Batum: I'm the number 2 option now and have to play like it

Batum's D is the only thing that keeps from going insance about not having picked KD in 2007. Batum is one of very few players in the entire league that can single handily stop him.

That said, he better put in some serious ball-handling work in the off season if he wants to get anywhere near All-Star Caliber.

 

The disappearing act once again

 

He still has the same ball hog guards on his team. It's like Felton and Crawford heard Batum say "I'll be the number 2" and they were like "Wah! What about ME??!".

 

Batum is just in love with the #9 this month. He's scored 9 points exactly 6 times, and has failed to even reach double digits in 7 of the last 14 games....not what you want from your #2.

 

I'm not sure who was supposedly saying that, but actions speak louder than words. When did Nate EVER run any set plays for Batum? When was he ever more than a better defending James Jones parked in the corner waiting for the kick out guy? Canales is actually running set plays in the half court offense for Batum. He actually has teammates setting screens to free up Batum for open looks - something we NEVER saw under Nate.

Yeah, Nic is still inconsistent on offense, but hopefully consistency will come with an expanded role and some set plays designed to get him open looks. Nic's development was held back by two things: his own unaggressive nature and Nate's stifling ISO heavy offense that discouraged ball movement and player movement. Now that Nate is gone, it's up to Batum to accept an expanded role and become more aggressive to take advantage of the new opportunities.

BNM

 

NEVER isn't true. Remember when Batum hit 7 threes in a game? Some of those were off screens.