Fighting For Frenchie

by Marmaduke on Oct 18, 2009 8:52 AM PDT

Hey Bedgers,

Frequent (read: multiple times daily) reader, infrequent commenter, first-time poster. Hope this post does the site justice.

My fanpost today is about the one guy who I believe will (but earnestly hope won't) get the short end of the stick this season regarding minutes and allowed productivity :

Nicolas Batum.

via 1.bp.blogspot.com

I was thoroughly impressed by the then 19-year-old from France throughout the 08-09 NBA season, even though he played somewhat limited minutes (especially for holding a starting role) and was mostly a nonfactor on offense. His defense capabilities are astounding for a man his age, to say the least. And he only impressed me more over the summer.

Thanks in part to this site (for linkage), I had chance to watch live streams and highlights of our young frenchman play for his country in Eurobasket over the summer . He truly, truly looked phenomenal. He had more of an offensive role and still played the lockdown defense we fell in love with. He handled the ball more (even playing some PG), and appeared more relaxed and in rhythm with the game.

My worry as a pre-season-nervous-nellie is that Nicolas Batum will get shafted of his deserving minutes. Yes, shafted. Beit by Rudy, Martell or Travis. I sense shafting in the midst. I believe that Batum has earned these minutes over the summer with what he has accomplished and how he has improved in Eurobasket.

Batum deserves the starting role and the minutes that go along with being a starting player because:

1) Batum is the best defender on Portland's roster for his position.

2) The greatest growth statistically and historically comes from season 1 to season 2. We should see great strides in his game this year if given the opportunity.

3) With Webster coming off injury, his consistency and health is an issue.

4) Outlaw is really an undersized PF, and while I understand the Rudy/Roy lineup is extremely efficient in terms of PER .... Roy really doesn't need to be taking the wear and tear of guarding the 3's especially since he's lost weight over the summer.

Here are the stats for both Batums rookie season and for this summer's Eurobasket:

Batum's Stats from 2008-09 NBA rookie season:

Year		G	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	OFF	DEF	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TO	PF	PPG
08-09		79	76	18.4	0.446	0.369	0.808	1.1	1.7	2.8	0.9	0.6	0.5	0.63	1.80	5.4

Batum's Stats from Euroleage this year:

2P 3P REBOUNDS

G Min FG / % FG / % FT / % O D Tot AS PF TO ST BS Pts PPG
9 28.6 26/48 / 54.2 8/22 / 36.4 10/20 / 50.0 1.9 3.0 4.9 1.8 2.3 1.4 0.6 1.0 86 9.5

If you didn't get a chance to check out this video highlight that #10 posted of Batum in Eurobasket, you really should.

I'd like to see Batum get 30+ minutes per game. Tell me what you think in the poll and comments below!

- Marmaduke.

Poll

How many minutes does Nicolas Batum deserve for the 09-10 NBA season?

5-15

15 votes

15-25

132 votes

25-35

46 votes

Trade him with Outlaw and Bayless for Turkoglu!!!

4 votes

197 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 10 comments | 1 recs |

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Comments

I am a big beliver in fresh legs and a hard defensive attitude, play hard every min.

by prof.mike on Oct 18, 2009 8:58 AM PDT reply actions

Batum is good

but nowhere in your argument says why he should get minutes over those other guys.

I see him getting the same amount of playing time and role as last year, at least for about halfway through the season. My feeling is that Outlaw and Balke will eventually be packaged in a deal before the trading deadline and then Batum will get more minutes. KP can’t afford to resign them and he doesn’t want to let them walk for free so Batum will have to be patient until then.

Woof

by Charles Barkley McLovin on Oct 18, 2009 9:25 AM PDT reply actions

Batum is better than Outlaw or Webster.

by jksnake99 on Oct 18, 2009 9:35 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

i've updated my post to include specific reasons why batum > other options

thanks :)

I've tried for quite some time to come up with an epic signature. I now realize that I don't post frequently enough for it to really matter.

by Marmaduke on Oct 18, 2009 9:55 AM PDT up reply actions

Batum needs time

First, he isn’t the superman a few bedgers make him out. He misses assignments and gets beat, like every player. Second, He hasn’t shown any mid-range shooting and just average 3pt shooting. Third, we have no idea if he can pass or see the court because he only played 18 minutes a game mostly in defensive situations where his attention was focused on man. Fourth, we know Martell is bigger/stronger and can clearly do a few things better thn Batum and his play has to be evaluated.

Batum seems like a fine young player but in his second year he is still really raw. He needs time to develop and reach his potential.

by oregonslee on Oct 18, 2009 11:10 AM PDT reply actions

I like Batum,

but, for now, he’s a role player. It’s not surprising that he handled more of a role on the French national team, because they are not as good as this Blazer team. The reality is, though, that Nic probably will not have a play called for him this entire season. I don’t see him as being significantly better overall than Webster, and I think any minutes he takes away from a healthy Rudy Fernandez would be detrimental to the team, in general, as Rudy is a dynamic player who should also make a leap this year by the logic that the biggest leap is between the first and 2nd year.

If you ever hear of someone punching out a girl scout and stealing her Samoas, it was me
- Mortimer

by Clevelander among roses on Oct 18, 2009 12:59 PM PDT reply actions

i agree, at least now batum should start and does deserve the minutes too

by portlandgiirl91 on Oct 18, 2009 2:46 PM PDT reply actions

I think about 28 min. would be good for Nic

He needs to play to get the exp. I see him as our future at SF & the sooner he develops more the better.

"BEER IS LIVING PROOF THAT GOD LOVES US"
- Benjamin Franklin-

by We-B-Dunkin on Oct 18, 2009 3:51 PM PDT reply actions

I envision Batum as a possible Bruce Bowen type

You would hate to have him guarding you and he would adequate enough on offense. If he works on his offiense he could be a 28 to 35 minute player.

by TallTimber on Oct 18, 2009 4:00 PM PDT reply actions

I think 20 minutes is fine.

Maybe it’s not much more than what he got last season, but I don’t think he should be force fed minutes. While we love him, he’s just not there yet. He needs a couple of more years to truly get 30+ minutes. Plus, when you have Martell Webster and Rudy Fernandez as well, it’s not like Nic HAS to play as minutes as possible. Let him mature, while Rudy and Martell are here.

The Kings have the best bench I’ve seen. There are easily 14 guys on this team good enough for every bench in the league. Now if we could only get some starters, I’d totally jizz in my pants.

Kings fan

by dyshooter182 on Oct 18, 2009 11:20 PM PDT reply actions