What does Batum’s Varoom Mean?

by Trutherlizer on Oct 13, 2008 5:53 PM PDT Comment 29 comments

What does Batum’s Varoom Mean?

I had the opportunity to sit through, and sometimes suffer through, the Blazer’s three preseason games at home. To my reckoning the most intriguing story so far is Nicholas Batum. His physical gifts are quickly apparent: 6’9” height, arrrrrrrrrrrrms, greyhound speed, horizontal and vertical quickness. But he’s also shown qualities that have to endear him to McMillan: tenacious on-ball defense, poise, consistency, hard work, quick learning, coachability, fearlessness.

In yesterday’s game against Utah, Kirilenko started strong against Batum, who lost him on picks and even got back cut for a dunk. “Here we go,” I thought, “a wily veteran schooling the rookie, bursting the Batum bubble.” But there was nothing in Batum’s body language suggesting defeat and he would at least equal Kiri for the rest of the game, even blocking his shot at one point. And along the way he also picked up 3 boards, 2 assists, 2 steals and 2 other blocks. It looked to me that he has blended into the Blazer’s offensive and defensive schemes more smoothly than Outlaw has so far.

Of course, it’s early. As Dave wrote, preseason is filled with fool’s gold. Nonetheless, if Batum sustains his consistent play, his meteoric development raises some intriguing short-term and long-term questions.

In the short term, the small forward position is problematic. Webster is hurt. Travis seems to be something of a one-trick pony: good at providing offensive energy, less good at defending quick 3s and sharing the ball. He’s done nothing so far in the preseason to show that his skills and temperament aren’t best suited for the role he had last year—providing a spark off the bench. So does Nate start Roy at the three and Rudy at the two? Roy’s up the challenge, but is going to be undersized for some of the taller SFs. Or does Nate take a chance on Batum? Although that would put two rookies on the starting team, Batum has shown a very unrookie-like composure so far. To my surprise, he’s looked much more comfortable and less prone to frustration than Bayless, who far outshone him during the summer league.

And there’s the longer-term question. Batum hasn’t realized his potential. His slight body will put on some muscle. He’s begun to show 3-point range and also likes to slash to the basket. Physically he’s almost an Outlaw 2.0, but otherwise he’s got more upside. Travis may have plateaued. He’ll never be the lock-down defender that McMillan’s been looking for. Batum may be. And he seems to already have as good, or better, court vision than the other players at his position. But Batum can’t get playing time as long as both Webster and Outlaw are on the team. So, does the emergence of Batum encourage the Blazers to shop Outlaw after Webster returns? If not, where do you put the young player who looks like the team’s small forward of the future? Unless Batum starts struggling or there’s another SF injury, I’d wager that Travis will not be wearing a Blazer uniform at the end of the season.

What do you think?

Poll

At the end of the season, Batum is . . .

playing in the D League.

15 votes

sitting at the end of the bench with Outlaw in front of him.

60 votes

the first SF off the bench with Outlaw behind him.

12 votes

the first SF off the bench and Outlaw is gone.

69 votes

starting.

18 votes

174 votes | Poll has closed

1 recs | Comment 29 comments

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Comments

let's not get carried away

the most likely outcome by far is that Webster comes back and regains his starting job.

Then Outlaw gets relegated back to the white unit (if he has not by then already been so relegated) and Batum gets back to the end of the bench.

No way is McMillan going to play Batum significant minutes when he has so many other options. Batum is a project and he will stay that way even if he turned out to be better than Durant. (And Durant with better D is an apt comparison, isn’t he?)

The perfect is the enemy of the good.

According to James Kunstler, who writes a well-respected if slightly profane financial blog whose title I cannot repeat here, "The Republicans must be clearly identified as the party that wrecked America... it's hard to imagine the American people giving the clean-up task to the very group that created the mess -- no matter how many cute little faces Sarah Palin can make on TV."

by vavoom on Oct 13, 2008 6:29 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Nate himself is surprised with Nic.

He is exactly what we have been wanting at the SF spot. Yes it’s just preseason, but he’s already showing he has the ability to be the next Battier or Prince. And I don’t mean some kind of best case comparison, I mean he is actually already showing his ability. No he’s not quite there yet but it’s clear he will get there, and much faster than what was once thought.

Nate does not have so many options for Nic’s specialy, defense. I love Travis, but he is a scorer. He has a great body to play defense but he just isn’t too good at it. Nic on the other hand is shining on the defensive end. Blocking jumpshots, lay ups, dunks, intercepting passes, forcing passes, knocking the ball out of the oppositions hands without fouling. The guy knows defense, and he knows it’s his strong suit. He does things Travis does not, which will get him playing time. Especially if he can shoot a respectable 3 shot.

I don’t want to say so and so will be traded or benched, I’ll just say it will be a real shame to not play Nic and develop him early on. Webster being out is really good for Nic because I do still think hes 3rd on the depth chart at SF. However if he can play like this all season then I think Outlaw will become increasingly expendable. Sorry ATF, I love Travis but he better watch out because Batum is nipping at his heels.

Yes preseason is just preseason, but the fact that he’s showing this good so early is a really good sign.

by Bskey on Oct 14, 2008 3:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

Lets be honest, no way NIc (and I love the guy) has improved this much since his horrific summer league play. That’s just not possible to do (at least consistantly). This is the NBA, people don’t do that.

There is probably no more terrible instance of enlightenment than the one in which you discover your father is a man — with human flesh.
Paul Muad'Dib - Dune (Frank Herbert)

My Translation: My Dad is a dude just like me, and my sons are dudes like me also. I love that.
Season Tix: Section 315, with my sons

by johnv59 on Oct 15, 2008 5:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Unless

there were other factors in his horrific summer league. In other words, maybe he is a lot better than he showed. Maybe he was ill, jet-lagged, struggling with English, out of condition, whatever.

I would guess he is lots better than SL and not as good as his last game looked.

The most amazing thing about my amazing ego is I have amazingly little about which to be egotistical.
The pick and roll this year will emphasize "roll" followed by "dunk", followed by the wailings and lamentations of your women.

by jscot on Oct 16, 2008 2:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

or freaked out by bayless

"Brandon Roy a une énorme confiance en lui et un niveau de maturité assez impressionnant, et en plus c’est un vrai leader" - Nic Batum

by G_dubs on Oct 16, 2008 11:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Batum would have to play like this all year...

then maybe we would trade outlaw this summer. I find it hard to believe KP trades outlaw this year.

by usmcr3049 on Oct 13, 2008 7:42 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Batum could become the ultimate role-player.

If Nic continues the progress he’s been making, isn’t he everything we’ve been looking for? Consider the fanposts that circled BEdge this summer, writing that Small Forward is the biggest need of the team. Don’t we need a solid role-player that doesn’t demand shots, plays defense, and can hit the shot if the ball comes to him? It seems to me that Batum could develop into what we need sooner than everyone thinks.

by CaptainSexyJacob on Oct 13, 2008 8:08 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Batum should be hey zeus, and be able to walk on water.

just thught we should keep the oulds comming. :)

The faith (and I'm a guy) perverts. :)

by faith on Oct 13, 2008 9:15 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Batum is going to be 3rd string... Outlaw isn't going anywhere untill at least next summer

Outlaw still didnt work on his conditioning this summer, obviously and Im fully confident once he warms up a little he will be pretty much the same Ol’ Outlaw the fans love and some fans love to hate. He’s best suited for the 2nd unit but the problem is going to be the following:

neither Travis nor Jerryd have as good BBIQ or court vision as Batum. Bayless spent every second of every play in which he had the ball or was directly involved to set up his OWN shot. NOT good. Batum doesnt do that. He takes the shot when it’s there and rational to do so or he passes back out or to the cutter or whatever. Bayless doesnt do that and he will learn im sure because he’s by far the most “rookie-ish” of all the Rooks. Travis is still Travis. Mediocre defense. Mediocre hustle and silly shot selection or inpractical play/move to create is own offbalance shot that will go in1/4 of the time. He just isn’t as good at passing or ballhandling as Batum.

I think Travis will be starting 1/2 the time and Rudy 1/2 the time while Martell is out. Batum has been awesome and looking good while playing well, but he is super young. He has alot to learn. Kirilinko was an excellent test and I say he earned a defensive pass on that assignment. But what happens when he sees Bron Bron? Tayshaun? Kobe? i will maintain that he will most be utilized in blowouts and late in the game, defensive schemes for specific outside shooter d. I said that at the beginning and Im sticking to it. :)

Sophia

"Feminism encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcreaft, destroy capitalism, and become lesbians. [speech at GOP Presidential Convention 1992] Rev. Pat Robertson

by BlazerFan1 on Oct 13, 2008 10:06 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I think

he will be used a good-desent amount until webster comes back. and he will still get some play even after that. He wont be in there with heavy minutes, but i could see him going in there for certain matchups, and a change of pace from trout and web. He also wont be a josh mcrobert type and a D league player., he should be able to find some playing time throughout the year, and add experience so he can contribute more and more to his arsenal. He has alot of potential, and i can see him having a very long and fruitfull career.

by raging WebTed on Oct 13, 2008 10:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You'd start Trout over Batum on Lebron?

I would call it a draw in the light MOST favorable to Trout. I don’t care how young he is, if he continues to outplay Travis, Batum gets the job period.

This of course is all dependent on how there respective games develop throughout the season, but the situation will always be evaluated by their recent performances. Why try and talk about how good either one of them might be at some other point, past or present?

by everett on Oct 13, 2008 10:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm sorry.

But putting Batum on Lebron would not work. Kid is simply not strong enough to guard Lebron. That’s not a knock on him, since there is virtually no one in the NBA who is powerful and skilled enough to stop Lebron. That’s just the facts.

Word.

by joelor on Oct 14, 2008 11:17 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

ok....

I think you completely failed to read my comment…

by everett on Oct 14, 2008 12:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

ok....

Way to explain your point.

I think I was confused by this line

I would call it a draw in the light MOST favorable to Trout.

I have no idea what that means. I assume it means you would consider starting Batum on Lebron in Martell’s absence. I’m saying this would be ineffective. Travis would also struggle, but Batum would be ineffective.

Word.

by joelor on Oct 14, 2008 3:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You said you don't know what the statement meant,

and then you went on to explain exactly what it meant. What gives?

I think Batum would be at least as effective, if not more so, then Travis Outlaw at guarding James.

My post never addressed the standalone effectiveness of either one of them at the particular task. Just one over the other.

by everett on Oct 14, 2008 6:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The only guy we have

that might be able to be effective at guarding Lebron is LMA.

by jscot on Oct 15, 2008 5:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's likely a moot point

We don’t play the Cavs till Jan 21st, and Martell (who did the best job against Lebron, because he’s got a big enough body to handle Lebron’s muscle) will be back by then.

No worries about how Outlaw or Batum can handle him… at least not as much as before.

Also, we only play Lebron twice, and there ain’t a lotta SFs who killed us last season— at least not compared to the amount of so-so PGs who seemed to have career nights (coughearlwatsoncough). I’m more worried about PG defense, as long as Outlaw hasn’t become even worse defensively. Helllllooo, zone!

Mortimer

by Mortimer on Oct 15, 2008 10:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

but I still want to see LMA guarding Lebron to see what happens.

by jscot on Oct 16, 2008 2:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Even after Travis gets in shape

he might be less effective than he has been in the past. Outlaw has been most effective (at least in terms of scoring) while playing at power forward. The power forwards tend to be slower than the small forwards, so it is easier for Trout to get enough separation for him to get off his jump shot. With LMA and Frye moving to PF full-time this year, Trout will probably not be able to get much, if any, time at the PF position, so he will be forced to play at the SF position where it is more difficult for him to score.

by trk on Oct 13, 2008 11:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well I don't think those are good examples.

Even great defenders struggle against Lebron and Kobe. And Batum has already shown he’s 10000x more willing to sacrifice himself on defense than Travis.

As for Prince I think he would be very good for Nic to go against. Nic from what I hear is very good at picking up on the small things, which is what defense is all about, just by watching and learning that way. If he had a couple games with significant time again Prince I’m sure he would pick up a trick or two.

by Bskey on Oct 14, 2008 3:47 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

hold the phone!

way too early for this stuff…but pre-season can be fun.

"Great Oden's raven!" - Ron Burgandy

by danevan on Oct 14, 2008 1:06 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs

IF...Batum continues this level of effectiveness (or greater) in the regular season

Nate will have to consider moving him up the depth chart, however far that goes.

If Batum continues to have the oustanding stats and efficiency ratings (pick your flavor, PER, whatever) , and continues to display world-beating defensive skills, during the pre-season, it at least has to be in the discussion to start the kid while Webster is out. Not saying Nate should or will pull the trigger, but it will certainly be crossing his mind.

the Spanish contributors on this board are hellah cool

by G_dubs on Oct 14, 2008 4:06 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't say continues

but shows outstanding stats. Preseason isn’t much higher on my chart than training camp. Let’s see some regular season production before we start messing with a ?5? year veteran in Travis.

He who laughs last thinks slowest.

by prezofdeath on Oct 15, 2008 11:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If KP had a pair

He’d cut Travis and Webster and play Batum and Rudy at SF.

Blazers Edge has an alarmist vision and a poet's heart.

by tominhawaii on Oct 14, 2008 5:35 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I voted 'starting'

Then again, I’m a pie-eyed optimist.

by DonkeyShins on Oct 14, 2008 7:48 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Channing Frye

Nate could start Roy against teams with smaller SFs (with Rudy at the 2) and Frye against teams with longer SFs (Odom, etc) I like how Channing can spread the floor

Keep Travis coming off the bench.

Batum is going to be good, but he’s only 19…so ease off on those 2008 expectations

by two4larue on Oct 14, 2008 9:56 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Minutes

KP pegged Rudy, but he also pegged Batum. Remember, he had options at that pick, including some US studs such as Randolph, but he took Batum. I always found that interesting. And I remember distinctly why he took him. Defense. Periiod. He always felt Batum would become a “lockdown” defender. And said so several times. Mac just said Batum’s defense is “NBA ready”. Now, Mac doesn’t say the kind of stuff lightly. He also said that Batum is young, very young. He’s right, he’s the same age as Bayless, who is also very young.

We’ll see more of Batum this year than I would’ve thought. I just thought he’d be the third SF playing some garbage time. But, Webster got injured. And even though the Rudy/Roy/Blake small ball can pick up some slack, you have to believe that their will be defensive assignments where the best player we have for that may well be Batum – particularly until Martel gets back. And that will get him some minutes.

When Webster comes back, we may have quite a dilemma. Mac – even after the Olympics – stated he’d been diagramming plays for Rudy/Roy/Blake as a unit. Now, he’s kicked that to the front burner. If that works – it’s going to cut into the time at SF. Now, if there are times when you want Batum on the floor defensively, then that means more minutes. Keep it up – and someone is gone. Even if it takes a year or two for Batum to step into the backup SF role – by next summer Webster or Outlaw are certainly going to see the proverbial handwriting on the wall. Then, the other issue comes to the table. Is Webster your starter of the future, or not.? If by next summer the Blazers see Batum as the best option at backup – then the Blazers may find a better all around SF as a starter, and swap Travis and Webster plus some cap space for that player, and maybe a contract to ride the pines on the third team. So, if Batum improves enought to take the backup role, and Webster doesn’t really step up – I wouldn’t be surprised to see both traded.

by Eben Calder on Oct 14, 2008 10:29 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Randolph is not a 3

I know Shav and have watched him for years — Him as a 3 is one dead end scenario — He’s a 4 that can pass and rebound — and block shots — worked on his shot all summer (and conditioning)..and seems to have made some progress..

by LetsBlaze on Oct 15, 2008 9:14 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Realistically I think

Nic will see quite a few minutes while Marty is out. His play in the regular season will dictate whether he defies expectations and gets the starting job or goes to his likely spot on the bench as the second or third option. Yes they will try to get him minutes to develop him, but we will have to wait and see how he plays against the real deal hungry lineups we’ll face in the regular season to see what he’s truly made of thus far.

by oden is GOD OF WAR on Oct 14, 2008 10:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs