Does anyone read and study scouting reports more than this kid? I love how he studies for games by doing that. He mentioned knowing Carmelo would spin after going left, on the play he picked up his 6th foul on. I remember him making similar comments last season when he covered Dirk well, about his pump fakes. Batum makes me happy for the rest of the season, regardless of who is out there.
That was the play of the game for me. The way he defends makes it so easy for the ref to call. He defends with such amazing fluidity, sticking like glue without actually touching the defender, truly amazing. As far as studying goes, I'm really impressed with all the young guys on this team and their approach to watching game film. Wesley Mathews interview with Wheels last night really drove it home, saying that's what he has to do to keep up his solid play, study film.
For a while now whenever I watch Nico I keep thinking of him as our Bobby Gross. A longer, more athletic Bobby Gross. Gross was a player who would get the rebound on one end, run the floor, and score on the fast break on the other. Nico does that all the time after he gets a block or a rebound or a steal, and he did it last night. Gross was one of my favorite Blazers ever and Nico is my favorite Blazer now. Playing in the shadows of Walton and Lucas and Hollins, Gross was an MVP role player -- we would not have won the championship without him. Nico will be that or better, depending on who he has for teammates. Last night, Melo gave Nico a number of elbows, and Nico is not phased. He just keeps dogging you with his calm demeaner. On the play you mentioned, Melo have him a pretty good elbow bump, Nico got back in position, and drew the charge. Play of the game and the game winner, IMO.
It sucks losing Roy, but watching Matthews, Batum, Aldridge and Camby out there on defense is a thing of beauty. May be the best defensive starting lineup we've had since I started watching this team in the mid-90's. Denver averages 104 ppg. Watching them struggle for 83 was just so much fun.
And that was without Joel (and GO ) Portland's defense was very good when it needed to be. It was a thing of beauty. Now, if only we would have made our free throws it wouldn't have been close.
Agreed, agreed, agreed. Nic is a very astute defender and his move to take that charge last night was no lucky guess. He's a smart kid.
Chance To Meet Nicolas BATUM!!!! http://www.banfield.net/r/portland-trail-blazer-nicolas-basum-helps-feed-hungry-pets-this-sunday
I'll be there with my youngest daughter. She's a HUGE Batum fan and has been ever since the first time we saw him play. It was a preseaon game against Utah before the beginning of his rookie season. Oden, Roy, and I believe Aldridge all sat out. I was a bit disappointed as I REALLY wanted to see Oden play. So, it was Batum's first NBA start. He played great. He had something like 12 points and three blocks. He went head to head agaonst AK47 and swatted him big time twice. One was on a baseline spin move where Kirilenko tried to drop step around the kid to create some space, but Nic stuck to him like glue and swatted the shot about 12 rows deep. Kirlilenko actually got a chuckle out of it. Probably reminded him of his younger days when he used to average >3 bpg. Anyway, my daugter has an eye for talent and Batum instantly became her favorite player. I had a black Batum 88 jersey made for her at the first regular season game we attended that year in a youth XS size and she still wears to to every Blazers game we attend. I suspect she'll have it on this Sunday, as well. BNM
Great Story! Love his swatting abilities. He's my fiancee's favorite as well and she has one of those unique woman's Batum jerseys. She's pumped to get it signed!
I just wish I'd put it up there three years ago. Kind of feels a little "late to the game" at this point. I think as long as he's a Blazer, I'll either use the giraffe with that tag line when he's out with injury, or this one when he's healthy: Oden ain't having that.
Boob, I was at that game, and Nico's been my favorite player ever since. He is also my daughters' favorite player, he's the only one they look for and ask about when I take one of them to a game or the game is on TV. The girls dig the French dude. Who'd have guessed?
He sounds so savvy. He's a vet now. [video=youtube;O6pt7etqqhc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6pt7etqqhc[/video]
Here's Batum's third season compared to Pippen's third season... this is a link you can bookmark and compare after each game Batum plays. Specifically, watch the Per36 and Advanced Stats areas. http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tiny.cgi?id=geHkq
Watching Batum develop is one comfort as a Blazers fan. Of course, it leaves me wondering what it would have been like to combine what Batum will become with a healthy Roy and Oden... </dream>
