Eggers: Blazers F Nicolas Batum Eyes Improved Consistency After New Contract

Kerry Eggers of the Portland Tribune reports that Portland Trail Blazers forward Nicolas Batum is focusing on improving his consistency during the 2012-13 season after signing a 4-year contract worth $46.5 million over the summer.

"I know that's my biggest weakness," he says. "Since I was playing in France when I was 14 or 15, my coach told me every time, ‘Consistency, consistency.'

"In the NBA, that's huge. You play so many games. You don't play once a week. You have to be there every night. It's going to be even bigger for me this year, I know that."

For Batum to contribute, say, 18 points and six rebounds and shoot with precision on most nights would be a major boost to the Blazers.

"Coaches love when they know what they're going to get from night to night," he says. "The great ones give you a certain level every night that you can count on. That's going to be part of his growth."

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter