Rating Nicolas Batum In France vs. Spain at FIBA World Championships
by Ben Golliver on Aug 28, 2010 1:06 PM PDT
in Gameday Threads
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PrintVote and discuss Nicolas Batum's performance in today's FIBA World Championships game between France and Spain.
Batum finished with 14 points (4 of 8 shooting), 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 2 blocks as France emerged triumphant over Spain 72-66. Don't miss this dunk video or this chasedown block video.
You can also read the blow-by-blow game reaction in the gameday open thread.
-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter
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My wife let me name one of her lil chickens Chickolas Batum.
And coincidentally it’s all black with a bright red comb!
by Ogre Winfrey on Aug 29, 2010 8:30 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Batum was awesome
I sincerely hope Oden comes back healthy for you guys, because you guys could end up surprising the Lakers in the playoffs.
Author of the Pick and Scroll. Follow me on Twitter here.
that's how many of us feel
thanks for visiting
"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 Aug 28, 2010 4:09 PM PDT up reply actions
I feel that Batum showcased the things he has always done well,
but I didn’t really see anything new in his game, which is why I could not give him an above average. I am scaling his grade to my expectations.
agreed
still, a great game. I would say I was more impressed with Mahinmi and Gelabale proving that whoever saw NBA level talent in them was correct, even if they are outliers
agree on Mahinmi because of his defensive instincts and rebounding.
Gelabale is odd to me. IDK what it is about his game, but I just don’t like it because he did not show good court awareness in some situations. ALthough the pg also had similar problems, throwing turnovers left and right which almost allowed spain to steal the game.
very good point on Gelabale
I guess he’s an NBA specimen, just lacking in IQ :) and hair etiquette
Mahinmi will probably stick in the league though. Centers aren’t exactly a dime a dozen
Too bad
he is stuck behind Haywood and Chandler on the Mav’s
Need a fantasy fix? Come visit http://www.fantasycafe.com/ for all your basketball, baseball and football needs!
another great outing by Mahinmi today
14 pts (7/10) 9 reb 1 blk 1 stl as France cruised. Gelabale 4/4 from downtown
by Billy Hoyle on Aug 29, 2010 11:19 AM PDT up reply actions
3/7, didn't watch just going by stats
but 4 assists- the bench got a lot of time though.
The game was delayed for over 15 minutes with 5:07 left in the second quarter after France's Nicolas Batum, who plays for the Portland Trail Blazers, dunked and twisted the rim. Officials scrambled to put a new rim on the basket and reattach a net.
there's a highlight video in the other thread
a couple of dunks by Batum, one was an alley-oop
The Lebanese were no trouble for Les Bleus
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Gelabale dominated again
according to the box score :\
The game was delayed for over 15 minutes with 5:07 left in the second quarter after France's Nicolas Batum, who plays for the Portland Trail Blazers, dunked and twisted the rim. Officials scrambled to put a new rim on the basket and reattach a net.
He has the ball much more in his hands than he typically does in Portland
Thus he can show his good dribble drives more
"Listening to the media only increases your odds of failing at whatever you are doing" - Mark Cuban
Actually I did overlook that. You are right,
his comfort level with the ball seemed much higher than it was during the reg. season. I hope he makes that crossover dribble a permanent part of his repertoire.
lackadaisical first half
better second half.
gelaballin was carrying them early in the game.
in KP i trusted
wasn't Batum out for a good part of the first half? didn't see the game but read comments..
am at WORK!!!!! DVR’ed it though!
Who knew?
Batum was the most explosive player in a game with Rubio, Gasol, and Rudy.
do you mean explosive athletically?
or explosive in terms of scoring? Because to me, the most explosive scorer that was on the floor today was Navarro.
All around
Defense, Offense…Batum I would describe as the most electric player on the floor today. Usually that term would be reserved for Rubio unless it’s against the US.
Batum was definitely the most electric player on france
but I think both Rubio and Navarro are equally electric for spain. Rubio didn’t put his fingerprints on the game today.
Good game for Nic.
Nothing incredible, I guess that’s got more to do with my freakishly high standards for him than anything else. That was a great game.
Bat88m
I gave Nic a 6
I don’t think he really played a super great game. He had some great highlight dunks and blocks, but he’s the best player for France now with all the injuries and should have been more aggressive in being “the man”. This is especially true playing against an OK defense like Spain’s. Once he loses some passiveness and takes over the game like he should, then I’ll give him his deserved 8-10 rating.
I believe that to be true.
I also thought he looked to pass to quick and could have been more aggressive. Although quick sharp passes are important, he should look to shoot more.
hg
Agreed
All in all, I would have loved to see more aggressiveness on offense, but his game looks very solid right now, and in the NBA season, defense will be his calling card. Still, with the game Nic has, I really hope Nate integrates a more fluid offensive system that allows Batum to be more than just a spectator in the corner
James, Wade, and Bosh = the Nazgul. Once they were great kings, until their greed got the best of them in their lust for the ring.
by blazeraddict on Aug 29, 2010 11:24 AM PDT up reply actions
Nic has 16 comments, Rudy has 3.
This means Nic > Rudy
I gave Nic an 8
But I’m biased because this is only based on most of the 4th Q and the box score, plus the highlights.
You can measure skill and talent with your eyes, but productivity is shown through statistics.
Batum plays within the flow of the game - rather than trying to dominate the ball
I give him an 8 because he “only” shot 50% – but all his shots were good shots; he handled the ball well; he involved his teammates; and he had three outstanding athletic plays to complement his timely rebounding and shooting and doing just enough to ensure a French win…
Law of Logical Argument
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
with 4/4 FT shooting, he had 14 points on 12 shots
Which is 58% TS equivalent.
You can measure skill and talent with your eyes, but productivity is shown through statistics.
durr ignore that
14 points on 10 shots, more like 70% TS
You can measure skill and talent with your eyes, but productivity is shown through statistics.
it's what makes Batum the perfect SF for the Blazers
Law of Logical Argument
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
by blacknoiseNW on Aug 28, 2010 7:58 PM PDT up reply actions
how many minutes did he play? Thats a huge number i havent seen mentioned
by stats alone a 7-8
WITH ODEN ON OUR SIDE
they just need to "tighten" it up a bit
Law of Logical Argument
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
by blacknoiseNW on Aug 28, 2010 3:53 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
post game
whatsup with no coach running post plays for Batum? he was being guarded by the 6’3 Navarro. Batum’s post game isn’t Hakeem-eque but its good enough to score on a short unathletic dude. For France and the Blazers sake, he needs to start taking advantage of mismatches.
His ball handling off the pick and roll looked better though.
I love this guy!!!!!!
Man, i seriously like teared up watching those two videos… I CANT WAIT FOR THE SEASON!!!!!!!! Soon as he threw out that smile after both plays i could only laugh.
I’ll say it again. GO BLAZERS!! 10
Oct. 26th
I recorded the game, and I just got done watching
A few observations:
1. When Nate talks about “scrap,” he’s talking about what this French team just did. Spain had better players, they looked more practiced, and they had all the momentum. France hustled their behinds off. They were vicious on defense. They took the game seriously, they cared. Spain looked like they knew they were going to win, but when it started to get ugly, they responded by getting frustrated and yelling at the refs.
2. I think the Spanish team watched a little too much soccer earlier in the summer. Come on, that back screen didn’t really cause you to go down like you were shot and grab your head. A jammed finger is not an excuse to roll around on the ground. Man up.
3. Related to #1, France was impossible not to root for. They were completely out-manned, but they didn’t seem to care. I hate the cliche of saying a team won because they wanted it more, but I think it’s accurate in this case. They were huge underdogs, and it looks like they used that to their advantage.
4. Nico. I sent a text to my brother after that dunk: Nico nasty on team Spain! His offense was solid. Not amazing, but solid. He was doing some things we’re not used to seeing on offense. That’s what every Blazer fan should want to see. Those 2 from-behind blocks were game changing. Those were 4 automatic points that Nic erased. It’s impossible to know how the game would have ended without those blocks. Enough credit cannot be given for them.
Still on the Rex bandwagon.
he and mahinmi were excellent on defense.
I can’t wait to see him paired off with Matthews. We will routinely hold our opponents to less than 20 points a quarter this season.
completely agree
that Nic is the perfect role player on offense. We don’t need him to dominate the ball to be effective, he does just fine picking and choosing his spots at the right moments. I think this actually makes him more effective. A sleeper, in a sense. Defensively, well he’s just an animal. And the dunk was icing on the cake
Rolling on the ground for a finger injury is an embarrassment
I really dislike Spain as a team, their constant whining, flopping, and boy band-esque demeanor disgusts me as a basketball fan and a human being. I’d love to see them get knocked out in the qualifying stage.
by billsfan4life on Aug 28, 2010 8:13 PM PDT up reply actions
Attack Mode!
(Getty Images)
"Listening to the media only increases your odds of failing at whatever you are doing" - Mark Cuban
I gave him an 8.
Felt he could have been a little more aggressive, though the result speaks for itself as far as the team goes. Would like to see him try and create his own shot from time to time, besides when he just packs like a maniac.
On the other hand, the play by play guy who called the game on NBATV got a perfect 10. I was laughing out loud listening to how excited he was getting. Anyone know who that was?
No, but if you want to play a drinking game with his announcing
Drink every time he says “stroke.” You’ll be passed out by halftime.
Still on the Rex bandwagon.
by dan_the_man on Aug 28, 2010 3:58 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Watching Nic play in this game felt being handed a piece of bacon when I haven’t eaten in weeks. GAH! The season needs to start soon!
"You know, when you are in the game, you hear 20,000 people behind you, you don't feel anything."
- Nicolas Batum on playing through his shoulder injury during the 2010 playoffs.
you need to start cooking bacon, too
for everyone
"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 Aug 28, 2010 4:08 PM PDT up reply actions
You get to see why coaches love him...
he’s a TEAM player, solid D, doesn’t cry for the ball, no stupid shots, can score but doesn’t force his offensive game, nice free throw shooter, adding a slick 3pt shot, I could go on…
Not mention I absolutely love a run down block on a breakaway. Those just make me happy.
that he can be so efficient and effective in this role is truly amazing
Law of Logical Argument
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
by blacknoiseNW on Aug 28, 2010 8:00 PM PDT up reply actions
Based on statistics I think Batum deserves a 6/7
I know he can produce more, especially for a French team that looked lost on the offensive end for large portions of the game. Nic needs to be more aggressive offensively, especially taking the ball to the rim. When he stayed on the perimeter I liked how he let the game come to him, but on the pick and roll plays and when he took defenders off the dribble he could have been more productive if he realized that he can elevate over nearly anyone.
I gave Nic an 8 because he made big momentum changing plays. His two come from behind blocks and his dunk all inspired his teammates. Additionally, his late 3 pointer was clutch and sealed the game. Those are winning plays and their impact doesn’t show up in the stats. Also he played solid defense.
“I know he can produce more, especially for a French team that looked lost on the offensive end for large portions of the game. Nic needs to be more aggressive offensively….”
I was thinking the same thing, but do you remember how Nico got these early fouls and sat a significant part of the first and second quarters? That’s when the French team looked its most miserable offensively. Didn’t they only score nine points in the first quarter? When Batum came back in sometime during the 2nd quarter, he tried to play through his teammates a little bit (and honestly, there were a couple guys just shooting whenever they were touching it. All those years in Phoenix may have caused some bad habits…). After The Dunk, the team suddenly started playing through Batum a lot more and the next thing you know, we had a ball game.
So while I also wanted to see Batum taking over on the offensive end for the French, I think we should also admit that the team played a lot better once he came back into the game after those early fouls. You can always see when a person is scoring or rebounding, but players contribute in lots of other ways. There was one time after The Dunk that Nic got double teamed very briefly when he looked like he was making a move to the hoop. He passed it to somebody (I forget who. I was honestly mostly watching to game for Rudy and Nic) and that person quickly skipped it out to the corner for an easy trey ball. Lamar Odom does the little things that don’t show up in the box score for the Lakers.
But if you watch the game and try not to pay attention to what you wish Batum was doing, I think you’ll see that France played so much better with Batum on the floor. It’s good to see someone who doesn’t lose their poise when their team doesn’t play well. A lot of star players do that. The teammates let them down a few times and they just stop passing (Kobe used to do this a lot. Or maybe he still does). Batum stuck to the gameplan and kept his teammates involved while still putting up 14 points on very efficient shooting.
I don’t know. There’s so much to love about this guy’s potential. And I think one of the great things about Batum is that he never makes it about Batum.
I disagree completely
Mainly because if you read my indepth review, Nico started 1/4(0 of 2 from 3), and finished 4/8(2 of 4 from 3), shot himself out of his funk, got himself to the FT line and sunk them all all the while playing great defense.
And that is how you use entirely too many commas ! Keep in mind he had an NBA quality center inside the post in Marc Gasol he is going against. At his age a national coach giving him free reign would not be fair to Diaw(even though he sucked). If Batum had free reign against Lebanon tommorow, he could score 40.
BATMAN
If Batum can add some post game he will be so much better
He should take those little guards into the post and shoot chippies over them.
I did give him an 8 though. He made some of the biggest plays of the game for France, and his team seemed to feed off those plays.
That was a crazy, crazy game.
It was a little fun watching Spain self-destruct at the end. Spainish players must be required to take some sort of class to learn how to overact. “Oh no, I hurt my finger! Let me lie here in agony!”
Go to Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company.
Not even close to a foul.
Especially in FIBA. Nice photo.
by oLLiE Boombayay on Aug 29, 2010 9:35 AM PDT up reply actions
I gave him a 6
he should be dominating. He’s an NBA player playing against D-League talent and he’s not dominating.
#52
With D-League talent, yes,
but I’m not so sure that the Spanish team doesn’t rank above D-league.
Maybe I should have said Summer Leage
The Grizzlies are pretty much a D-League team so that takes care of Gasol. Rudy is regressing faster than Mortimer’s hairline, Rubio lacks the confidence to attempt to win the starting point guard spot on the Timberwolves, Navarro is scared to play in the NBA, Garbajosa looks like he’s homeless, and the rest of the guys aren’t NBA talent. I bet Kansas could beat Spain.
#52
LOL
"Listening to the media only increases your odds of failing at whatever you are doing" - Mark Cuban
No
He’s not yet the best player on his own team, and has too long times where he is not making much happen on the court. He has the talent, but he can still learn quite a lot playing in the ACB and the Euroleague/Eurocup.
"Listening to the media only increases your odds of failing at whatever you are doing" - Mark Cuban
by the time Claver's ready
Luke Babbitt will be more ready
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
When was the last time Pau Gasol and Batum played in the same game ?
Someday I’d like to see Batum dunk on him a 3rd time
want to see the 3 finger wave from Batum as he trots by...while wearing that wry winning smile of his!!
That’s what the announcer called the smile last night…wry…I thought it was a good descriptor!
In game 2, Batum just broke the rim mechanism swinging through after a 2-handed dunk. Fun times.
"Listening to the media only increases your odds of failing at whatever you are doing" - Mark Cuban
Repair time
http://imgur.com/kGZoq.jpg
http://imgur.com/8n1LL.jpg
"Listening to the media only increases your odds of failing at whatever you are doing" - Mark Cuban
What game 2 was this?
Regular season or playoffs?
by oLLiE Boombayay on Aug 29, 2010 9:37 AM PDT up reply actions
Preliminary round France vs Lebanon
"Listening to the media only increases your odds of failing at whatever you are doing" - Mark Cuban
Yikes!
If a slender Batum can do that by just hanging it is a good thing for FIBA basketball rims that Dwight Howard, Oden, and Amare Stoudemire aren’t playing for USA.
by oLLiE Boombayay on Aug 29, 2010 12:15 PM PDT up reply actions
Better quality HD highlight of Batum throwdown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeCQhZFjtp8
I mean Ben’s video recording of ESPN with his camera phone is great and all, but it leaves a little to be desired.
I love the Spanish coach reaction. Also watch the “screen” that allows Batum to get the spacing. The major difference between FIBA and NBA, and a rule that USA needs to exploit.
by oLLiE Boombayay on Aug 29, 2010 9:32 AM PDT reply actions
Game 2
I didn’t get to see most of the first half. I did see Batum make some really great passes in the 2nd quarter. But in the 3rd, Batum just has looked off offensively. Still a beast defensively. He got all ball on that foul. It was Diaw that managed to get all the arms on that fast break.
I gave Batum a 7
Great chasedown blocks. Decent job defensively. Made a couple of nice shots. Turned the ball over too much.
ditto
gotta leave Frenchy some room to build upon. His ceiling is still “up there”
and with Rudy flashing some of his old flair and (hopefully) resurrecting his trade value, there couldn’t have been a better “result” for Blazer fans from this game
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
What is funny is that it looks like we think Rudy is much better than Batum based on our collective responses.
Both played similarly well, but we were more impressed with Batum. This clearly shows that we believe Rudy naturally should play very well, while it is impressive when Batum can achieve the same.
In Bayless I trust.
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><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>
Well, we have higher expectations for parts of Rudy's offensive game
Overall, Nic did a lot more than Rudy on offense, though. And defensively, it wasn’t even close. Nic was a force of nature on defense.
Still on the Rex bandwagon.
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