagger]

I am assuming, after reading a lot of the comments about him, that Batum should go off for 30/9/6 while holding Durant to -4.

In all seriousness, I am excited to see how he plays with the ball in his hands more, and with some movement. I already know he is a good defender

Then you like to over-exaggerate.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Has Batum been playing any pg? I know he did last summer when Tony Parker got hurt. Batum can't play pg in the NBA but I'd like to see him initiate the offense from time to time.

I don't know, but I'm sure he will. Parker is out, Pietrus is out, and Beaubois broke his foot, so I'm not sure who else they have that you'd want to put the ball in their hands?

 

[MickZagger]

I don't know, but I'm sure he will. Parker is out, Pietrus is out, and Beaubois broke his foot, so I'm not sure who else they have that you'd want to put the ball in their hands?

They have more options on the roster than just players who are playing in the NBA.

 

[gatorpops]

France is playing Canada at 4pm our time today. Is there any way to follow the game that anyone knows?

 

[Nikolokolus]

They have more options on the roster than just players who are playing in the NBA.

Yes, some.

But Batum played some point-forward for France last summer (and did well), so it only stands to reason he'll handle the ball again.