Watching Batum, he really hasn't looked to score that much. On the down side, when he has, he hasn't looked good. But on the plus side, he has played like a coach on the floor. When the team gets a bit ragged, he makes sure they run the play. He moves the ball. He plays hard defense. Both he and Diaw have ensured that France as a team has been more than the sum of its parts. In fact, this France team reminds me a bit of the Blazers last year: overachievers. I know that sounds odd to say given that they're Euro champs and they certainly haven't looked like it, but they lost a huge part of their offense with Parker and they lost the French Tomic when Ajinca sat out. Also they have some young'uns playing big roles in Heurtel, Gobert, Fournier and Joffrey Lauvergne, so Batum has had to be a mentor. I think, as usual, if you judge Batum just by his numbers, you underrate how important he's been for a French team that is still in it.
Slovenia now. That bile color has to be the worst of any national team, but you gotta love the Dragics. Slovenia is also missing good players: Pekovic and the taller Lorbek. Goran Dragic might be MVP of the tourney given how important he's been for his team. (Of course Dominica is missing Al Horford. So they know how Atlanta feels.)
I wonder if dame has noticed how horrible drose has been. If it were me, that would make me even more upset because I'd know I could be playing better than that...and dame definitely would be.
Rose is 21.6% from the field, and 9.1% from 3 (1-11). Also, most of those FGs were layups. Someone needs to go to Coach K and say "Learn the Game, Then Coach!"
The best Chicago Bulls player in the WC (by a mile) is Pau Gasol. May be the best NBA player, just in terms of how well he's played.
Yeah, the east is fucked with the Cavs and Bulls. Bulls could easily beat the Cavs in the ECF with the level Gasol has been playing at. Looking like his championship self, lakers are going to be really really bad next year!
