Are you sure? I seem to remember that he announced he will be playing for France this year. I remembered how much that pissed me off.
nic needs to play this season like he has a chip on his shoulder and something to prove, because really, he does... short of punching that guy in the balls, i dont think ive really ever seen him with that fire. he's usually just slow burning on the court - honestly i barely notice him some games.
MP's point is well taken, but I would also add Dorrel Wright to the conversation. Last year's bench was beyond awful. If Wright can help with some offensive punch on the 2nd unit, this team should be considerably better than last year.
There have been some games last year where he really stood out. There were a few game winners and clutch defensive stops. His triple double was pretty sexy too.
Yeah the shit really pisses me off. I mean he's on a near max contract and he could get injured. I understand he has French patriotism; but the dude needs to earn his contract first. Once he's legit, then do the things you need to play in the off-season. It really makes me angry. Did I mentioned I'm pissed?
"Batum faced health issues of his own towards the end of the NBA season and missed Portland's final few games, but he joked that 'knock on wood, I am still in one piece.' "I am resting now, I had some problems with my shoulder this year, but beyond that I have not had a really big injury, just a few glitches," he explained. Most importantly, he has been elevated to a go-to player at Portland over the last couple of seasons. "I do not look at [Greg] Oden, [LaMarcus] Aldridge and [former team-mate Brandon] Roy any more to take orders in the clutch moments. "It is me that others turn to in the clutch now. "I have to assume my responsibilities and that is very encouraging. "Even off the field and with the media [in the United States], I'm much more secure and respected now." France were drawn in First Round Group A at EuroBasket 2013, which tips off on 4 September, together with Belgium, Germany, Israel, Ukraine and Great Britain.
Green font? Maybe just light green? If not, that is the kindest thing anyone has ever said to me in the forum. Thanks for the compliment.
The sooner you homers come to the realization that Batum is just a hot/cold player the better. His jumper is either falling or it's not. If it's not it's ugly (look at his December FG% BEFORE "injury"). That's what happens when you only shoot jumpers. I also love the "injury" excuse. Wes, Aldridge, etc were all asked about being banged up last year, about Nic, etc, and both basically said "everyone is banged up". No excuses for these two. Just stop with the excuses for Nic. I don't know why you guys do it to yourselves. Accept that he's not as good as you want him to be (2nd or 3rd option). He's a nice little role player that has a big game every now and then. There's nothing wrong with that.
We interacted for years on O-Live before this (I was also RiggoDrill after I lost maxiep in an unfortunate foray into the Pistons forum at mlive.com). You've taught me a ton about hoops. Don't be modest.
We'll agree to disagree. I think he can be a 17/6/4 guy in this league who also plays lockdown defense.
Batum has nearly all (if not all) the required skills of a SF. The problem is he only shows them 50% of the time. He may continue to only do that and be up and down but saying he doesn't have the skills is wrong imo. Just a matter of showing them. Will he? Who knows. But they are there.
Exactly. It's what's so vexing. Here is his potential: [video=youtube;COx6tXKFm6E]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COx6tXKFm6E[/video] It's up to the coaches and Nico himself to coax that level of play out of him consistently.
One clip doesn't prove anything. I didn't say he couldn't play or that he sucked. He is a nice player and I like him. But, to be an elite wing, you have to be able to control the ball in traffic CONSISTENTLY and either finish at a high percentage or make a pass. Too often Batum passes up going into traffic. Why? Because it isn't a high percentage play for him. He is usually better off with the open jumper. Thus, the game of Batum is what we see.
I remember! I need to get my post total as phat as yours is. What's hilarious to me is that you can type the word phat and it has no red squiggly line underneath!
