The Batum tracker thread

nice to see he's still tracking like absolute garbage and enjoying huge minutes in the rotation.

37mins
5pts / 25%FG / 7 boards / 4 assists / 2 steals / 4 turnovers

 

I'm sorry, but Batum fucking sucks this year.

 

He just really needs to rest and let his wrist fully heal. I love that he's trying to play through the pain, but at this point, it's reminiscent of the days when we had Joel Przybilla. Opposing defenses know he's not a threat to score and it's as if we're playing 4-on-5 out there on offense.

 

I can't believe Batum being allowed to stay on the court, and Crabbe being glued to the bench is by design-to-win.
Stotts is not a stupid man, he sees what we see, And I can't believe he is doing this purposely.
There has to be more to it.
I think maybe Batum has checked out and doesn't want to play (with effort). Regardless of the injury, look at his body language and his total lack of effort.
He blows defensive assignments because he's not focused. And I think he plays up his wrist injury by stroking it every second play - yet the training staff have given him the all-clear??

So what do you do with a guy who doesn't really want to play, is turning up for paychecks and has a guaranteed contract.
The Blazers are paying Batum 11 mill this season, 12 million next season - so obviously a huge investment (2nd highest paid Blazer).
I think the Blazers know Batum is shirking it and are forcing him to play. What else can they do? too much money invested in him to sit on the bench. And if his injury was as bad as Batum himself would have you believe - then the Blazers, with their revamped medical staff, WOULD sit him.

Either that or Crabbe really did sleep with Stotts' wife.

 

As the great Kenny Rogers sang

"You got to know when to hold em, know when to fold em"

 

Batumje-Batumje.

 

Batum is going to become a new metaphor for sucking.

 

I saw for the first time today in the Oregonian that he admitted he was tired from playing year around: "I feel bad the way I play. Because of this injury, because of fatigue from this summer."
This is on the coach; they need to sit him down right now; bring him back after the all-star break.

 

A lot of NBA players are able to play in the summer and still play at a high level during the season. And it's not like Batum is an explosive player who plays with a ton of energy anyway. Not sure how much I buy that excuse.

 

Dorell, can you play just as well as Nicolas?

 

I thought the same thing. He finally came out and admitted he's gassed from playing for France in the summer. He needs to be accountable for that going forward. I don't blame him for playing in previous years because it didn't seem to affect him. But this has to be it. It won't go over very well for him back home, but he's already being raked over the coals daily by PDX media/fans. I'm beginning to wonder if this is as good as it gets for Batum this season. We're 48 games into the season now & this is more than a slump. I'd love to be able to sit him for 2-3 weeks like Cavs did for Lebron, but we are so weak at that position. In our offense the SF needs to handle the ball/initiate offense when Dame gets trapped. I believe Nic will turn it around but I fear it might not be until next season after taking the summer off. And it's going to be a struggle for Dame as well if defenses can get away not paying any attention to Nic.

 

I thought I read that Batum led the league in court-miles traveled last season? That's how he plays.

Batum has played competitively EVERY summer since he was a teenager, and was expected to lead his French team.

Many players take entire summers off, some work only on certain aspects of their game, and some play in the occassional low-key pickup games. Only a very few play intensely competitive summer seasons.

Batum needs to stop the summer season, rest, and limit his summer basketball to working on specific skills.

That's what Aldridge does, and I'm sure you'll agree, he's GREAT!

 

http://stats.nba.com/tracking/#!/player/
Batum did and the difference between one and two is greater then between two and five.

 

Just because some can doesn't mean Every player can. I would much rather him take it easy this summer, then have the possibility of getting more injured and winded.

I mean look at PG. His leg shattered into pieces. Shit happens and it's better safe than sorry

 

Batum with 20pts, 4rbs, 7asts, 1stl and 2tos tonight. More importantly he looked engaged.

 

I want to see more of this!!!

 

Nic and Rolo...like Laurel and Hardy, Abbot and Costello, Crosby and Hope, Martin and Lewis..they're partners with a polished act

 

Captain and Tennille!