For years, Nicolas Batum has been part of the Portland Trail Blazers winning ways, but in a quieter fashion than was originally expected of him upon entering the league in 2008. Despite his inability to live up to the lofty projections as a potential All-Star worthy scorer and defensive stopper–I myself thought he had a more than just a little Scottie Pippen in him–it didn’t take long for the lanky Frenchman to become a solid piece first surrounding LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy and then Aldridge and Damian Lillard. However, now 26, Batum is having a disappointing season marred by poor shooting and injury. His team enters the All-Star break with a 36-17 record, identical to last year’s at this stage, and even though roster improvements have been made to 2013-2014’s edition just how well Portland does from here on out depends largely on which Batum they get–the one who shot 37 percent during this season’s first half, or the one who averaged 13 points per game as an integral piece to 2014’s puzzle. And that may very well hinge on how healthy he is.
Batum might be averaging just 9 points per game while shooting that aforementioned putrid percentage from the field as well as a measly 27 percent from three-point range (10 percent lower than last season’s mark), but there is a good reason why his stats have taken a nose-drive. On January 24th, he told The Oregonian‘s Jason Quick he had been playing the last month’s worth of games with a torn ligament in his shooting wrist, an injury he has repeatedly aggravated “usually when he falls to the court.”
In spite of playing with such a severe injury that surely affects every aspect of his game, from shooting to simply the act of dribbling, Batum has voiced his displeasure with his play, knowing how important he is to the team’s success.
“I feel very bad,” he told Quick. “Because I feel like I let down a lot of people. Not only my teammates, but the city, the fans, too. So, like I’ve said a couple times to you: This year I can’t play for me, I have to play for the other people. That’s who I’m playing for.”
Batum was just getting over a bum knee when his wrist flared up in December, but as he has since shown and as Portland has come to expect he is going to fight through the pain. “I’ve just got to suck it up,” he said to Quick. “I can’t give up on those guys. I know a lot of these losses are because of me. I know that.”
Batum is far too hard on himself, as he has made up for his lack of production on offense by grabbing rebounds and dishing assists at an excellent rate. And who can blame him for playing through the pain? Aldridge decided against surgery and is playing through a torn thumb ligament. Portland is a team full of fighters, persevering through injuries, firmly believe something special can be accomplished this season.
The Blazers have been able to weather Batum’s decreased production largely due to a vastly improved bench unit, anchored by veteran center Chris Kaman, fellow big man Meyers Leonard and young shooting guard C.J. McCollum. Additionally, further leaps made by Aldridge, Lillard and Wesley Matthews make Portland a serious contender. As that is the case, the growth and potency of these players could be seen as an avenue for Batum to sit back in the shadows, but it’s not. As defenses collapse on Lillard and Aldridge down the stretch Blazers will need him to hit three-pointers. Stars may get teams into the postseason, but it is often the role players who help hoist the championship trophy.
In December, during the short time between his knee’s improvement and the wrist injury, Batum sounded upbeat about what he could give Portland the rest of the way.
“I try to do everything on the court, but I know I got to be more aggressive,” he told RealGM. “The team needs it. Everybody’s pushing me here. When Tony Parker didn’t play with us this summer, Boris Diaw and I had to step up our games. That was a cool learning experience for me. Here, we’re all young and I would like to be the guy for LaMarcus and Damian. I would like that a lot. But I know I need to be aggressive, and it is coming.”
Portland isn’t sold that it will come this season. They are reportedly targeting Denver’s Aaron Afflalo and Wilson Chandler, two wing players who they think could provide a jolt. They know Batum isn’t at full strength, and he might not be the rest of the way, but just as he has been patient, albeit painfully so, they need to put their faith in him. Aldridge, surely echoing the belief of his teammates as well, knows how important a healthy, productive Batum is.
“We need him,” Aldridge said to The Oregonian. “I think he knows that. He’s a big part of this team and what we do, offensively and defensively. So, we need that Nic back from last year. I don’t think he’s happy with it, I think he’s trying to figure it out and I think every guy on the team is trying to help him figure it out, too.”
Batum has every intention of being out there game in game out, trying to get back on track. And if he indeed does continue to power through and in turn see improvement in his wrist and, as a result, his confidence and performance, Aldridge and the rest of the Blazers may very well play alongside the player they’ve longed for–not only the player Batum himself has greatly desired to be, but the player who can put them over the top.
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