If he doesn't keep it up it doesn't. If Batum goes cold for the rest of the season and comes down to Pietrus's shooting level (while taking more shots), their production will be about equal. But we are comparing what they have done so far, and based on that (this season), Batum's efficiency is on another level largely due to his .551 FG%, .448% 3P, .913% FT -- not saying he will finish with those insane averages, but I think it's safe to say he will have improved significantly over his rookie season, in which he still shot better both from FG and 3P than Pietrus in all but 1 season, not to mention the huge FT disparity. Bottom line, it's not a bad comparison in terms of athleticism, defense and playing a complementary role on offense (and of course nationality), but what sets Batum apart is his superior shooting ability.
2nd seasons Pietrus: 14.2 PER Batum: 18.5 PER Your analysis negelects turnovers and scoring efficiency, and pace. Pietrus was playing for the Warriors, who were 7th in the league in pace that year. Batum is playing for the Blazers, who are 30th in the league in pace. Pace affects raw stats, but not PER. Plus Batum is a year younger, which makes a difference in terms of upside.
How about Joe Johnson? Joe J. 9.8 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.6 APG, .8 SPG, 28 MPG (Age 21) Batum 9.8 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.2 APG, .6 SPG, 23 MPG (Age 21) Per 36: Joe J. 12.8 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.0 SPG Batum 15.4 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.0 SPG
Nicolas Batum = Jamal "Keith" Wilkes They are both smooth as silk. Their games are actually mirror images of each other.
Agree. When I first say him in person, in a preseason game last year, and he looked like part baby Pippen, part baby Prince, but I immediately started calling him "Silk" because it just fit. I think Nicolas can wear that name.
I think he's most similar to Josh Childress, though I believe Batum's ceiling is higher. Both shoot a high percentage from the floor and from 3 pt range. Childress is/was a strong defender, good ball handler and average rebounder, just like Batum. I'm also reminded of an in his prime Brent Barry, though Batum hasn't yet had the opportunity to play the same style as Barry, acting as kind of a point forward, thus racking up assists. Batum is maybe a bit better on defense. (Though Barry was solid and I believe Batum is *slightly* overrated on defense.) I see nothing at all of Sprewell in Batum's game. Sprewell couldn't shoot for shit from the floor or from 3pt range. Sprewell was ridiculously inefficient on offense. Batum is exactly the opposite. Obviously, it's a smaller sample size with Batum, but he is currently one of the most efficient players in the league. He was most efficient 27th last season.
I really, really like Batum. But he has to do a better job against brawny small forwards (LeBron, Carmello, Artest). Last night he played 14 minutes after racking up 4 fouls, and Carmello just feasted on him. Ideally, Bayless blossoms into our starting-quality PG and improves his defense. Then Batum adds the muscle needed to really guard these guys. He's never going to be built like a linebacker like LeBron, but he's got to add a little more muscle.
In all fairness, three of those fouls were el flagrante superstar bull shit fouls. I especially liked the one where Carmello grabbed Nic with both hands, spun him around then cut to the basket. For a second I thought I was watching Kobe. OTOH, you're right.
Yeah, two of them were definitely bullshit. I don't remember the others well. But it wasn't just this game--Batum has had repeated problems with the three guys I mention. I'm not looking for him to "stop" LeBron or Mello, but if he could just hold them below their normal averages it'd be a massive boon.
