Fucking Batum. This guy has "Star" written all over him. Not "allstar" as he will never make it. But "star" as in never fucking trade him. His defense is going to be so invaluable to this team over the next decade that I can't even start to describe it. Some of his plays are just unbelievable. And they will never show up in a boxscore. He is a KEEPER.
The last few games he has really come on. Before I would temper my expectations of him, remembering how Khryapa offered us this hussle and defense.. but Batum is doing it on a team in a dogfight in the Western Conference.. while Khryapa did it on a team in a fight for ping pong balls lol.
Yup, Batum is the ultimate glue guy. He's exactly what we need from the SF spot as well as being a perimeter defender. I never want to see the kid wear a different NBA jersey. Once he gets more aggressive on the offensive end he could become an all star.
I don't think a sub-all-star player is ever a guy you should not trade. I think that Batum has a good chance at making all-star games, though. He already shows he belongs and he's barely out of his teens. If he has a good work ethic and can improve his skills (perimeter shooting, specifically) as his body matures and he gets the experience of playing? I'd be surprised if he doesn't make a few all-star games in his career. Ed O.
Let them battle it out. I think if they are even, it would make more sense to start Batum and let him expend energy defensively, then let Webster come in and provide scoring punch off the bench. Ideally, we'll have a more rugged backup power forward and that would mean we'll need offense that Outlaw and Frye provide to that unit now. There are a lot of possibilities in terms of Outlaw and free agent additions, etc. It'll be interesting. Ed O.
I love the length and coordination of Portland's young starting forwards and that they get after it on D... they are probably my two favs but I'd trade any Blazer in the right deal. You are totally correct in siting NB's shadow contributions of deflections/tips. Again I like that LaMarcus does the same stuff... there isn't a specific stat for this but it shows up in the W column. career high for Nic! STOMP
I don't remember Viktor showing anything close to what Batum has shown. Batum has been invisible most of the year (except the beginning and now), and Khryapa = Invisible Batum, but he's not even close to the flashes of Scottie Pippen that Batum is showing.
