Blazersedge Season Awards: Biggest Pleasant Surprise
by Dave on May 19, 2009 11:58 PM PDT
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PrintThis award is for the Biggest Pleasant Surprise...the team member that you didn't expect to see do what they did. This could be in their overall game, a particular facet of their game, or simply them having a bigger effect this year than you anticipated. Note that this is not necessarily the same as "Most Improved", which is also a category. Maybe you expected the Most Improved guy to improve, and thus it wasn't a surprise. Maybe your biggest surprise was a rookie who, by definition, can't be the most improved. Or maybe the surprise didn't encompass enough of the player's all-around game to call them Most Improved but was a striking surprise nonetheless.
You can vote in the comment section below. One vote per person, make your vote easy to understand, and also favor us with a bit of explanation about your choice if you would. Voting will be open for the next couple days and then winners will be declared.
--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)
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Joel stepping up huge was kind of surprising.
But of course, nobody expected Batum to do as well as he did, or even be on the active roster at all. He didn’t fill up a stat sheet, but be filled our hearts with joy.
I have to go with Batum.
Nic Batum.
I predict Batum in a landslide in this category.
Runners up:
Brandon Roy is worth a note, making 2nd-team All-NBA in his third year.
Joel’s overall game, sturdiness, and improved offense deserves a mention too.
Rudy and his amazing start to the season.
He got tired and his production dropped. We saw flashes of Batum, but Rudy had much bigger impacts on the game.
no doubt, batum
i heard horrible stories about his summer league play and was shocked that they signed him rather than letting him season in europe based on everything i read and heard.
so for him to come in and start most every game and be a huge contributor on defense, he has to be the winner
Have to give props here to Batum. I wasn’t optimistic when Martell went out for the whole season, but Nic stepped up to the plate and held it down the entire season. 19 year old French kid who had never played in the NBA and was suddenly thrust into this high-pressure situation, and he was very impressive.
Batum
"There are a few teams you have to watch out for in the fourth quarter."
"Yeah, but Portland definitely is not one of them."
-New Orleans Hornets broadcasters at the end of the third quarter with the Hornets leading 74-59. Portland later ends up winning 97-89.
"They don't mind him shooting that shot at all. Rudy Fernandez is not that great of a 3pt shooter."
-New Orleans Hornets broadcasters right after a Rudy Fernandez missed 3pter. Rudy Fernandez finished the game with three 3pters on six attempts.
by Tofu Anonymous on May 20, 2009 12:20 AM PDT reply actions
Batum.
I kinda freaked out when Martell got hurt because it appeared there was no one to fill in but Nic did a great job.
Steve Blake
When his 3 is on he makes our starting 5 pretty solid… I wasn’t expecting much out of him this year.
Batum of course
From potential D-League player to starter on a 54 win team. That is crazy.
Please do not feed the B-Rex
by BRoyTheNatural on May 20, 2009 12:41 AM PDT reply actions
Nicolas!!!
Amazing..great defense, SMART..obviously HIGH BBALL IQ!! Competitive and funny!! Sorry but that “2” sign over Pau Gasol?? Hilarious!!! Also he will be a great scorer.
Outlaw.
His outside shooting improved by leaps and bounds. Did not expect him to be a 3-point shooter.
"I'm at the thingamajig talking the yakety-yak" - Kenny Smith
Nic Batum
I wouldn’t expect that Nic has been a starter all season long.. His defense is decent . and he is now just 20 years old..
Nicky B
"I don't know Twitter" - Rudy Fernandez
by RoodiePhirnandizz on May 20, 2009 1:57 AM PDT reply actions
Batum
I didn’t even want him on the roster of Koponen.
Martell Webster
Would hae kept this seasons biggest surprise buried on the bench, a la Jerryd Bayless. Batum helped sae our season before it started with his defensie intensity, perimeter shooting, and energy
Batum
Who thought he’d be a starter, and add value, even if his minutes were limited?
Batum
It shows how much the hype engine plays in this selection. Bayless was all world coming out of the summer league and Batum was thought to be a semi bust (or at least needed a lot of work). Funny how things work out.
"I saw him in the face" Sergio's quote on the latest alley-oop to Rudy.
Nic, of course
Didn’t have to think twice on this one. Draft : he slipped because of health concerns. Pre-season thought was D-League. Season : only missed starting because of the flu ; acquits himself well for a rookie.
Batum by acclamation!
Yep
My vote is for Batum. Pryz-bizzle is a close second 2nd
I started out with nothing and I still have most of it.
Batum of course
I thought he had some potential and wouldn’t have been totally surprised to see him a really solid starter down the road, but would have never seen him contribute right away this year.
I think he’s been overachieving on an overachieving team.
Nic
He came out of nowhere to untouchable? What’s the word I’m looking for? Ethereal.
Batuuuuum!
"I've learned one thing, and that's to quit worrying about stupid things. You have four years to be irresponsible here. Relax. Work is for people with jobs. You'll never remember class time, but you'll remember time you wasted hanging out with your friends. So, stay out late. Go out on a Tuesday with your friends when you have a paper due Wednesday. Spend money you don't have. Drink 'till sunrise. The work never ends, but college does" - Tom Petty
Batumshakalaka
if brandon roy played for toronto he'd be brandon waaaaah
Nic
for sure. I did notice a kind of silky athletic quality in his summer league play, but didn’t think he was ready for prime time. Then, come preseason I was a believer. Great find for the Blazers!
Nicolas.
From “Who is Nickolas Bahtum?”, to “Batum needs to play in Europe for more seasoning.”, to “Well, he’ll only make the roster until Martell gets back.” to, “Well, this kid might be ok.”, to “How in the heck does KP keep finding these guys?”
He’s been everything you could expect and is the clear starting SF of the future for this team.
Yes! Yes! In the face!
Nic Batum
Seeing this guy in the summer league I was putting him in trades for G Wallace of T Prince……… then the season started……… the SA game……….. Never trade this guy!!!
"Sometimes I catch myself watching him and he's shooting floaters all-net. And just to watch how he's talking trash. I loved it. I loved every minute of it. Rudy's a competitor." - Brandon Roy
Joel
without question Joel has been a rock and very consistent in the past but his willingness to play whatever role they wanted coupled by the emergence of some offensive game was a nice addition to this season
Batum.
Starting small forward of the future and possibly our best rookie.
This catagory had to be created for Batum
After his summer league debut, I sure did not envision him playing a well as he did. Actually if you switched the minutes of Bayless and Batum I would not have been suprised.
I try to help with everything," Fernandez said. "If the coach says go rebound, I go rebound. I work for the team.
""If I'm playing this game to get media and attention, I shouldn't be here," Aldridge said. "I'm here to play basketball, and do what I can do to help this team win."
His stare became blank. It was apparent he was back in that place, on the Rose Garden's logo, picking up Aaron Brooks as the crowd nervously roared.
Batum
He almost won Defensive player by me too, he’s that good.
"The problem with tweeners is that sometimes they’re exactly what you need to plug the hole and sometimes they are the hole."
-LaughingJon
Nic
Wow, talk about coming out of left field to save the team’s bacon when Martell went down. No Nic, and I’m guessing we lose about 5-10 more games.
Batum
This choice jumps at me. I remember first watching the Blazers this season and I couldn’t shut up about “#88” cause I couldn’t figure out how to pronounce his name.
Also my 09-10 early favorite for “most improved.”
Batum is a pretty no brainer
No really, he’s pretty.
Based on what I saw at summer league and what he was able to do, i was VERY surprised. I suspected part of it was the situation he was put in (in summer league), but even giving the benefit of the doubt, i was definitely a little shocked.
"Fernandez, to my eyes, is the Blazer who walks that walk most comfortably. A lot of Portland's fans (egged on, dare I say, by their local broadcasters) lament things like how Ron Artest or Yao Ming get to hit Brandon Roy's arms.
But I suspect Fernandez sees all that and thinks: We get to hit arms! Cool!"
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-39-135/On-Playoff-Experience.html
NIcky Barnes
From oblivion to starter, he truly surprised all of us by quality jobs defending the NBA’s elite smaller players, as well as 2 posters over Pau Gasol. And how can that fact alone not be a pleasant surprise?
Blazers win!
Nicolas Batum
We expected him:
1. Not to be brought over, based on summer league play.
2. Not to be on the active roster, to be sent to the D league.
3. Not to get much playing time, even after Martell was injured.
4. Not to be a factor, even when got minutes, other than on defense.
He clearly proved us wrong again and again. Big (pleasant) surprise this year.
Boom Boom Batum.
Rudy was a great surprise, but we kind of expected him to be good. Batum came out of NO WHERE.
"Whatever...I heard Bayless uses a pillowcase as a wallet." --TiH
no question
Batum’s potential is the most pleasant surprise. I concur
Our society believes in "Policital Correctness" in other words we tear down the best of our society and make them live according to the lowest common denominator. It won't be long until Harrison Bergeron is declaring himself emperor!
batum
Though patience be a tired mare, yet she will plod. - William Shakespeare
Roses are red
violets in bloom
Sophia’s in love
with Nicholas Batum
-Bow4Meow
Batum
for all the reasons listed above and more. He appears to have the physical tools and mental toughness to be a good player for years to come. He is so quiet and controlled. I find myself rooting for him to develop simply because he seems like such a good kid.
Fire Mark Mason. He's a dork, and he projects that we are ALL dorks
Fire Brian Wheeler. Homers suck.
Trade Trout, or sign someone reliable to soak up his minutes.
....Now I'm done
BaTOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nic Batum’s performance in the 2008-2009 season completely blew my mind! I had it figure that he would give an OK rookie year and then develop into a good rotation player – BUT NOOOOOOO!!!!!
He had to go and play like a second year guy or better! I <3 NIC!!!!
Blazer's Edge Ambassador to The Dream Shake Blog
LMA Rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I <3 LMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LMA - Putting the POWER in POWER FORWARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The concussion must have jarred him into "Destroy All Opposition Terminator Mode!" - BlazersOrBust
Batum
Seeing him play at Summer League led to a very low expectation for him this past season – which he exceeded by leaps and bounds.
Batum
Who could of seen that coming?
by BlazerFanFromDenver on May 20, 2009 12:27 PM PDT reply actions
Batum of course
D-league ? to starter
by GreatOden'sRaven on May 20, 2009 12:36 PM PDT reply actions
BATUM-SHAKALAKA
From potential Eurostash to starter? Yeah. That’s a pleasant surprise if I’ve ever seen one.
PUT BATUM IN NOW: Rallying cry of the BBIQ appreciation club
Just keep swimming, just keep swimming...
Nic Batum
this is easy. After seeing him in summer league, I didn’t think he was even going to be on the roster. He became a great defender and earned a spot in the starting lineup. He was definitely the most surprising Blazer, in a very good way. – Elgin
VENTURA: It's drowning. It gives you the complete sensation that you are drowning. It is no good, because you -- I'll put it to you this way, you give me a waterboard, Dick Cheney and one hour, and I'll have him confess to the Sharon Tate murders.
Nic and Joel in a dead heat...
too close to call -
The way Nic stepped up to take and own the starting role was a huge surprise, especially so early in the season. He never crumbled, he played within himself most games (huge for a rook) and really helped the Blazer defense.
Joel took his stint on the bench like a man and brought it every night, usually playing more minutes than Greg even though he didn’t start. Then came the injuries and then Joel held the starting slot and played like a man in the post. His shooting percentages were more than solid and the lunch pail attitude that he brought to work every day was in keeping with KP’s precious “Culture”. You knew what you were getting with him nearly every night and soon, so did the rest of the league…
Batum
Honorable mentions to Blake, Pryz, and Travis. Especially Joel.
When I rule the world, everyone will know how to use Excel.
gotta be Nic
I was somewhat surprised that the two most consistent players last year (roy and przy) continued to be the two most consistent players and both got more efficient..
but nic came out of left field for me.. and sounds like most of us
"Slum dunk? You just go to the rim, and crush.. crush the ball in the rim."
- Nic Batum
Batum
There were many pleasant surprises on the team (Joel, Steve, Rudy), but it’s hard to make a better case than Nic’s considering where he was at after the end of the summer league last year.
MLB2PDX!!! (someday...)
by The Cactus Leaguer on May 20, 2009 7:07 PM PDT reply actions
Batum
No one thought this guys was going to be a factor during the summer or even during the preseason, until Webster got hurt.
Batum
Offseason:
Trade For Mike Conley Jr
Sign Antonio McDyess & Othello Hunter
Draft Kevin Seraphin/Rodrigue Beaubois(Eurostash)
by TheGreatDane17 on May 20, 2009 11:16 PM PDT reply actions
Rudy
I thought he’d be good, but the fact that he adjusted to the NBA 3 right away was amazing to me. He blended like a daquiri.
If you ever hear of someone punching out a girl scout and stealing her Samoas, it was me
- Mortimer
by Clevelander among roses on May 20, 2009 11:48 PM PDT reply actions
Nic Batum
no doubt this award should go to the French Batman, this award should be name the Nicolas Batum award from now on.
second is BRoy. I was so excited when I found out he was on the All-NBA Second team
"...Lies, damned lies, and statistics."
Nic
"What's so interesting is that this team took on a dynamic that was very special. I don't think we as a group, in terms of management, coaches and players, realize what we did as a young team. We broke all the metrics. We broke all the molds. Our challenge is can we continue to do that. As young of a team with 54 wins, no issues off the court, phenomenal chemistry." - Kevin Pritchard
Nicky Barnes
Pleasant surprises are watching his highlights of Nicky run full-court to swat someone’s lay-up or erase a dunk.
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