He's quickly gaining a reputation of flopping that would make Vlade Divac proud. When he's not flopping his defense has noticeably fallen a bit this season - His DRtg dropped from 107 (previous two season) to 109. Here are the statistical categories that have fallen this year for Nic: DRtg Blk% PER TS% eFG% TRB% STL% He's settling for way too many outside jumpers. The only time he attacks the rim is the usual pass off from LaMarcus on the block. Nate McMillan has successfully turned him into James Jones on offense. He looks nothing like he did last summer playing for France (attack mode): [video=youtube;1Z2W9Of8y-Q]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Z2W9Of8y-Q[/video]
I don't think it's Nate's fault, Batum's ballhandling is very suspect. He can't create for himself, so he has to rely on others to create for him.
Batum may not have like Rafer Alston handles or anything... but I would guess his is better than James Jones' Handles.
I agree with this. I don't think he can do what he did for the French team in the NBA. At least not yet.
He has opportunities to create and he just doesn't. Wes has those same opportunities and only does it slightly better than Batum.
We all harp on Nate, but I think he actually does a good job playing to our players strengths. Let's look at the players who have left Nate's system... Sergio - Out of the league. Jack - Essentially the same player he was in Portland, only less efficient offensively. Travis - Turned from a 15 PER player to an 8.5 PER player. Probably one of the worst rotation players in the league right now. Bayless - Hasn't earned that many minutes, so far looks like the same player he was in Portland. Frye - The only player on this list who seems to have been rejuvenated by a change of scenery; due to a 3PT shot and a point guard named Steve Nash. Nate may not have the ability to turn Nic into a star, but I'd hardly say he's making him a worse player.
I think he could be thrust into that role, if necessary. I think we'd lose a lot more games though. A lot more games....
It's pretty obvious that Nic's defense hasn't been up to his usual standards lately. I think he misses Monty Willams.
McMillan's system gets less out of players than other coaches get. Josh McRoberts has started all season for the Pacers, 23 mpg. Telfair was overrated while a Blazer, true, but he averages 20 mpg for Minnesota. James Jones is good enough for 20 mpg with Miami, the best team in the league. Plays every game. We all laughed at Stephen Graham in 2006-07 because McMillan wouldn't give him the time of day. But he's been in the NBA ever since. Nothing great, but better than McMillan made him appear. He plays in every Nets game, 17 mpg. After McMillan played Von Wafer in only 8 of his 28 Blazer games, we thought he'd be out of the league. Next season he averaged 20 minutes with Houston and won them some games. He plays in every Celtic game, 9 mpg. For the 2 seasons after he was a Blazer, Fred Jones got 25 mpg then 29 mpg, then he was out of the league. Not a star, but surprising, considering how he was a scrub under McMillan. Well that's it, except for All-Star Zach. You left him out on purpose because you're trying not to think about him, right? I can understand that.
Allowing Batum and Rudy the green light to shoot 3's as much as they want is a problem with Nate's coaching. This team lives and dies by the 3, which isn't going to get them far in the playoffs.
That video showed good spacing of players and terrible defense. I've always felt Nic is a 6th man type.
No doubt NIK needs to work on his handles. A quote from a scout on the radio this morning said that If he spent two solid summer's working on his skills he could be unstoppable. I agree Batum still has a lot of growing to do, but were not letting go of him anytime soon. It's nice to finally have a backup for him in G.Wallace, or vice-verse, Batum was hobbling pretty bad in the Denver game.
That damn 3 ball! Goes great for us sometimes but last night and vs Miami were we couldn't hit water if we threw a ball in the ocean it was our death. Our offense seems to rely so much on making the first few threes that LMA kicks out to so that all the lanes open up, and if that doesn't work we just keep chucking and missing.
