FanShot

Start Nicolas Batum

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Some very timely reporting from Joe Freeman, who put this question to Nate McMillan: Why not start Nicolas Batum now? McMillan is as vague as possible in his responses. He doesn't want to belittle Martell Webster's recent achievements, he's probably hoping that Brandon Roy will be back sooner rather than later and I think there's still some genuine caution in avoiding bringing Batum back too quickly. But if Batum is healthy, willing and able to play more than half a game off the bench as he has the last two games, then he is ready to start. He won the job during the preseason. And if he was't so young, so polite and so modestly paid for his services, the job would be returned to him as soon as he was ready, no questions asked. He sure looks ready. Don't believe me? Look how many people signed my mock petition last night. You'll have to click more at the bottom of the list to see all of them. -- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter