Bright spot: Batum's offensive game picking up

I don't think Nic will average over 17 pts a game. But he does so many other things well it doesn't matter!

 

Those kinds of plays make so much more sense to me than the ones where we try to make him camp in the corner or post up Nash. He's just not a post up player, no matter who is guarding him. He's at his best when he's on the move, catching and shooting or driving to the hole.

Last night he was used as the legit #2 option, maybe for the first time. That to me is the blueprint for the near future, because it's an excellent way to play off Aldridge's low post game. Everything we do should be focused on forcing the team to stop Aldridge, then stop Batum, then try to cover the remainder of the scoring options.

That means it's Matthews or Fernandez or Miller camped out in the weak side corner to spread the defense and not Batum. We just don't have the luxury anymore of letting Batum impersonate Bruce Bowen.

 

Great quote from Batum after last nights game. (from O-Live)

 

It's weird to see a french man on the offensive.

 

Great quote.......especially when it comes from somebody that sounds like Pepe' LePew!

 

In Nico's defense, it helps to have two functioning arms, which he didn't in that series. When the Suns tried that this season (Hill on Miller and Nash on Batum), Frenchie owned him.

 

"Keep fighting"? If he keeps talking like that, France will revoke his citizenship. Where's the talk of surrender? That's the French way.

 

Laugh all you want. I remember three specific times last night when that happened. Once Miller made a 3 pointer (!) but it wasn't allowed because Przybilla set an illegal screen. The other two times he dribbled in a little and made nice midrange jumpers.

Sometimes it seems like Miller uses his lack of perimeter shot as an asset. Defenders see this slow guy who can't shoot, they sag off, and next thing you know he's done some crafty move to get to within his range for an open shot or he's used the space to set up a lob.

We're running the Spurs offense now, basically. The Spurs always had room for Tony Parker, despite his limited perimeter shot. There's certainly space on this team for Miller.