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Tuesday, March 19, 2024
March 19, 2024

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Blazers notebook: Team still working on solution to Batum’s struggles

By , Columbian Trail Blazers Writer
Published:

PORTLAND — Everybody is wondering what needs to be done with Nicolas Batum.

Does he need to handle the ball more to get more engaged? Does he need to come off the bench?

The Blazers have tried several things to get Batum going schematically, something Blazers head coach Terry Stotts confirmed Monday, and it hasn’t materialized for him over the past three losses. And as far as going to the bench, Stotts was quick in his response.

“No,” Stotts replied. “Thanks for asking though.”

Stotts has been steadfast in his support of Batum, which continued prior to Monday’s game against the Kings.

“I think he’s being overanalyzed,” Stotts said. “I think he was being really aggressive in San Antonio and took the ball to the basket three straight times. There was another recent game where he got some rebounds in transition.”

Stotts repeated a basketball truism that you can’t value somebody’s contribution just by looking at shooting percentages.

But the talk is starting to run pretty thin as evidenced by Stotts’ replies. Their second-highest paid player isn’t playing like it and it seems that with every missed shot, he goes deeper into the abyss of his mind. The most dangerous place for an NBA player’s head to be.

Stotts not concerned about record against top teams

The Blazers have struggled so far this season against the best teams in the Western Conference.

So far this season, the Blazers are 3-6 against teams currently in the playoff picture. Things are a little better if including a 2-0 record against Oklahoma City, which is far from a guarantee of making the playoffs.

“It’s something that we’re aware of,” Stotts said of the team’s struggles against top Western Conference foes. “When you take it as a group it doesn’t look good, but if you look at each game and how we played against the Clippers, how we played against Golden State then it’s a little different.”

It’s a concern, but not something Stotts is or can afford to lose sleep over in the long NBA season.

A bad match-up?

The Sacramento Kings haven’t been a playoff team since trading for Rudy Gay, but they’ve played surprisingly well against the Blazers.

“They’ve played us very well since they traded for Rudy,” Stotts said. “I think they are 2-1 against us since they traded for Gay.”

And that one win came on a buzzer-beating corner-3 by Dorell Wright last season in Portland.

“He’s a talented player, he’s a match-up challenge and (DeMarcus ) Cousins has played well in the past as well,” Stotts said.

Last season Cousins averaged 33 points and 12 rebounds against the Blazers.

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Columbian Trail Blazers Writer