There is a thing called BBIQ, your coach shouldn't have to tell you what to do when you have a mismatch. You shouldn't be shooting step back long 2's or 3s, or posting up to shoot a sfadeway long 2 on a PG or SG that has NO CHANCE at guarding your length. And lets not forget young BAtum being guarded by Steve Nash and not going in the post. Also, when Kobe/any half decent veteran player with any history in the NBA of being above average/very good has the ball, they know what to do with it. You don't have to have your coach screaming "get in the post!' they just do it, because, y'know, matchups. Hell even fucking Wesley MAtthews was bustin little bitches asses in the post this year and you didn't hear Stotts screaming "post him up, Wes!" Wes was just aware of his strengths. So yes, Batum (is a pretty smart basketball player and knows matchups) knows when someone is smaller than him and he has the advantage and REFUSES to go into the post. I believe that is "refusal". Thanks. Educate yourself before nitpicking, dude. Have a nice day, I'm done with you. Learn the game, then I'll enter into discourse with you once again.
Larry Sanders seemed to find Batum in the post when he knocked him for an 8 ft horizontal fall that caused his wrist to hurt the rest of the season. Nico got a lot of rebounds in the paint. Yeah he had a poor shooting year but I think you're stretchin' the point beyond reasonable facts Thuggin'. Wes blew his share of plays as did a lot of players. Even in the championship game, Curry had wide open lanes and settled for long jumpers. It's one thing to not like a player but another to single out a random mistake and make it the guy's identity. Guys who are injured stay in the game by not bangin' in the post and we had plenty of guys injured. Lamarcus couldn't post up as often with a dangling thumb either. It's called injuries. Watch Nico's exit interview and his BBIQ was humble and self critical. He knows he had a bad year. It's not his body of work though, I've watched him since we drafted him. Wes bricked a ton of layups over the last few seasons although he improved last year. Nic fed Rolo in the post with great success.
So if Nic didn't get hurt he'd be in the post? Thuggin hit it straight on, passiveness is part of his DNA. Posting up is an aggressive offensive thing to do, something Nic refused to do. I don't count turning your back on a PG then shooting a turnaround fade as a post move, and I don't think I've ever seen him make one post move towards the rim. Ever. And if Nics too hurt to "bang" in the post with a small guard, then he shouldn't be in the game. You talk about Wes missing layups, well at least he's getting to the rim and taking them over the least efficient shot in basketball. I also think its funny how you say Steph Curry, the best shooter on the planet, "settled" for long jumpers, as if that justifies Batum's settling for long jumpers. Long jump shots for Curry are like layups. It doesn't justify Nic shooting faradays over guys 6 inches shorter. And Nics self-criticism won't fix what's in his DNA as a basketball player.
Posting up is hard to do injured, nice you ignored that part of my post but injured guys do play in games when so many guys are down...Long jumpers are not layups for anyone and Curry played some passive ball throughout the playoffs hesitating to go to the rim when the lane was wide open. Wes has holes in his game as do most of the players on the roster. I'm a fan of Batum's game and could care less if you find it funny or not. You don't like him, I get it. Now you're defining his DNA? Ok....
I do lIke him I just view him without bias. Nice that you missed the part of my post where I said posting up a PG or small 2 every now and then shouldn't be difficult
Sorry but you can't compare the MVP of the league being passive at times in the Finals to what Nic does.
I think tbis is one of those instances where some people need to ask what they would be willing to trade for a role player like Batum. Start being realistic about this.
role player or a two way player that can do a little bit of everything? Look at the hype around someone like Giannis. It's not just because he's young. Batum has a lot of value. I'm confident in saying that.
This is why I believe NY would definitely trade their #4 for Batum and our pick. They get a player that can contribute NOW and plays well with players that dominate the ball. Also, NY is getting a ton of pressure to win now. Their fans are tired of being the laughing stock of the NBA. The draft pick won't give them wins now like Batum can, plus Melo is getting older. It's a win win situation for both teams, especially if Aldridge and Matthews maybe gone. Oh P.S., they have enough cap space to absorb Batum's salary, while still having Max to offer another marquee free agent.
I think new York would move #4 for batum and crabbe. However, I think they would want us to take back Jose Calderon too though
