Batum needs 35 mins a game

by statsthat on Mar 12, 2010 11:08 AM PST

What is Nate's rotation method. Batum should clearly be getting 30+ per game. He's the best 3point shooter. He's our best free throw shooter. His defense gives us points every night. Sorry bench players he's a starter and he needs experience to become more integrated with the team and into the flow. Why does Rudy have the green light to shoot and he's shooting 10 percentage points less than Batum and offers now get back defense?

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well duh

Awesomeness (ô'səm-nes)
1. n. Something that inspires awe
2. n. Nicolas Batum

by thomasikehara on Mar 12, 2010 11:13 AM PST reply actions 1 recs

i don't know....

he may be shooting better statistically, but Rudy is confidant to take the shot and is liable to go on fire and hit three or four in a row.
also, I believe Dre is a better free throw shooter, aka takes every technical foul shot.
HOWEVER, I do believe he should be playing 25-30 mins a night atleast, especially if his offense is on that night.

by thankyouforblaze on Mar 12, 2010 3:25 PM PST up reply actions

Batum has had a lot of confidence in his shot so far.

The only time he hesitates is when the game is on the line, which is understandable for now. He will get there with more playing time.

Rudy will take the shot, which is a plus for him but I have to say Batum’s shot is looking better so far.

And yes I’ve been a gigantic Batum fan since day 1 so I may be a little biased. That said Batum is just the more complete player and deserves the time.

by Bskey on Mar 12, 2010 5:18 PM PST up reply actions

Rec'd for making duh a deep subject.

Batumshakalaka!

by We-B-Dunkin on Mar 12, 2010 11:16 AM PST reply actions

While I clearly agree that Nic deserves more minutes.....

……I have my doubts about 35 minutes every night. It depends on the match-ups and it depends on what we need on the floor.

Batum is an excellent defender, but he does occasionally struggle when he is put on much stronger players or on uber-quick PGs. Nic is shooting extremely well, but part of that is that he waits until he is extremely open before he pulls the trigger.

Rudy, Martell and Bayless all bring a different blend of qualities. If we need creative energy on offense, if we need to push the pace and attack the rim, or if we need to respond to a team going small, Nic might not always be the first, or best, choice.

Nic is only going to get better, and I think he should be our starter for the next decade, but I think he has a way to go before he becomes “max minutes starter.”

by upper left corner on Mar 12, 2010 12:25 PM PST reply actions

closer to 35 than to 25

there are large stretches of the game when I feel like statsthat…where is Batum? His shoulder is healed, his conditioning is OK, why ever sit him down for more than 4-5 minutes at a time? Are more-physical forwards difficult for him to handle? Sure, but they’re difficult for Roy, Webster and Cunningham to defend, as well. Unless Nic is in foul trouble, I still want him out there. (Against a team like the Warriors especially, who play small ball all night long, that’s tailor-made for #88)

Doug Collins said it again last night, when Nate has “too many” players sometimes he thinks he has to play them all X amount of minutes “just because…” Batum is not in the same category as Rudy, Jerryd, Webster, etc. He needs to be out on the floor almost as much as Roy is…for the team’s continuity-sake as much as for his development. If Webster/Bayless/Rudy are having a hot night, then I’d make an exception—but it’s doubtfull that 2 of them (simultaneously) will be more valuable all-around players than Nic is, 90% of the time

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Mar 12, 2010 3:31 PM PST up reply actions

Agree with two4larue! McMillan needs to tighten the roster.

by Natsthecat on Mar 13, 2010 11:23 PM PST up reply actions

I think you could get 35 mins for Batum if you cut Bayless's Minutes to like 3 a game

Seems fair to me.

"Get three superstars and then fill the roster with guys willing to go through a wall to win." - KP

by jlarose78 on Mar 12, 2010 12:32 PM PST reply actions

you are quickly becoming my favorite person

by In Walks Rudy on Mar 12, 2010 1:05 PM PST up reply actions

Are you in competition with tominhawaii for most hate posts?

Your rants make even less sense than his.

Sure, bench the second best scorer on the team. Bench the guy who gets the most FTs per minute on the team.

At least tom makes an effort to explain his irrational hate.

by upper left corner on Mar 13, 2010 3:52 PM PST up reply actions

While I agree with your point

Your tone seemed a bit harsh ULC….

" It was as if the Suns hatched a fiendish plot to ruin John Wayne's movie career by casting him as a cowboy." - Dave 2/10/2010

by jamon51 on Mar 14, 2010 1:48 AM PST up reply actions

I don't think I give the most hate

There is more hate directed at Nate than I send Miller’s way.

Just start at the top here: http://www.blazersedge.com/2010/3/10/1365788/media-row-report-blazers-88-kings

by tominhawaii on Mar 14, 2010 3:14 AM PST up reply actions

Sorry, tom.

I didn’t mean to demean or exaggerate your contribution to all the charming, insighful, and humorous discourse here at BE.

Much like me, you have assigned yourself a role and take it seriously ;-)

by upper left corner on Mar 14, 2010 9:33 AM PST up reply actions

I've threatend to become a Nate homer

imagine how annoying that would be.

by tominhawaii on Mar 14, 2010 11:14 AM PDT up reply actions

Almost as annoying as Mike Barrett......

by upper left corner on Mar 14, 2010 12:43 PM PDT up reply actions

Hey! If coach K and team USA think Nate's a great coach, then that should be more than good enough for Blazer fans!

you mean, something like that?

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Mar 14, 2010 4:13 PM PDT up reply actions

Duke doesn't make it to the sweet 16- you heard it here first

"Get three superstars and then fill the roster with guys willing to go through a wall to win." - KP

by jlarose78 on Mar 14, 2010 4:31 PM PDT up reply actions

wouldn't hurt my feelin's none

I’m not a big fan of the NC2A style of play…sue me

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Mar 14, 2010 6:00 PM PDT up reply actions

If it helps I Like Bayless more then I like Nate...

"Get three superstars and then fill the roster with guys willing to go through a wall to win." - KP

by jlarose78 on Mar 14, 2010 2:01 PM PDT up reply actions

Mea Culpa

You are probably right. I am probably being a bit harsh. It is a result of cumulative frustration with folks in general and this poster in particular who seem to bash Bayless without ever giving much evidence to support their criticism.

by upper left corner on Mar 14, 2010 9:31 AM PST up reply actions

Honestly Upper Left It was you not TIH that inspired my recent Bayless rants

Where there is love there needs to be hate in order to keep the balance, also add in that when Rudy started complaining about his playing time, and desire to play for a differant team that struck a nerve, because I really like Rudy and I don’t really care for Bayless, at all and I don’t think I need a bunch of Stats that are skewed to favor a player one way or another in order to just say I don’t like someone and would prefer another in that role…

"Get three superstars and then fill the roster with guys willing to go through a wall to win." - KP

by jlarose78 on Mar 14, 2010 1:45 PM PDT up reply actions

Rudy-Rex, cage match

let’s settle this once and for all

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Mar 14, 2010 4:14 PM PDT up reply actions

I'd like to see a play or two drawn up for him while we're at it.

It’s crazy to me that basically ALL of his points come off scraps and broken plays for other guys. If a guy can drop 31 points on anybody without having the coach call his name once, he might deserve a play or two in the playbook.

"Ain't nothin' in this world for free."

by Arby on Mar 12, 2010 12:41 PM PST reply actions 1 recs

Well stated!

My favorite teams are the Blazers and any team that is playing the Lakers.

by OCBlazerFan1 on Mar 12, 2010 2:27 PM PST up reply actions

he still does not look comfortable to me creating for himself

didn’t in France over the Summer, doesn’t now.

"its tough to play with one eye, unless you're a pirate." Delonte West
"una canasta a Pau en la cara" Rudy

by Honka Playboy on Mar 13, 2010 12:24 AM PST up reply actions

So how is he supposed to improve that?

Can’t get good at something until you do it.

"Ain't nothin' in this world for free."

by Arby on Mar 13, 2010 8:50 AM PST up reply actions

I can't wait for Oden to start taking threes then.

That would be awesome!

Wearing the black band for Jarrett Jack, Ime Udoka, Fred Jones, Sergio Rodriguez, Channing Frye, Luke Schenscher, Shavlik Randolph, James Jones, Josh McRoberts, Steven Hill, Jarron Collins, Michael Ruffin, Steve Blake and Travis Outlaw. Sacrificed to the unmerciful god of progress.

Blazersedge.com || New to Blazers' Edge?

by T Darkstar on Mar 13, 2010 9:20 AM PST up reply actions

I didn't mean to belittle you point, because I think it has merit.

But it was too easy to pass up. :p

Blazersedge.com || New to Blazers' Edge?

by T Darkstar on Mar 13, 2010 9:21 AM PST up reply actions

he and Monty are working on it

at this point Nic has the repertoire of Outlaw. He can shoot the open 3, or pump-fake, dribble once or twice and shoot the on-balance jumper. Unlike Travis, Nic can also drive the ball all the way to the basket and finish, or make a bounce pass after a dribble if he’s cut off

Batum’s back-to-the-basket game will come, with time. (That’s why Indy used Watson to guard him, there was no threat of Nic posting up a shorter player) Don’t ever forget he’s just 21, for goodness sakes!

The reason to play #88 for <35 minutes isn’t for his offensive game, anyway. It’s for all of the other things that he does so well. I want him on the court whenever Brandon is, because the two of them need to keep developing synergy, and Batum can take on the tough defensive perimeter match-ups as well as rotate out quickly on the open shooters

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Mar 13, 2010 10:38 AM PST up reply actions

I agree

Maybe I’m old fashioned, but I think all of our starters should be playing 35+ minutes. Instead only LA and Roy are playing more the 35 per.

by Dominator13 on Mar 12, 2010 1:23 PM PST reply actions

I think we'll see more of this

as we get closer to the playoffs. Dante’s minutes were cut last night, and I think that trend will continue over the next few games. We’ve finally had everyone healthy for a long enough stretch of games to pare down the rotation. Now it’s just a matter of situational matchups changing things a bit. Nic will probably be in the 20-30 min range every game, which is completely appropriate. We still have to find minutes for Jerryd and Rudy for what they bring to the table, which take minutes from Batum because Roy plays extra time. Martel will get spot minutes, 8-10 and if he’s feeling it 10-15 but that’s probably it. I think 35+ for Batum is a bit too much right now, maybe not in the playoffs. We’ll see

by Billy Hoyle on Mar 12, 2010 3:58 PM PST reply actions