Since you asked: Batum's are terrible... but still significantly better per minute than Prince's. And Prince was supposed to be one of his team's main guys - this was his time to put up or shut up. Of course it doesn't. But can you imagine us forgiving, say, Travis for numbers THAT BAD? We eviscerated him for the numbers he did put up, and they're way better than Prince's. And when it happens to someone at Prince's stage of his career, you start to think that he's slipping. I say Batum passes Prince sometime this season. And I've always been a big Tayshaun fan.
For those of you absolutely starved for some basketball, someone uploaded the entire France-Austria game here, and apparently the other games will eventually follow. Just follow the links to FRANCEAUTRICHE1, 2 3 4.
I think Batum being one of the leading scorers (or rather, stat-fillers) on a deep French team full of established NBA players and prospects (Parker (even if he didn't play much), Diaw, Turiaf, Noah, De Colo) is a very good sign. I have a feeling this tournament in September, right before training camp will do wonders for his confidence (which was already on the up --take that Pau!) and especially his offensive game.
http://www.dailymotion.com/tag/basket/video/xa0oc9_francehongrie-basket-match-de-prepa_animals Slam- 0:40 in.
Sweet. Catch, one bounce, dunk over defender. For those who question how Andre Miller will fit on our team, try to imagine Blake throwing that pass. That's the sort of play Miller makes happen with regularity.
Video of Nic's game vs. the Czech Republic (15pts/5asts). He's #5 in blue. Part 1: http://www.dailymotion.com/user/pau..._francetchequie1_sport?hmz=7461626d656d626572 Part 2: http://www.dailymotion.com/pau-orthez_com?hmz=7461626d656d626572 Part 3: http://www.dailymotion.com/user/pau..._francetchequie3_sport?hmz=7461626d656d626572 Part 4: http://www.dailymotion.com/user/pau-orthez_com/video/xa102o_francetchequie4_sport Part 5: http://www.dailymotion.com/user/pau-orthez_com/video/xa100v_francetchequie5_sport
I'm not one to bash Nate, but there is an argument some people make that Nate 'ruins' certain young players by making them look over their shoulder too much. I'm not ready to conclude Sarge made Nico nervous last year, but I think Nate may have a tendency with young players he does not trust to pull the reigns too tight, and that can take a guy out of his game. Even if true, I suspect Nico's larger problem was in fact his youth, his inexperience, and a bit of 'rookie-itis.' Hopefully, in two years Nico will be the stud I believe he will be, and Nate will be trusting him to play ball without fearing the hook.
Nobody expected Batum to start prior to Webster being injured. The fact that Nate stuck with such an unpolished player as his starter all season should refute at least a bit of those criticisms of Nate. Batum was arguably the worst starter on the team last year, and Nate let him learn the ropes. It paid off to the tune of 54 wins. Nate didn't have to start Batum, yet he did. I expect more out of Batum this year, and I'm sure the team does as well. I still wonder where Webster fits into the team, though.
Good point. After the disastrous decision to pull Batum from the starting line-up at the last minute opening night, in favor of Travis, Nate stuck with him on the starting unit all year. Not starter's minutes often, not closing out the game often, but getting used to starting had to be a big benefit for the kid. It will be interesting to see what happens IF Martell comes back healthy and in shape. If Nico comes to town with anything close to a polished outside shot, and plays on offense without hesitation like hasoos pointed out, it might be tough to start Martell. It might just come down to, how does Nate think the players (Miller, Nico, Martell, Travis) mesh with the team in the various units Nate's going to put on the floor?
