From Basketball Breakdowns [video=youtube;F-Q4GVXGMlE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-Q4GVXGMlE&feature=player_embedded[/video]
Nic wasn't the only one playing excellent D on Kobe, Martell seems to have gotten over his slump and star-struck attitude towards The Rapist. Webster played very good heads-up D against Bryant as well.
Marty did okay as well, but he had some lapses here an there. Good game overall for both of those guys.
A prime example why you can't judge Batum on his PPG/RPG. He's already nearing elite status as a defensive wing.
So this season I can remember Nic locking up Dirk, Kobe and CP3! No bad for a 21 year old smelly Euro!
That would imply that Kome = Superman, which we know is obviously not true. I prefer: Nic = Batman, while Kome = Joker
Great analysis! That's one of the best game reports I've ever seen. You can really see why Bryant had such a tough time on offense.
The other night Barrett said Batum's reach is 7'4" and can touch the rim on his tippy toes. It'll be interesting to see how much better he can get as he continues to get stronger.
Not to mention once he gets some vet respect from the refs, especially once he's been named all-defense a couple of times.
I remember at one point, nbadraft.net had Nic projected at #2 overall, behind D-Rose! Granted, I think that was even before the '07 draft had occurred, so he was like 17 or something, but scouts saw the potential a long time ago. I'm just extremely happy we ended up with him!!
I'd say that he's already there. How many players would you rather have defend players like Parker and Paul, Kobe and Nowitzki? I'm not sure there's anyone. That's just an amazing variety of physical characteristics and styles that he's great at defending. Really, about the only type of player that he doesn't currently match up excellently with is big, powerful wings like Carmelo Anthony or LeBron James. But give him a year or two to fill out his frame and I think he's going to be the best defender for virtually any perimeter player in the game.
I'm a big Batum fan and all, but that sure didn't seem like Kobe was at his best. He wasn't getting the usual bounce on his jumper which was of course the given reason he missed the last couple of games. I couldn't believe their last possession where he didn't seem to make much of an effort to free himself to receive the ball for the last shot. regardless, I'll take it STOMP
That seems difficult to believe. I'm sure he can get close, but I doubt he can get all the way up to 10'. Oden's pre-draft wingspan was over 7'4", and his standing reach was only 9'4". Elton Brand is taller than Batum with a bigger wingspan, and his standing reach is 9'2". Going up on tip-toes doesn't get you 10" higher, even if you have NBA size feet.
Wingspan includes chest width; Batum is skinny as a rail, much skinnier than Oden and Brand, meaning his arms need to be longer to make up for his skinny chest. Add the tiptoes and you've got a 10' standing reach.
I think Dante Cunningham is going to be our guy down the road who guards them. For now, Webster does pretty well.
