Oh you were JOKING about your first post. You SERIOUSLY think Nate has maximized Batum's talent on the court? And his summer improvement is on Nate? Do you have any links to Nate working with Batum over this summer? Cuz I can find plenty of the French National Team working with Batum.
And this was due to Outlaw being sidelined for good stretches. Imagine how much less it would have been with Outlaw healthy all season.
Maybe my brain isn't working, but wasn't Trout traded before or just after Nic came back from his shoulder surgery?
I seem to recall being "thankful" Outlaw was out so that Batum wouldn't be blocked from playing time (especially in the 2nd half) of games. Thought it was pre-trade. Maybe I was thankful he was just straight gone.
Batum game 1 - 18pts Game 2 - 12pts(early blowout) Game 3 - couldn't lift arm above shoulder Yes, play through your injured player that is only a role player more please Nate
I never said Nate maximized Batum's talent? So you believe just because it's not right in font of your face that Nate is using Batum all wrong and that he's holding back some star or something, despite improving every season? As a fairly young player? No, Nate, you're using him all wrong still. Batum is a nice role player. IMO people overrate him way too much.
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.
Are folks blaming his playing time on Nate? Because last I remembered, it was more of Batum's shoulder limiting his playing time, not Nate.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I also remember the Mike's questioning Nate on air about why Batum didn't play as much. Rice was always going after him.
Equally as sickening how is is over lauded in here by some. He has done NOTHING as a coach to deserve such praise.
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?
