I can't remember where I read a few of the posts, referring to how thin we are at PG. I have a weird feeling Nate thinks that Batum will play some PG. Gonna say, I don't really like it. I'm just not comfortable with his handles and decision making. What do you guys think?
My guess: He'll try it briefly and after two possessions that end in turnovers, the experiment will end.
LMAO!!!! Yeah this is Nate we are talking about! But, looking at the bench; we are really thin at PG. A Johnson could be the answer but the kid is too young to count on. If Felton goes down with injury, we are totally fucked! I am hoping Batum learned something playing with those Euros.
I think Nic could play some Point Forward. Until he demands movement in the offense and Nate pulls him
Funny thing is our bench is not any thinner at the point this year than we were last year. Mills/ Johnson vs Smith/Johnson. I prefer another vet, but if you want Smith to have minutes then I can't see adding one. Batum would be as good as Roy at the Point. Which I never liked.
What leads you to believe that Nate is considering him at point-forward? Did Nate intimate this or did you get a weird feeling in your gut (like indigestion)?
Smith is gonna be a good one, and that is coming from someone who does not have Rose Garden colored glasses
Well the feeling that Nate doesn't like giving youth a chance. I could see him putting in Batum before Johnson. Not saying I agree with his decision; it's more of him not having confidence to use the promising youth on his squad. i.e. LMA, Batum and Fernandez when he was younger.
Which "promising youth" are you referring to? Nolan Smith, Eliot Williams, Armon Johnson? Those guys all look a little like off-guard in a lead-guard's body to me, but I still don't get the bit where Batum becomes his next best option as a creator/ball-handler. Chances are each of those guys gets a chance to play backup point guard until they prove they can't, at which point maybe he's forced to use Batum, but you still haven't made it clear why Nate would be eager to use Nic in that backup role when his ball skills are so shaky (even if his vision and court awareness are pretty good).
Why would you think Nate doesn't like youth? He gave Roy control of the team as a rookie, played Lamarcus big minutes when he was healthy. He started Batum as a rookie at SF. He played Rudy major minutes as a rookie. He gave Jarrett Jack a big role his first few years. The only rookies Nate hasn’t played are scrubs like Babbit that suck so much they shouldn’t be on a roster. Nate plays rookies as much or more than any coach in the league.
I don't get it either, and I hate Nate as a coach. I think, like most coaches, he would prefer to play vets. But he doesn't seem to shy away from playing young guys if there is no other option
Anybody else get a sudden "Qyntel Woods at PG" flashback? *shiver* Seriously, though, I think it's something you try out there in one of the preseason games to see if it can work against the Jazz's preseason bench. If Batum can pass that test, you try it again in a regular season blowout stretch and go from there. If it's something that actually works, down the road it sure would be fun to see a Batum/Matthews/Wallace/Aldridge/Camby lineup in short bursts. We might have problems scoring, but the other team would have more.
Given your betting history on the Blazers, I think we all can rest easy on your weird feeling Batum will play PG.
Okay let me rephrase it. Nate has his "blanky" players that he will use and afraid to take chances on less proven talent? Does that sound better?
