120 Guarantees: the Nic Batum thread

[Mystical Apples]

The primary defensive skill for a big is pnr and covering rotations

[Liver_Pooty]

I honestly think rim protection is overrated these days.

Truth. It's about playing good defense and different ways to get there. Teams have in the past overpaid for the skill and oftentimes for players limited elsewhere. Length on the perimeter can be just as effective without sacrificing on offense

I just think it's ridiculous how our interior defense is supposedly soft now that Biyombo is gone when in fact he struggled mightily in other areas defensively with the exception of shot blocking. Pick and roll defense for one. We're going to be just fine down low.

In my opinion anyways.

[Mystical Apples]

I honestly think rim protection is overrated these days.

Truth. It's about playing good defense and different ways to get there. Teams have in the past overpaid for the skill and oftentimes for players limited elsewhere. Length on the perimeter can be just as effective without sacrificing on offense

I just think it's ridiculous how our interior defense is supposedly soft now that Biyombo is gone when in fact he struggled mightily in other areas defensively with the exception of shot blocking. Pick and roll defense for one. We're going to be just fine down low.

In my opinion anyways.

some teams are now taking 1/3 of all their FG attempts from three and that includes easy transition buckets. The other possessions consist of a lot of PnR action designed to punish slower bigs. And that's not even accounting if they're bad offensive players

Besides with modern offenses stretch bigs just drag the "rim protectors" to 20 feet. That's why it's always a little amusing to hear people lose their lunch about a guy like Kaminsky on defense. He's good at what teams value on defense and his job on offense is to chase the rim protectors off the floor.

[Liver_Pooty]

Truth. It's about playing good defense and different ways to get there. Teams have in the past overpaid for the skill and oftentimes for players limited elsewhere. Length on the perimeter can be just as effective without sacrificing on offense

I just think it's ridiculous how our interior defense is supposedly soft now that Biyombo is gone when in fact he struggled mightily in other areas defensively with the exception of shot blocking. Pick and roll defense for one. We're going to be just fine down low.

In my opinion anyways.

some teams are now taking 1/3 of all their FG attempts from three and that includes easy transition buckets. The other possessions consist of a lot of PnR action designed to punish slower bigs. And that's not even accounting if they're bad offensive players

Besides with modern offenses stretch bigs just drag the "rim protectors" to 20 feet. That's why it's always a little amusing to hear people lose their lunch about a guy like Kaminsky on defense. He's good at what teams value on defense and his job on offense is to chase the rim protectors off the floor.

Good point.

[Eoghan]

I honestly think rim protection is overrated these days.

I think they're undervalued. It can't be the only defense you have and expect your team to be a top 10 defense, but I think the most important part of defense is to not allow easy baskets in the paint.

Perhaps, but I think the game is evolving to the point where it's not a necessity. As in you don't necessarily need one to have a really good defense. Definitely doesn't hurt though.

I disagree, I think it's evolving to the point where it's more and more of a necessity. I actually think perimeter defending is becoming less and less necessary b/c they're making it impossible (no handchecking, palming, carrying and traveling running rampant) so a rim protector lurking as the last line of defense to alter/block shots is paramount.

Biz was not a bad P&R defender when he played with people that rotated on defense. He just looked bad on 2nd units with defensive scrubs.

[DY_nasty]

Batum doesn't need to aggressively score he. Just needs to aggressively facilitate lol

If all of those Henderson iso fadeaways became assists, I'd be happy - but thankfully batum brings a lot more to the table than that even on a bad day

[Liver_Pooty]

Batum just needs to be what Lance was suppose to be, and we will be perfectly fine.

Batum will be better, much better since he doesn't demand the ball, isn't an idiot, and can actually shoot a basketball. I'm excited.

[Mystical Apples]

I think they're undervalued. It can't be the only defense you have and expect your team to be a top 10 defense, but I think the most important part of defense is to not allow easy baskets in the paint.

Perhaps, but I think the game is evolving to the point where it's not a necessity. As in you don't necessarily need one to have a really good defense. Definitely doesn't hurt though.

I disagree, I think it's evolving to the point where it's more and more of a necessity. I actually think perimeter defending is becoming less and less necessary b/c they're making it impossible (no handchecking, palming, carrying and traveling running rampant) so a rim protector lurking as the last line of defense to alter/block shots is paramount.

Biz was not a bad P&R defender when he played with people that rotated on defense. He just looked bad on 2nd units with defensive scrubs.

What you're describing is the opposite of what has happened. The vast majority of those rules happened over a decade ago, including lane-camping by bigs. Without the use of hands - and without lane camping - more sophisticated rotating and help defenses gradually replaced sagging defenses that were disallowed from packing the lane. Perimeter defenders are at a premium, not only to help and rotate, but length and quickness to disrupt passing lanes on ball rotation to the weak side.

Besides this (or maybe in part because of) math took over and smart teams stopped doing really dumb things like taking long 2's. That spaced the floor and wings became even more import to cover real estate. What we see now is a guard driven league surrounded multi-dimensional length. The rim protecting specialist is marginalized now.

[Mystical Apples]

Perhaps, but I think the game is evolving to the point where it's not a necessity. As in you don't necessarily need one to have a really good defense. Definitely doesn't hurt though.

I disagree, I think it's evolving to the point where it's more and more of a necessity. I actually think perimeter defending is becoming less and less necessary b/c they're making it impossible (no handchecking, palming, carrying and traveling running rampant) so a rim protector lurking as the last line of defense to alter/block shots is paramount.

Biz was not a bad P&R defender when he played with people that rotated on defense. He just looked bad on 2nd units with defensive scrubs.

What you're describing is contrary to what has happened. The vast majority of those rules happened over a decade ago, including lane-camping by bigs. Without the use of hands - and without lane camping - more sophisticated rotating and help defenses gradually replaced sagging defenses that were disallowed from packing the lane. Perimeter defenders are at a premium, not only to help and rotate, but length and quickness to disrupt passing lanes on ball rotation to the weak side.

Besides this (or maybe in part because of) math took over and smart teams stopped doing really dumb things like taking long 2's. That spaced the floor and wings became even more import to cover real estate. What we see now is a guard driven league surrounded multi-dimensional length. The rim protecting specialist is marginalized now.

[yosemiteben]

[instagram]https://instagram.com/p/5h0YQkFpZk/[/instagram]

Le yuck.

[Braggins]

I honestly think rim protection is overrated these days.

Truth. It's about playing good defense and different ways to get there. Teams have in the past overpaid for the skill and oftentimes for players limited elsewhere. Length on the perimeter can be just as effective without sacrificing on offense

I just think it's ridiculous how our interior defense is supposedly soft now that Biyombo is gone when in fact he struggled mightily in other areas defensively with the exception of shot blocking. Pick and roll defense for one. We're going to be just fine down low.

In my opinion anyways.

Our interior defense was soft last season and was actually a pretty big problem. We had to start running aggressive double teams in the post, something Clifford hates doing, before Al's first injury because it was such a problem for us. Also, Biz's increased minutes in the middle 1/3 of the season helped dramatically improve our overall defensive efficiency for the season, which otherwise struggled to remain league average. We were flat out bad defensively with AL on the court last season and if he would have played all season our defense would not have finished top 10. We've lost our best interior presence from a team that struggled to defend in the paint and replaced him with multiple weak defending bigs. We were soft and now we're softer. If I cared at all about sig bets I would sig bet people that we'll have a worse defensive rating this season.

[Snidely FC]

I'm looking forward to watching Nic Batum. He's only 26. Could he be our Grant Hill all around type?
Couple o Highliights from the second half of '15:
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLCao4SW9do[/youtube]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncg2yxDQ1CM[/youtube]

[LofJ]

Batum's offensive fit between Kemba and MKG is near perfect, he is going to bring a ton of good things to this team. I also can't wait to see him and MKG terrorizing perimeter oriented offenses this upcoming season. It's going to be fun to watch.

[Liver_Pooty]

Early prediction. Batum makes all star team

[Liver_Pooty]

Batum has interest in the Raptors.

Shocker there...

[JDR720]

Nicolas Batum has interest in playing for the Toronto Raptors when he becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2016.

Toronto is an international city that appeals to Batum.

The Charlotte Hornets acquired Batum this offseason from the Portland Trail Blazers despite him entering his contract year.

General manager Rich Cho and assistant general manager Chad Buchanan are familiar with Batum from their time with the Blazers.

“We are very comfortable given that Chad and Rich know Nic well,” said Hornets' vice-chairman Curtis Polk.

“We’ve seen over the last few years that players want to be here,” Cho says. “Free agents want to come here.”

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/238888/Nicolas-Batum-Interested-In-Playing-For-Raptors

if he leaves after one season....might need to hire a hitman and murder Cho/MJ/Cliff/most of front office.

[yosemiteben]

I'm not real worried about Toronto. They have DeRozan and just signed Carroll. Don't see them starting Batum at PF or bringing him or Carroll off the bench.

[Liver_Pooty]

Nicolas Batum has interest in playing for the Toronto Raptors when he becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2016.

Toronto is an international city that appeals to Batum.

The Charlotte Hornets acquired Batum this offseason from the Portland Trail Blazers despite him entering his contract year.

General manager Rich Cho and assistant general manager Chad Buchanan are familiar with Batum from their time with the Blazers.

“We are very comfortable given that Chad and Rich know Nic well,” said Hornets' vice-chairman Curtis Polk.

“We’ve seen over the last few years that players want to be here,” Cho says. “Free agents want to come here.”

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/238888/Nicolas-Batum-Interested-In-Playing-For-Raptors

if he leaves after one season....might need to hire a hitman and murder Cho/MJ/Cliff/most of front office.

He probably has about as much interest in Toronto as Durant does the Wizards. All about that French ordeal.

I wouldn't sweat it.

[Elden Payton]

Nicolas Batum has interest in playing for the Toronto Raptors when he becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2016.

Toronto is an international city that appeals to Batum.

The Charlotte Hornets acquired Batum this offseason from the Portland Trail Blazers despite him entering his contract year.

General manager Rich Cho and assistant general manager Chad Buchanan are familiar with Batum from their time with the Blazers.

“We are very comfortable given that Chad and Rich know Nic well,” said Hornets' vice-chairman Curtis Polk.

“We’ve seen over the last few years that players want to be here,” Cho says. “Free agents want to come here.”

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/238888/Nicolas-Batum-Interested-In-Playing-For-Raptors

if he leaves after one season....might need to hire a hitman and murder Cho/MJ/Cliff/most of front office.

Our ownership and FO structure are completely delusional and incompetent.

It is highly unlikely that he will re-sign here and even if he does we'll have to pay him 16-18m per.

Also this thread is getting ridiculous, Batum should never be in the same sentence as Grant Hill...

Batum averaged 9.35/5.86/4.80 on .400/.324/.857 in 33.5mpg last season.

He's a career 11/5/3 player on 45/36/83

I understand people's optimism but our franchise has gone backwards at a rate of knots in it's development this offseason and it is pathetic and depressing.

[BlackOutBuzz]

Nicolas Batum has interest in playing for the Toronto Raptors when he becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2016.

Toronto is an international city that appeals to Batum.

The Charlotte Hornets acquired Batum this offseason from the Portland Trail Blazers despite him entering his contract year.

General manager Rich Cho and assistant general manager Chad Buchanan are familiar with Batum from their time with the Blazers.

“We are very comfortable given that Chad and Rich know Nic well,” said Hornets' vice-chairman Curtis Polk.

“We’ve seen over the last few years that players want to be here,” Cho says. “Free agents want to come here.”

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/238888/Nicolas-Batum-Interested-In-Playing-For-Raptors

if he leaves after one season....might need to hire a hitman and murder Cho/MJ/Cliff/most of front office.

I don't see a lot of WTs, being almost exclusively on mobile, but man, that is straight lifted from the Lowe article.