A PER of 20 is generally considered all-star level. Not bad for a guy who has started 2 games and averages 26.6 MPG. Maybe if he'd been starting all year and playing 36 MPG we might have two all-stars - and a better record. BNM
Man, it's good to read all this about Batum. Too lazy to look it up and who said what, but just a short time ago there was a thread about Batum being a medicore role player only worth the MLE and should not be offered anymore than that. Remember reading how average he was and not wanting to get into it at that time. Board is finally coming around when it comes to Batum
I've always been a big Batum fan and he's been my youngest daughter's favorite player since the first time she saw him play as a 19-year old in a preseason game against Utah. He had 12 points and 3 very impressive blocks (two against Kirilenko). She still has the custom made extra small Batum 88 black jersey I bought her at the beginning of his rookie season, She wears it to every Blazers game. She finally got to meet him last year and was so happy she was in tears. He was very nice, gave her a hug and said, "no cry, no cry". BNM
I was Batum's biggest detractor in his rookie season, I saw nothing special about him. But he's improved so much since then it's so hard not to like him. Well, hard for everyone except Nate.
The Bulls have 7 guys with a PER over 15, 5 guys with a PER over 17, 3 guys with a per over 19, and two over 20 (Rose, Boozer). Best record in the NBA. The Blazers have 5 guys with PER over 15, 2 with PER over 17 (both over 19) and one over 20. 16-14 record. I think PER says a lot, even for not the top players in the league.
