Sean Elliott: Batum is the best SF in the league

And Batum's stats tonight were inline with his season averages. In fact, his assists, steals and blocks were all below his averages. When Batum posts a 19/7 game, and it's a below average game (overall) for him, you know he's come a long way.

BNM

 

Honestly, on a night-in-night out basis, and a guy's productivity on both ends of the court, he's our best player right now.

 

Add in defense, steals, shot blocking, rebounding, etc. and I don't think there is any question Nico is our best player so far this season. Heck, he might even be our best passer and his floor vision is terrific. Vindication is sweet.

 

Sean Elliot isn't the only one noticing Batum's increased production.

From the ESPN Weekly Dish:

"With the exception of one off night against Oklahoma City, Nicolas Batum has been operating in full fantasy beast mode with averages of 19.3 points, 6.2 boards, 3.2 assists, 2.7 steals, 1.0 blocks and 2.7 3-pointers after six games. More importantly, he is playing a whopping 39.5 minutes per game for the Blazers. He might be inconsistent on a night-to-night basis, but with minutes like that, Batum has the potential to be a top-20 player in fantasy leagues this season. Congrats if you drafted him, and enjoy the ride."

And he's currently listed as 19th in their Top 130 ranking.

Batum is already earning that big contract so many complained about. And, his salary actually goes down from here. The sample size is small, but Batum is still only 23 and has shown significant improvement with his larger, expanded role. He's now allowed to be more than a spot up 3-point specialist and is becoming the complete player many of us hoped he would. Those who continue to insist Batum isn't worth his contract are in complete denial. They'd rather see him suck than admit they were/are wrong.

BNM

 

http://sportstwo.com/threads/223416-SI-s-grim-assessment-of-the-Blazers/page2

Like you ran, from the thread in which I mathematically refuted you with no answer from you. You now make an authoritarian demand that the only possible list of qualified players must use the arbitrary standards in the NBA.com list. Yet as I said in that thread, any slight modification to that arbitrary standard would cancel the gimmick argument that you will repeat all season. You cling to that random standard because you are unable to see the larger picture. I could politely say you're a pompous blowhard, or I could throw your own genius phraseology back at you, "You don't know shit."
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There is no question that Batum is our best player? You always speak in absolutes. You are too authoritarian. It may be true, but of course it can be questioned.

Per game, Batum is the best Blazer, because he gets more minutes than Hickson.
http://www.hoopsstats.com/basketbal...-trail-blazers/team/playerstats/13/25/1-1-eff

Per minute, Hickson is the best Blazer.
http://www.hoopsstats.com/basketbal...-trail-blazers/team/playerstats/13/25/1-3-eff

I'm not saying that Hickson's a better player, because he isn't. I'm just saying that your constant leonine roaring that your opinion is unquestionable is tiresome.

Even if he is the best player on a crappy 2-5 team (.286), that does not irrefutably prove that he's worth $46M for 4 years. He may be worth it or he may not be, but what is tiresome is the anger in your writing.

 

It is authoritative because it comes from THE official source. The NBA says Batum was 48th in the NBA in scoring average last season. They should know. You act like I invented the standard and that it's somehow open to interpretation. All I did was report what is readily accessible on the official NBA web site.

Wow, huge strawman (is that you PapaG?). Since I NEVER said that, I feel no need to respond to anything you posted after that statement.

Have a nice day,
BNM

 

jplrk, production can be quantified in a monetary sense, and in that sense, he is worth his contract

if everyone wants to assign their own idea of his worth as a variable they should feel free to do so, but not expect to necessarily have a chorus of people agreeing with them

 

http://www.nba.com/statistics/playe...arsExp=-1&splitDD=0&sortOrder=9&statType=FSPI

After tonight's game, Batum is 2nd in Fantasy rankings among ALL PLAYERS. Just behind Durant and just ahead of LeBron.

Unbelievable, we have a guy who is producing more than the fucking MVP last season.

Maybe Batum IS the best SF in the league!

GO BLAZERS

 

http://www.nba.com/statistics/playe...arsExp=-1&splitDD=0&sortOrder=9&statType=FSPI

In PER, Nic is third among SFs but if KD and LeBron are PFs, then Nic is #1. Carmelo, another playing PF, is far below Nic.

 

Is there a site tracks EFF? NBA.com used to but not anymore.

 

Right now, Batum is the best player on the team. I don't know if he'll keep up with this level of play, but he's better than Aldridge on BOTH ends of the floor (especially defense), and he plays with more fire. If LA doesn't step it up, he's going to be the 3rd fiddle on our team.

 

It's an official NBA stat, so you can still find it at nba.com. You just need to click on "Stats", "sortable Player Stats" and select "Efficiency" from the drop down menu.

Here's the direct link:

http://www.nba.com/statistics/playe...itScope=GAME&qualified=Y&yearsExp=-1&splitDD=

Nic is currently 11th in the league.

BNM

 

If he can score over 20 ppg as third fiddle, I really don't care. The guy simply doesn't have the killer instinct that Lillard has. What's encouraging is to see Batum developing an aggressive attitude. He never had that before (thank you Nate McMillan).

 

I like that Aldridge is getting his points efficiently. He's leading the team in scoring while not really being the focal point, which bodes well for the long-term. He's a great safety valve anywhere on the court.

 

Funny little coincidence: Batum is 11th (22.6), LA is 21st (20.3), and Lillard is 43rd (17.9), almost a 11, 22, 44 situation.