Batum blog March 16

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via www.ouest-france.fr

I scored 20 points for the first time against New Jersey. There's something symbolic about reaching this mark. Doing it as soon as my first season makes a good impression. The most important thing was that I made the decisive shot, a three pointer, with 25 seconds left in the game. I was wide open so I took my chance. I didn't really have the time to reflect. Besides, on the replay you can see that I didn't hesitate. My teammates congratulated me but it stopped soon after. There are so many games during the season that you move on very quickly to the next one.

Dwyane Wade at the moment is playing at an unbelievable level. He scored 50 points once again against Utah. When I'm asked whom of Wade, LeBron James or Kobe Bryant will be chosen as MVP, I change my mind every five minutes. It is said that the fact that Wade is playing on a team a little weaker than the others should be counted against him. Personally, I think the opposite; it could help him.

Concerning the race to the playoffs, Phoenix is a bit behind but everything can change very quickly. I'm convinced that in Portland we will still be playing for our qualification the last week of the regular season. We still have big games against Denver, San Antonio, the Lakers, Houston, Utah, Cleveland... It's not over.

At the moment in the US, the only thing people talk about is March Madness. Before, I only followed the Final Four because I didn't really understand how it all worked before that point. The experts say that the level is less exciting this year. There was recently an unbelievable game that I watched on TV between Connecticut and Syracuse, who needed six overtimes to decide the game! Each time, Connecticut had easy shots to win at the buzzer but they never went in...

In France, the nomination of Vincent Collet as the head of the French national team must have made some headlines. I'm very happy about it, I know that it was a dream for him. He's the man of the hour. I know Vincent well, I know what type of basketball he wants to play. I had him on the phone recently and he told me that I wanted me on the "Bleus" this summer.

When I arrived in Portland, I told them that I wanted to play for France that summer. They agreed. But in the NBA, you have to be careful. They tell you one thing in June, and, a few months later, they've forgotten. But I got the impression that they were laying the groundwork [for arguing over whether he plays for France or not]. They know that I want to play for France. Besides, they know that Vincent is the one who had confidence in me at Le Mans. That could be in my favor. They're aware that if I go play for France, it will be to play, not to spend my time on the bench.

To be with the "Bleus" motivates me. I'm not afraid. On the contrary, it's a big challenge. The fact that we still have to qualify to make it to the Euros could be a good thing because we'll have some solid games under our belt beforehand. Provided that we qualify, of course. I talked about it with Tony [Parker] when we played against San Antonio. He already know that Vincent was going to be selected before it was official. He's very motivated. He has a very important place at the heart of the "Bleus." When you've won everything like he has, when you play 100 games every year and still you get your jersey dirty playing for France in the summer, you have the right to some influence. He doesn't have a big head, he doesn't act like the king. But he's a natural leader and I find it perfectly normal that he has his say.