Nicolas Batum: How good will he be?
by blazersfreak on Jun 12, 2011 9:27 AM PDT
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PrintEver since Nicolas Batum was drafted in 2008, we have all heard the many comparisons. The most common one being Scottie Pippen. Now, Batum can improve, but whether he turns into the next Pippen remains to be seen. Defensively, Batum is already there, one of the things that would help with his all around game though, is his strength. If he put on about 10-15 pounds, that would be ideal. Nic is already a good shooter, but that is about it for him at the offensive end of the floor. He has great athletic ability, and talent wise, the sky is the limit, but isn't this what we were saying about Rudy Fernandez a couple seasons ago? One way to look at it would be to trade him before he turns into Rudy, and loses all of his trade value. The other way to look at it is him turning out to be really good, and a perennial All - Star that we cannot give up.
So far, we have talked about how good he can be, but now, lets talk about how good he actually will be.
On the defensive end, he has already proved himself, but as an all around player, he can and probably will improve. The player I see Batum panning out similar to, is not Scottie Pippen, but Luol Deng. Why Luol Deng? Deng is a very good defensive player, he is a shooter also, and although he is not an isolation player that you draw up plays for, he finishes well around the rim, he makes hard cuts, and as a result, he can get 15 - 20 points a game. That is the type of player I see Nic Batum being. Maybe he will be a little better than Deng even, but that is the type of player I see Nicolas Batum turning out to be.
We will just have to wait and see!
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you know they currently compare deng to pippen in Chicago
and at espn, tnt. pretty much everywhere. think about pippens game: shutdown defender, he was a pretty good shooter(best 3pt% was 37%, but past that 35and below), never a great FT shooter, good rebound and a good passer(avg alot of AST, but when you’re playing with Jordan who isn’t). now looking at that list Batum:he’s is getting that shutdown defender ability, he is already a better shooter( not avg 17 FGA like Pippen was), better FT shooter, the only thing batum needs to add is pippen toughness and the ability to play with Jordan
by Daddygr33nJeans on Jun 12, 2011 10:44 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
you are so right.
MJ PUSHED Pippen all of the way..all the way down to making sure Pippen followed his strength/conditioning regimen so Pippen would have the stamina to endure and shine during/in the playoffs.
Batum is smarter than Pippen I think (see Pippen’s comment about MJ vs Lebron) and said he is going to work on his strength in the offseason. I think he’s heard enough about this to know that it’s necessary. He probably also looked at LMA who did this and had a break out season this year.
And Batum probably also knows that other teams are using methods that far surpass those used by the Blazer strength and conditioning coach..the highly likable and extremely UNTOUCHABLE Bobby Medina.
I think it really depends on what direction the team takes.
We’ve seen plenty of brilliant flashes out of Batum the past couple years, and a lot of them were in the open court, where he gets those chase-down blocks and transition dunks. If the Blazers loosen up and run a little bit, Nico could start racking up the Pts and Blks, eventually good for another 6 Pts, and 1 Blk per game.
You’re right about him putting on a little weight; it would be a good idea. I don’t see him ever being the kind of player that’s going to muck it up in the paint, but just having the confidence that a couple extra lbs can grant might encourage him to dive in for those offensive Rebs more often. He’s already a proficient offensive rebounder (top 10 among SFs earning >20 minutes), but a lousy defensive rebounder (not even top 20). A solid commitment to DRebs, combined with a few more of those ORebs could push him into the 8 Rebs per game mold.
So I’m saying his potential is 18, 8, and 1.6, which compares best to Gerald Wallace; a younger, more intelligent (not as reckless), Gerald Wallace.
Doers & Makers > Movers & Shakers
There you go
Batum is an open court player…He will ‘defer" in the half court game and we will still be asking the same questions about his talent next year….This organization has yet to shed any light on what kind of team they want to be….and Nate is historically a slow down/ half court coach. Also the continued limbo of Roy and Oden will not help this team move in a direction that can get an identity established any time soon….
IMO Batum will be dealt , not only because he and LMA are the most valuable trade pieces, but Nate is looking for veterans in their prime. He really has not set the table for Batum to emerge and management appears to be putting most of their eggs in the coach’s basket.
Up and running.........and almost defending.
Under Nate?...........
He will never be more that what he is now. In the right place ,with a real coach….? Better.to really good.
We must endeavor to persevere.
He's no Pippen
His best case is probably Tayshaun Prince.
why do people think this?
No one thinks this about other 22 year olds
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
again...you mean like LMA...
what did LMA do this year that was different than in season’s past?
He hired a personal trainer from the Dallas Cowboys over the summer. A strength and conditioning coach who somehow seems to have had better results than Bobby Medina…imagine that.
Batum said he is going to hire a strength/conditioning coach this summer. I am sure Batum is smart enough to hire someone well qualified.
Let’s see what happens next season.
What happened with LA is an exception to the rule.
Expecting miracles are not a good way to run a team. (Even though I do hope for a bit of a miracle in case of Greg Oden. But then, there’s not many physically gifted, 7 foot, 280lb human beings out there.) Based on his current trajectory and past player-development trend, the wise thing is not to expect too much from Nic. Also, it we can cash in on him for a superior player, it needs to explored.
The cake was a lie.
So what you're saying is the dude plateaus for one season at the age of 22 and that's all she wrote for his development?
The primary reason is that lack of a clear upward trajectory for Batum.
This isn’t Rudy Fernandez. Nic, at 6’9’’, will improve simply by getting stronger…and that says nothing of the improvements he will make to other aspects of his game. We’ve seen a very promising midrange game from Nic and we’ve seen him be a hesitant but effective driver. If people want to jump off the Nic wagon because he averaged 12 and 5 for two straight seasons that’s their prerogative, but I think they’re crazy and I’m really really glad they aren’t the ones making decisions for this franchise. I think it’s a significant overreaction to an underwhelming season by a 22 year old player who has nowhere to go but up.
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
by sammymohawk on Jun 13, 2011 10:11 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Nicely put.
Doers & Makers > Movers & Shakers
by Adam Randall on Jun 13, 2011 11:12 AM PDT up reply actions
I think he will improve somewhat, but I don’t see the “motor” or desire necessary to make major improvements. I thought his defense took a dramatic step backwards this season which is a major concern for me.
Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t trade him for peanuts— he’s a decent NBA starter and a good 6th man— but if another team out there has him pegged as a future allstar, I’d be trying to work out a trade, that’s for sure.
long live the jd.
I think this is a fair statement with fair concerns
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
by sammymohawk on Jun 13, 2011 12:15 PM PDT up reply actions
yes..of course he is. Because he's 22 and we all know this is when NBA players reach their peaks.
Pretty much after this it is all downhill.
For 18 year olds that jump into NBA, this isn't far from truth.
There are improvement, but those improvement tend to be incremental rather than leaps. And, some even regress.
At any rate, if we’re to see a leap in Nic’s play, next season will probably his best (and probably last) chance.
The cake was a lie.
He needs to...
improve his strength and ball handling. If he could make even a small jump in those areas he could make the next step. I suppose a nice chip on his shoulder might do it also…….he seems to play better mad.
Now, Batum can improve, but whether he turns into the next Pippen remains to be seen. Defensively, Batum is already there,
This nearly made me spit out my coffee. Batum is nowhere near Pippen defensively. Pippen is one of the greatest defensive players of all time: some examples. Batum is a decent-to-good defender, but not even a top 10 wing defender in the league right now, much less a top 2 or 3 wing defender all time like Pippen.
Batum’s likely career peak is something like a slightly better, more athletic but weaker Raja Bell. Mostly defensive guy with enough 3 point shooting to be valuable on offense. Probably better on offense than Raja at his peak but never quite as good on defense.
by howlingfantods on Jun 12, 2011 2:39 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
thank you.
it’s amazing how quickly people forget how good pippen was as a defender.
equally egregious is how much he was underrated as an offensive player. he wasn’t just a guy would could shoot and pass a little bit. he was an elite passer, slasher and post-up player.
i think that blazer fans remember a bit too much of the 37 year old pippen that played for portland and have forgotten about the 1992 pippen that destroyed them in the finals.
while it may have seemed like there were two michael jordans out there on the court, one of them was actually named scottie pippen!
notice that i didn't even mention batum in my post.
he doesn’t deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence, he is not even 10% the player that pippen was in his prime.
I would batum’s ceiling at about 25% pippen’s peak level (aka, above average starting small forward).
I liked the Tayshaun Prince comparison and still think its decent, but Batum took a real step backwards defensively this year. He can be Prince-like when he’s focused and assertive on both ends, but that doesn’t happen enough. Its not at all clear he has the motor or desire to be much more than he is now. Maybe the light will come on, but I kind of doubt it. Next year will be telling.
long live the jd.
only 22 years old!
would like to see him add some muscle and some meanness.
Nic is not untradable
But you’re nuts if you think he’s not going to get any better, that makes no sense
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
by sammymohawk on Jun 12, 2011 3:26 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
Batum will be a great player
For the Sacramento Kings when Kemba slips to 7 pick and we trade you Casspi and the pick for him
Can't wait for October
by KingsFanInPortland on Jun 12, 2011 3:59 PM PDT reply actions
i love his ability to guard positions 1-4, but he’s still young and is not an elite level defender. i think he can get there, he’s got the attributes. but right now, he gets beat, burnt and bested more than a lot of blazers fans will admit.
that said, i love what he already brings and i just wish he would bring every bit of it every night. i’m just waiting for everything to click and the confidence to be there.
This
The OP’s statement that defensively he is already there, meaning being on the level of Pippen is simply not an accurate statement. Your modifying comments are much more accurate, though I would further modify by saying can guard positions 1-4 in certain matchups. I hate seeing him try to guard someone truly bigger and stronger as they simply post him up, back him down and 2 pts later the play is over.
I agree with Sammy. He is only 22. He has played only 2.5 seasons. Check out Gerald Wallace at 22. Nic will continue to improve on both ends of the floor as long as he stays healthy and gets minutes. Question in PDX is do we have enough minutes to give him with so many other (potentially) strong wing players???
I think he really missed having Monty Williams to guide him
He’s going to improve with age. WIth experience, he’ll become more consistent and smarter. He’ll also be able to put on an additional 5-10 lbs if he focuses just on that. I think over the summer, he should get in the gym and shoot shoot shoot. That’s a huge part of his game and he can become a 40% shooter from deep.
"You need to get real!"
Nicolas Batum lacks the handles and court vision that are necessary to be a guard.
"They say it has no memory. That’s where I want to live the rest of my life. A warm place with no memory."
I like batum but id trade him if the trade was right! what do you think of these trades?
http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=3rh2wkp
http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=3tbshzk
http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=3zy5dvn
not all the trades involve batum but all would either make him a starter or trade him
Upside = Richard Jefferson in his prime (Nets)
Downside = Richard Jefferson now (SA)
Henne is the greatest and the Dolphins will go 14-2 this year and win the SB
I've got a few bones to pick here.
we have all heard the many comparisons. The most common one being Scottie Pippen.
Physically, yes. Vince Carter got compared to Jordan when he came into the league. How’s that working out for him? Physical comparisons are fun, but don’t equal actual talent, dedication, and will to win.
Defensively, Batum is already there, one of the things that would help with his all around game though, is his strength.
That is a terrible exaggeration of Nic’s consistency on D, which needs to improve, as well as criminal neglect to Scottie’s years of guarding some of the league’s best in the playoffs for over a decade. Scottie is a legit top 10 player at his position.
He has great athletic ability, and talent wise, the sky is the limit
The sky would be the limit if Nic was a drop-dead shooter like Durant, or if he had a sick handle and playmaking ability like Pippen did. Nic isn’t even a starter on his own team. He can be a nice player like Battier though, but the Pippen comparisons are pretty silly until he becomes more of a playmaker and legitimate 2nd or 3rd option on offense.
wha??
by Hipster Olympic Team! on Jun 13, 2011 12:25 PM PDT reply actions
I'd like him to play with some fire.
Take notes from Crash. Don’t take any plays off. My knock on Batum is that he can be great, then kind of drift around. Look at some old footage of Pippen. The guy played with some fire in his belly.
My favorite teams are the Blazers and any team that is playing the Lakers.
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