If batum is available, do you play him for the games against MIA?

lambchop · Post #1 » by **lambchop** » Tue Apr 26, 2016 2:05 pm

Not a hornets fan, but just curious to know what you guys think. The team lost 2 with batum and won 2 without him. Obviously, other adjustments have been made too, but would you play batum major minutes, if he is ready, or stick with the guys, who got you 2 wins?

jtsmith · Post #2 » by **jtsmith** » Tue Apr 26, 2016 2:21 pm

if he was healthy, of course you play batum. He's one of the best players we have.

driveandkick · Post #3 » by **driveandkick** » Tue Apr 26, 2016 2:42 pm

Ummm absolutely lol

uballer · Post #4 » by **uballer** » Tue Apr 26, 2016 3:06 pm

Rest him for next game, then we will see.

countryboi · Post #5 » by **countryboi** » Tue Apr 26, 2016 3:08 pm

if we want to win this series we need all hands on deck. that said batum is normally god awful coming off an injury.

BatumtheGlue · Post #6 » by **BatumtheGlue** » Tue Apr 26, 2016 4:03 pm

Play him limited minutes in the 1st game back from injury.

chshen · Post #7 » by **chshen** » Tue Apr 26, 2016 4:46 pm

Now MIA might start to lock down Lin and Kemba.
Using Batum can play more tactics... mix Kemba+Lin / Kemba+Batum / Batum+Lin... it would be fun.

BatumtheGlue · Post #8 » by **BatumtheGlue** » Tue Apr 26, 2016 4:51 pm

chshen wrote:Now MIA might start to lock down Lin and Kemba.
Using Batum can play more tactics... mix Kemba+Lin / Kemba+Batum / Batum+Lin... it would be fun.

This. They will adjusting to our scheme. Spo is a good coach, we need all the weapons we have. Be healthy soon Nic, we need you.

13th Man · Post #9 » by **13th Man** » Tue Apr 26, 2016 4:54 pm

chshen wrote:Now MIA might start to lock down Lin and Kemba.
Using Batum can play more tactics... mix Kemba+Lin / Kemba+Batum / Batum+Lin... it would be fun.

Good first post, I agree. Last night Lin, Kemba and Lee all stepped up and we barely beat an off-shooting Heat team. We need Nic to take the load off of these guys and for his rebounding as well. As long as he doesn't try to do too much right away he'd be a definite asset.

kastuul · Post #10 » by **kastuul** » Tue Apr 26, 2016 4:57 pm

chshen wrote:Now MIA might start to lock down Lin and Kemba.
Using Batum can play more tactics... mix Kemba+Lin / Kemba+Batum / Batum+Lin... it would be fun.

Try Lin+Walker first, if MIA can lock them down, put Batum into the game.

Also, someone need to score like Frank the Tank in GM3.

Ironically, the TOs was low b/c the Hornets didn't move the ball.

Someone must step up to help the offense.

They all look tired after GM4.

Clifford may play some Daniels/Lamb.

Braggins · Post #11 » by **Braggins** » Tue Apr 26, 2016 6:13 pm

We are a better team with a healthy Batum and there is really no question about that. However, Batum has looked terrible all season in games when he is returning from injury or not fully recovered. Some players play well through injuries. Batum doesn't seem to be one of those players. If he is at least 90%-95% then you play him. Anything less than that and Id rather just wait for him to be closer to 100%. Gimpy Batum is awful.

Post #12 » by **yosemiteben** » Tue Apr 26, 2016 6:21 pm

Agree with Braggins.

bws94 · Post #13 » by **bws94** » Tue Apr 26, 2016 6:22 pm

BatumtheGlue wrote:Play him limited minutes in the 1st game back from injury.

Cliff doesn't seem to know how to do this. Player is off injury, play him long time. Only Al seemed to have his minutes limited coming back off an injury.

BatumtheGlue · Post #14 » by **BatumtheGlue** » Tue Apr 26, 2016 6:33 pm

bws94 wrote:
BatumtheGlue wrote:Play him limited minutes in the 1st game back from injury.

Cliff doesn't seem to know how to do this. Player is off injury, play him long time. Only Al seemed to have his minutes limited coming back off an injury.

I think it was more on his player who insist to play heavy minutes, but i believe Cliffy is smart enough to learn from his mistakes.

uballer · Post #15 » by **uballer** » Tue Apr 26, 2016 6:35 pm

We won last two games because of great defense - and you can tell from the low points that Miami scored during last two games (80 pts and 85 pts). Batum immediately off injury may not be very effective in defense.

LamarMatic7 · Post #16 » by **LamarMatic7** » Tue Apr 26, 2016 7:44 pm

If he is healthy and ready to go there's no question. With two out of the possible remaining games in Miami, we're still the underdog in this series.

MasterIchiro · Post #17 » by **MasterIchiro** » Tue Apr 26, 2016 8:30 pm

Yes. But because of his limitations on defense, you use him to shadow someone he can handle like JJ. Not Deng, because Deng torched him. I prefer Marvin on Deng. Lee on Wade. By this point in the series, Clifford knows how the matchups shake out.

Batum is a perimeter player and Miami plays a stretch D.

We need to lighten his workload not only because he is recovering from an injury but also because Kemba and Lin are more effective driving into the paint instead of prancing around on the perimeter. They need a greater bulk of his minutes than we typically saw in the regular season. Cliff is exploiting the paint by posting Frank, even starting Al. You have to take it to them and punish them for taking us out of our perimeter game. The last thing I want is Batum back playing heavy minutes and feeding into Miami's defensive scheme. Where Batum can be valuable is in finding cutters and making good, crisp passes into the paint, hopefully without committing too many turnovers.

Vae Victus · Post #18 » by **Vae Victus** » Tue Apr 26, 2016 8:40 pm

Batum is a more legit 3 pt shooter compared to Kamisky and Zeller. He can be used as a stretch 4 to give Lin/Kemba more open lanes to attack. The main issue in my mind is that Batum wants to be the "man" and dominate the ball and make plays. The problem with that is due to his non blazing speed he cant penetrate like Lin and Kemba can, cuz thats what we're getting alot of this series with Miami closing hard on shooters (see Marvin's ineffectiveness). Batum likes to hold onto the ball and try to pick his spots, but since defenders are staying tight on the shooters there isnt much to do for Batum except for trying to take his man off an ISO or quick screen.

If Batum comes back with the same mentality in game 5, Hornets are gonna get killed. He's lazy on D and his strengths are exactly what Miami is taking away from the Hornets right now. If Cliff is smart he'll ease Batum back in slowly with strict orders on how to play. Ball movement the last 2 games that Batum's been out has been MUCH better.... so yea, that should be a clue.

LofJ · Post #19 » by **LofJ** » Tue Apr 26, 2016 9:18 pm

I doubt Batum will be cleared to play tomorrow. Game 6 will be a must win either way, so it's just as well that we save him for Friday.

2k15 · Post #20 » by **2k15** » Tue Apr 26, 2016 11:59 pm

Game 5 is critical. Play him - we need him to space the defense when we are on offense. There is a reason why starters are digging holes in the first quarter and then again in the third quarter without Lin. We need another playmaker on the floor with Kemba to take the pressure off of him and Lin can't play 48 minutes.

Also, I am very wary of the Twin Towers defense. We're starting to see the cracks yesterday as Winslow is starting to take advantage of Zeller/Frank by driving and scoring on them. It would be nice to get a versatile wing defender back. Even if Batum can function at even 70-80% of his usual level, that would be big.