Bleacher Report, Ranking Every NBA Team's Backcourt Ahead of 17-18 Season, by Adam Fromal,
Hornets at #8, behind 7.MIN 6.POR 5.OKC 4.TOR 3.WAS 2.GS 1.HOU
8. Charlotte Hornets: Kemba Walker and Nicolas Batum
Just imagine if Nicolas Batum bounces back.
The 32-year-old shooting guard declined substantially in 2016-17, averaging just 15.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.9 assists while slashing 40.3/33.3/85.6. The per-game numbers were still impressive and highlight the versatility of his game as an oversized, 6'8" 2-guard with plenty of athletic abilities, but the efficiency just wasn't there.
Wait. He's not 32?
It may seem like Batum has been around long enough to be entering his mid-30s, but that's only because he entered the NBA as a teenager back in 2008. He actually won't celebrate his 29th birthday until mid-December, giving him plenty of time to bounce back and resume an upward trajectory.
If that happens, he and Kemba Walker complement each other perfectly.
Batum can take away some of the ball-handling responsibilities while focusing most of his energy reserves on less glamorous areas. Walker can continue functioning as one of the NBA's most dangerous pick-and-roll threats, punishing defenders who have no idea whether to duck under or go over the top of screens. His improved jumper in conjunction with his enduring speed makes him a devastating weapon, and he's now learned how to use the former in a variety of situations.
Last year, Walker posted a 47.8 effective field-goal percentage on pull-up jumpers—No. 18 among the 89 players with at least 200 relevant attempts. He also led the pack of 122 men with as many catch-and-shoot jumpers by posting a mind-numbing 70.2 effective field-goal percentage.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2733014-ranking-every-nba-teams-starting-backcourt-ahead-of-2017-18-season?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=programming-nationalLOL saying Batum is 32, if he plays closer to his real age we ought to be pretty good this year