Apparently the reason for Batum's scant minutes last night was that he was experiencing some pain. If he's re-injured that shoulder...
This is what I hate about the NBA. In the old days, you would have had someone like Mo Lucas to deliver a cheap shot to Brewer as a warning not to hit Nico's shoulder again.
This is where the team is missing Joel big time. Joel would make sure that Brewer got the message. Go Blazers
Ironic, seeing as it was Pendergraph that basically went at Batum's sore shoulder his first day back of regular practice. Not much difference between that and what Brewer did in the game.
When this happens, we need one of our bigs to step up and deliver a moving pick that keeps on moving the very next time down the court. I'm talking a hard pick, from the blind side with arms up and elbows out - literally run over the guy from behind. As long as there are no punches, elbows thrown or blows to the head, it won't be called a flagrant foul, but it will send a message - you go after one of our guys, I'm coming after you. BNM
A small part of me is actually relieved about this news. It means Batum was having an off-game for a reason. This was definitely his worst game since returning.
I didn't see the game, but he seemed to have had as efficient a game as the others. The main negative was not many minutes. He went 3-3 (2-2 from three-point territory) for 8 points, with a couple of boards and no turnovers in only 14 minutes. Was his defense lacking?
He just seemed as though he were frozen out of the game. Play after play was some sequence of Blake/Aldridge/Pendergraph, without Batum even touching the ball. He just seemed camped out in a corner on the far side of everything, and he wasn't active in making himself more involved. He hit shots when it was swung to him, but he just wasn't that aggressive. In hindsight I think he and his teammates realized he was hurt and really shouldn't be asked to do much more on the offensive end. It makes sense now, but at the time I was pretty frustrated.
"They pull a knife, you pull a gun. They put one of yours in the hospital, you put one of theirs in the morgue. That's the Blazer way"
I think it was more he just wasn't involving himself at all like we had seen in the last several games.
