120 Guarantees: the Nic Batum thread

[Bassman]

Read on Twitter

Good news. I'd still like to see him come off the bench and let Lamb start.

[TheKingofSting]

http://amp.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nba/charlotte-hornets/article186235538.html



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[fatlever]

Never could have seen this coming...

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[Braggins]

Yep, least surprising development of the season.

I still think we should start Nic when hes healthy. I think Lamb has surpassed him, but we need a go to scoring option on the 2nd unit and Lamb is clearly our second best scorer. I'm not sure Batums passing is enough to make the 2nd unit offense viable without Lamb since Batum can't really create anything with the ball in his hands. Hide Nic on the 1st unit and stagger his minutes so hes still playing some minutes with the bench.

[HoopsMalone]

We really need Monk to step up and be a freaking SG. We can't afford to continue to play Bacon in his absence...

[Braggins]

MCW/Monk/Batum/Frank/Cody would be an interesting bench unit, though. Moves Monk to third ball handler and the Batum/Cody PnR actually sounds pretty sweet against bench units. Keeps Batum from having to guard starters.

[catch20two]

I doubt Batum would be happy about coming off the bench.

[bravor]

I doubt Batum would be happy about coming off the bench.

That's what happened when Wallace had been traded to the Blazers a few years ago. He did not pout if that what's you imply. He takes what his team/coach gives him.

As inconsistent as he is on the court (and through his career), you don't need to try to turn him into someone he is not. He is probably the most coachable (and nice) player coming from France (and probably in the nba as well).

I still highly doubt it would benefit to the team. Lamb did stats in a losing team. I d rather poor stats - everything being relative - from wing players in a winning effort.
Yet, not a surprised to read a few jump on the opportunity as soon as Batum has an off game.

[catch20two]

I doubt Batum would be happy about coming off the bench.

That's what happened when Wallace had been traded to the Blazers a few years ago. He did not pout if that what's you imply. He takes what his team/coach gives him.

That was totally different circumstances. Batum was only like 22 years old then and just as inconsistent as he is now while Gerald Wallace was a all-star level player that just got traded to the Blazers.

I still highly doubt it would benefit to the team. Lamb did stats in a losing team. I d rather poor stats - everything being relative - from wing players in a winning effort.
Yet, not a surprised to read a few jump on the opportunity as soon as Batum has an off game.

It’s not even about Batum having a off game. It’s about Lamb just playing that good. Lamb is currently playing at a level that’s as good or better than anything we’ve got from Batum since he’s been here.

I don’t even want to move Batum to the bench. I want to move him to SF/PF. Batum has played PF in the past during a time when PFs around the league used to be much bigger and stronger. Nowadays in the NBA almost every PF play from the outside-in rather than inside-out.

[ohara]

I'm just happy he is only going to miss a couple games and is not lost for the season.

[Diop]

I doubt Batum would be happy about coming off the bench.

i couldn't see Batum being upset either, he seems to have more of that Diaw "whatever" mojo.

[BatumtheGlue]

Read on Twitter

Good news. I'd still like to see him come off the bench and let Lamb start.

I'd like to see him come off the bench for a few games until he's fully recover. I'm a fan of Nic but I really like what I saw from Lamb recently.

[Snidely FC]

one objection I had in moving Cody to the bench was separating Nic and Cody. Nic really unlocks Cody's skillset, Cody has looked fairly average without him. I like the idea of renewing their magic on the second team

meanwhile Lamb plays well with Kemba and Dwight

also can't see Nic complaining, he's massively overpaid

[Hornet Mania]

I'm on board with giving Batum a shot as our new 6th man, especially if Lamb keeps up this level of play. I've always thought having an over-qualified player leading a bench unit is a good strategy.

[Joest2003]

Why can't cliff just find a way to play Batum and Lamb together? Kemba Lamb and Batum could be a dangerous trio.

[catch20two]

Why can't cliff just find a way to play Batum and Lamb together? Kemba Lamb and Batum could be a dangerous trio.

Rainman Clifford can’t compute that into his mind. If he accidentally played Lamb and Batum together it’ll throw off his entire algorithm.

“A shooting guard play shooting guard. If he’s a guard he guard. Small forward play small forward. Too small to power forward. Don’t have enough power.”

[yosemiteben]

Why can't cliff just find a way to play Batum and Lamb together? Kemba Lamb and Batum could be a dangerous trio.

Probably because we already know our current starting lineup works and our bench unit needs reliable scoring.

[catch20two]

Probably because we already know our current starting lineup works and our bench unit needs reliable scoring.

Our bench has continued to be weak. The smart decision would be to shorten the rotation. Within shortening the rotation we’d need to play some positionless basketball and smallball lineups. Within playing into those strategies there will be a lot of times where Lamb and Batum would play together since they are the most versatile players on the team that can play at least 3 positions.

Batum and Lamb has played a small sample size of 17 minutes together so far this season. Their net rating together is +19.5.

[fatlever]

Keep starting Batum, but bring him out at 6min mark of 1st, bring him back at top of 2nd (rest at end of 2nd as needed). Need to try to have 2 of Kemba/Batum/Lamb on floor as much of 48 mins as possible.

[mrknowitall215]

If there is any chance Charlotte can get out of Batum's contract sooner than later they should exercise that right