SB Nation User Blog: #10

Batum blog June 16

#10 — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 02:35:16 -0000

Defending against Kobe, I was told “good luck”

Nicolas talks about what he has done since the end of the season as well as the playoffs. As a defensive specialist, he also takes a look at the job Mike Pietrus has done on LeBron James and Kobe Bryant.

Since the playoffs finished, I've trained a bit, but passively it has to be said. During the three weeks following the end of the season, I didn't touch a ball. I really needed it, because since last August it's been non-stop basketball, 95 games... After a while it becomes hard, physically as well as mentally, and you have to take a little break. Especially because the elimination in the playoffs was frustrating. We had had a good season, we had succeeded in winning home court advantage, something which isn't easy in the West. And it's too bad that we messed up the first round, we could've won. It's true that the first game put us in a hole, losing by 30 points or so. We did learn during these playoffs, but it's good to take a break. Because we left exhausted and frustrated, and what's more we're watching the other games on TV.

So, during this time, I did some quick weight lifting, some running here and there, but it was really light. In fact in Portland, the coaches and the physical trainer told me to not touch a ball, to rest three weeks, even all of May. They told me: "run two or three times a week, lift weights two or three times, but very light, and be sure to rest, see your family, your friends, have fun." After three weeks, I started to miss basketball. Even after two weeks, in fact, but I couldn't play immediately because I was on vacation.

The first time (or so) that I touched a ball again, it was last weekend for a tournament, le Quartier Ouest. The first day, Saturday, I couldn't feel my lungs anymore, I had the impression that I was missing one! But it was funny, I met with some friends that I had played with in Caen, before I left for Le Mans. It was just to play together again, because it had been a long time. In the beginning it was for fun, but once it started, I wanted to win, so we were in until the final and we won. On top of that, in the final, we played against some of my friends, so it was fun.

Tonight as well I'm going to touch a ball again, but in a wheelchair! I'm going to be the sponsor of the club of Pont-L’Evêque, where I played when I was really little. Today, they're doing a tournament for kids, so I'm going to come, and after the tournament, they're doing a handicap game with the professional team from Le Havre against the first team of Pont-L’Evêque. And I'm going to play with them, in a wheelchair too. It's going to be hard!

I didn't touch a ball until this week, but I still followed the playoffs. They were balanced this year, with lots of good teams. It really was a good playoffs. The ones that beat us, the Rockets, were good afterwards. Too bad that Yao Ming got injured, they could've shocked some people. Aaron Brook surprised me, he had a good playoffs.

But the series that I preferred was the Lakers-Denver, it was great. I thought it was better than Orlando-Cleveland. Carmelo, except when he got sick, played at an impressive level. I'm really happy for him, because he has been criticized and I think that he's one of the most underestimated players in the league. He's not talked about enough. He's talked about, but I don't think that he's recognized like he should be. He defended, attacked, he was a true team player, whereas before some thought that he was only an attacking player, a scorer. He must've had 4 or 5 assists each game in the playoffs. He's a true player now, complete, accomplished in all aspects of the game. He's a true leader. I was happy because he's a player that I really appreciate.

I was also impressed by the series that LeBron had in the conference final. It was crazy. In fact, I was impressed by the people that elevated their level. Nowitzki also had a great playoffs. And then there's Kobe, who was Kobe. He's in his objective since the beginning, he really deserves to win. As far as disappointments, first off there's our team, but also Boston, even if it was difficult with Garnett out. I didn't really have the time to follow their series against Chicago, I watched it vaguely...

At the heart of it, in the final, I saw Orlando winning 4-2. In particular, I thought that with their bigs, the Lakers couldn't defend Rashard Lewis. But what made the difference, in my opinion, was the Lakers' experience, just look at the last game (game 4). So now I see the Lakers winning 4-2. Orlando should win the next game and they'll lose game 6 in Los Angeles. I saw the rerun this morning and it's true that Fisher scored two very big shots at the end, and in overtime, Kobe was Kobe. I don't think that he especially forced it, he just wants to win. He carries his team and he wants to do well. He isn't forcing it like he did before. He wants to win this title. He takes lots of shots, but he had 8 assists. And he can't be too far from a triple-double. It's not forcing it to hog the ball, it's to win. That wasn't Kobe before, who forced it to score his 80 points. It's not easy to explain but for me it's different. He knows that he's the one on his team that can score so he takes shots. Even if Mike Pietrus is playing great defense, he scores 30 points anyway.

For that matter since the start of the playoffs, Mike is good, eh! And not only on defense, he also scores. He scored 15 points that night. Aside from the 2nd game, he's scored 14, 18, and 15. That's pretty good for his first finals. And then defensively he's been great. LeBron maybe put up lots of points, but he still limited him. He forced LeBron to play for himself, made him lower his head and the others stopped moving. So sure LeBron scored 40 points, but the others didn't score more than 10.

That's what you have to do against LeBron. For us, in Portland, that's what we do against him. "Let LeBron score 40, it's not important as long as the others don't score 20." If he wants to, he'll score 40 anyway. You have to try to limit him and make him shoot a poor percentage. But you especially have to cut off the others and give it your all against him. Anyway, that's what you have to do against these guys. Sure, you have to try to stop them, but the objective is above all to limit them more than to stop them, because they're so good... After LeBron, you can try to let him shoot, because his shot is less fluid and precise than Kobe's, even if he's starting to become better and better.

It's a bit different defending against them. For LeBron, I was told "stay back and avoid letting him in the paint. It's better to let him shoot." For Kobe, it's "good luck." Wade, for me, is different, he was maybe the toughest to defend. Well, no, in fact, you can't say that he's the toughest to defend out of the three because they're the three best players in the world. It's crazy how skilled Kobe is. Wade is too quick, his lateral quickness is crazy, in a thousandth of a second he puts his right foot on the other side compared with his left foot, you don't know how he did it. And LeBron, he hits you with his shoulder and you end up in the stands. To summarize: Wade too quick, Kobe too skilled, LeBron too physical.

In any case, watching the finals really makes me want to be there. I'm in the NBA, maybe I'll have the opportunity to play in the finals one day, it's even more motivating. Before I just sorta watched them, but now that I'm here and I see the team that we have, given that we'll maybe have the chance to play in the finals in the short or medium term, that really motivates me. But I'll still have to work. I'm leaving this weekend to workout in Dallas, where Alexis Ajinça and Mike Gelabale are working at the moment.

Batum interview (June 6th)

#10 — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 06:01:33 -0000

"I surprised myself"

Nicolas Batum, present at Roland Garros (the French Open), recounts his first season in the NBA, and talks about the NBA finals between the Lakers and Orlando as well as the future of the French national team.

Nicolas, what is your prediction for the final between the Lakers and Orlando?
I think that it will go seven games. It's a very open final and that's why it's difficult for me to make a prediction. But it wouldn't be bad if Orlando won. After from Tony (Parker), Mike Pietrus would then be the second Frenchman to win an NBA title.

How do you judge Mike Pietrus' season?
Mike missed around thirty games in the regular season because of injuries. But he's had a great playoff. Against Cleveland, he had become the X factor. Everyone is talking about it in the United States. After LeBron James, he's going to have to take care of Kobe Bryant.

What did you think of your first year in the NBA?
I surprised myself. I didn't really know where I was going with Portland at the start of the season. In hindsight, when I see what I did... (Nicolas started 76 games in the regular season). But I still have work to do.

This summer, the French team is waiting for you, to help recover and qualify for Euro 2009...
You could say that we're on alert. Besides, the players are aware of it. That's why everyone wants to come. If we are serious, we can qualify for the European championship.

What is your opinion of Vincent Collet, your old coach at Le Mans that you will meet again with the French team?

Vincent is someone very open, he's very passionate. He always talked a lot to me. We still called each other regularly this year. He's the coach who sent me into the professional world. I owe a lot to him.

Batum blog May 5

#10 — Wed, 06 May 2009 22:54:37 -0000

"Next year, we'll challenge for the title"

via www.ouest-france.fr

Portland wasn’t at all familiar with the playoffs. We missed the experience. We knew that we had the means to advance but losing the first game really hurt us. Despite the defeat (4-2 against Houston), we learned a lot. We learned that the regular season is nothing compared to the playoffs.

In the playoffs, everything takes on another dimension. Each possession is crucial; the game is raised up a notch. It’s exhausting. How does San Antonio or the Lakers manage to challenge for titles? After winning a game, we told ourselves that we had given so much. I didn’t think that it would be so hard.

I don’t grudge the coach for playing me less in the playoffs or for not starting the last game. It was necessary to adapt our game against Houston and my role changed a bit. There were a lot more touches for Aldridge and Roy. But it’s logical. When the pressure rises, the best take things into their own hands. Look at Kobe Bryant with the Lakers or Tony Parker in San Antonio.

After the first round, the Blazers’ staff told us that they were proud of us. We did finish 4th in the Western Conference, all while being one of the youngest teams in the league. We’ve already turned towards next season. I don’t think that the team is going to be changed. The objective, though, will be different: we won’t play to make the playoffs, but to win them.

I had a personal interview with the GM. He told me: “When we drafted you, we didn’t really have a plan for you. Today, we’re really proud of what you have done.” He added that he would stop by to see me this summer playing for France. Then I talked with the coach, Nate McMillan. He reassured me because I was a little worried. He confirmed that I would start next year, saying that it was up to Webster and Outlaw to knock me out of the starting five. And if I’m not the starter, I will be part of a second unit whose mission will be to play “small ball.” Both cases would suit me well.

These remarks were good for me. Just like the welcome we received when we came back from Houston. Even though we had been eliminated and it was 3 in the morning, there were 200 or 300 people there, waiting at the airport to congratulate us. The city follows our every move. These last days, in the street, I’ve only heard “thank yous” or “bring on next year!” Everyone is behind you, so when you play at home, you feel good, you’re even obligated to feel good. We have the biggest crowds in the NBA. Not a single game was played in front of a crowd of less than 20,200 people!

I didn’t do anything during the two days after we were eliminated. The third day I was itching to go work out. It’s not easy to stop a habit after getting used to such a rhythm. I haven’t yet managed to sleep in; my body pushes me to wake up at 9:00. When everything is over, the feeling is mutual. I told myself: “there you go, finally, I’ll be able to catch my breath.” On the other hand, you want it to continue. I know that it will hurt a bit to watch Houston playing against the Lakers.

I was also able to have a look at the first round between Boston and Chicago. In the US, the media consider this series as the best ever! Joakim Noah impressed me. He raised his game….a lot. He did a great job. I hear certain people say: “yeah, he scored 10 points and grabbed 12 rebounds but he played 45 minutes.” Maybe his stats aren’t exceptional given his playing time but he did a lot of things that don’t show up in the box score.

I hope with all my heart that he will be there with the French team. I didn’t talk about it with him but, through Vincent Collet, I know that he wants to. If he comes we can really have a great team.

I don’t know yet what exactly I’m going to do. I’m going to rest for a few weeks and get ready in June. I’ve had very good memories up till now with the French team and I hope that it continues. If we don’t qualify for the Euros, it will be a failure. There is no room for error, we know what we have to do. There will be a lot of pressure but if we succeed in doing something it could make an impact. July 12th, the day we meet up, I’ll be ready.

Batum interview April 19th

#10 — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 03:02:08 -0000

Nicolas Batum: "In the NBA, everything is intensified"

keep in mind that the interview was conducted before Game 1

via 20minutes.fr

How would you judge your first NBA season?
Very positively. I love the experience, I don't know how to explain it but in the NBA everything is intensified, crazy things are always happening. In the beginning, I wasn't even supposed to be on the bench, there was even talk of sending me to a secondary league [NBDL]. In the end, I started 75 out of 82 games. I took advantage of injuries, I put in two months to convince everyone. If I had missed this chance the season would have been over for me.

Compared to Le Mans, you're focusing a lot on the defensive end. Do you have to get past that in order to eventually have more offensive freedom?
Initially, the coach saw me as a defender, but now, if I forget to take an open shot I'm going to get yelled at. But I stay in my role, it's not up to me to ask for the ball to try a one-on-one. Maybe that will change with time, but for the moment I concentrate on what the coach asks of me.

You have defended some of the best NBA players. Who is the most impressive?
I played my first NBA game against LeBron James. The guy's a “messiah.” He scored 34 points, which is routine for him. At the end of the game, the coach told me to not worry because he also had experienced difficult nights against Jordan in his time.

What type of coach is McMillan?
He often keeps us in check (recadrer?). We're a team of kids, the youngest in the league. There were five, six games this season when we were in complete tailspin. We were a bit raw (On s’y était un peu crû ?). If you see McMillan on the court, you'd think that he's mean. But he's above all a winner, a great pro, it's not a coincidence that he's one of the four best coaches in the regular season.

Is there a big difference in mentality between an NBA team and a European team?
I was expecting a world even more individualistic, especially with such a young team. But we have succeeded in creating a great team spirit. We often eat together whereas in the NBA it's more “room service” for everyone. It's also because of that that we work well on the court.

Have you experienced any especially tiring moments during the interminable regular season?
Out of 82 games, I admit that I had twenty or so really difficult games. When you play five games in a week on the road, you have to have some [difficult games]. At the end of the year, my shoulder started to hurt, my ankle too and I caught the flu. But I'm happy with myself, I succeeded in playing 79 out of 82 games.

Do you have the time to see the United States?
That depends on the schedule. Sometimes you can have a free morning where you have the time to wander. I was able to explore New Orleans, I liked it in particular the French Quarter that I had heard about.

Don't you get the impression that you spend your life in airports?
No. We travel in a private jet. Generally, we take off from Portland at 3pm, we park our car on the tarmac 15 minutes before, we give them our bags and then we take off. Here, they take care of everything for you, you don't even have to carry your bags. Everything is done so that the player doesn't get tired, so that he only thinks about basketball.

Batum blog April 12

#10 — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 22:52:51 -0000

"Maintenant, on va chercher le titre !"

via www.ouest-france.fr

I got hurt at the end of March. Against Indiana, 4-5 minutes from the end, I came down on Danny Granger. Immediately, my ankle hurt a lot. I couldn't go back to the locker room by myself. I was put on a wheelchair. I didn't really have the time to reflect. I told myself: "I'm going to have to go to the hospital..." But two minutes later, I was being x-rayed. There, every locker room is equipped with medical equipment. When I say two minutes, it's not just a figure of speech. It literally was two minutes, watch in hand.

I was a little disappointed because one of my objectives was to play in all 82 games of the regular season. And the following game, the next day, was against Cleveland. I didn't want to miss it. Next, against Milwaukee, I wasn't able to move laterally so we didn't take any risks. I carried the injury for almost two weeks but I was followed 24 hours a day by the kinesiologist [physical therapist], I had treatment four times a day.

"If LeBron James isn't MVP, it will be robbery."

This week, we clinched our spot in the playoffs. That's why we lost against Houston... In fact, we knew, half an hour before the game, that Phoenix had lost against Dallas. Which as a result meant that we qualified for the playoffs. We congratulated each other in the locker room. The warmup was bad, we turned it into a dunk contest... The concentration level wasn't sufficient enough to hope to win. We were kicking ourselves afterwards.

Now, all we talk about is the playoffs. We're telling ourselves: "We're going for the title!" The team is young so there is a euphoria. For three quarters for us these will be the first playoffs. The city has also been waiting for that for a very long time. When we came back to Portland, there were banners not far from the airport congratulating us. We have to try to finish in the top four to have homecourt advantage in the first round. If we play at home, I'm sure that it will be crazy! The crowd at the Rose Garden is one of the loudest in the NBA. However, I'm incapable of saying who I'd like to play against. I've asked myself that question every day and I don't have an answer.

With the regular season finishing, I would give the MVP title to LeBron James. If he doesn't get it, it will be robbery. I've often said that Dwyane Wade deserved it because he is on a team a bit weaker. He has less good players around him than Kobe Bryant with the Lakers or LeBron in Cleveland. The best rookie is Derrick Rose. There's also OJ Mayo, but he doesn't win enough with Memphis. Rose has the chance to play in the East whereas Mayo, in the West, has more competition. Finally, I should give my ideal starting five, I would choose Deron Williams at point guard. Chris Paul is also very good but I love Williams since he was in college. At the 2 and 3, Dwyane Wade and Kobe Bryant of course. I'd put LeBron James at the 4, with Dwight Howard at center.

Batum article (April 6)

#10 — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 00:17:06 -0000

Nicolas Batum reçu avec mention playoffs

NBA. The Sarthois has already succeeded in his first year in America. Next step: the playoffs, in which Portland has every chance of competing.

The kid from Le Mans is no longer a child. Nicolas Batum has become a man. His goal is made up of three letters: NBA. An acronym which, for the occasion, could be turned into: Nicolas Batum Adult. Portland’s #88 quickly learned that the North American league was "a business. You have to be ready for everything."

During the draft in June, Houston offered him a Rockets baseball cap, which he had to exchange a quarter hour later for a Trail Blazers cap. The young Nicolas was disgusted. At the start of the season, Portland’s coach promised him a starting position. He began the season on the bench. Oops! Batum has had to put his feelings aside.

He's a quick learner. The proof: In February, he wasn’t even surprised when he discovered that Portland management, though satisfied with his performance, negotiated with his knowing a possible trade to Charlotte.

Head of family

Batum is aware that he is but a pawn in an NBA galaxy in which he has discovered its enormity and rigor. Fortunately, his lucky star is on the watch.

With Martell Webster injured, the ex-Manceau replaced him in the starting five that he has only left twice (last week, because of a problem with his left ankle). "I am aware that it has helped me" he admitted. Playing so much at 20 years old in the NBA isn’t so common. "It reminds me a bit of Tony Parker," added his old associate, now the coach of Le Mans, JD Jackson.

The comparison is flattering. And a bit false. Parker developed at a position, that of point guard, where the responsibilities are more important. He took advantage of this exposure to rise very quickly. Batum, even if he has already crossed the 15-point mark six times, his foremost a defender in Portland. He knows it.

His case is thus more similar to a Boris Diaw, with a major difference: Batum is progressing in a competitive team. Ten days from the end of the regular season, the Blazers only have one game to win to reach the playoffs. Or wait for a faux pas from Phoenix, the only team still capable of denying them the final phase of the season.

"It will still be close the last week" predicted Batum. The Blazers will have to battle to the end in order to clinch a 4th place synonymous with home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. "Batman" (one of his nicknames) will therefore play a little more in his new town, in which he with his mother and sister. Adult, yes. Solitary, no. If Batum has metamorphosed, he holds on to his cocoon. His arrival in the NBA also allowed for a suppressed familial trauma to be reexamined.

In June, he affirmed, during medical tests, that his father, who he barely knew, died on the court from a heart attack. NBA teams panicked, his stock fell. The truth was reestablished (it was an aneurysm) and the incident was resolved. A silence of 18 years with his mother was broken. Without wanting to give him so much responsibility at a young age, she passed on to him the torch of the head of the family. Whether it's regarding an orange ball or his family life, Nicolas Batum has grown up. His development has yet to reach its peak.

Batum was also featured in an episode of Intérieur Sport (an "Outside the Lines" type of program). With many thanks to raph from the MSB forums for the upload, here's the link (in French). To briefly summarize it (keep in mind I had a hard time understanding Batum, there were some parts where I had no idea what he was saying):

As a kid, Batum was always around his father's team, he was "the mascot of the club"
talking about the history of his father dying of a heart attack on the court
the test raising concerns that he had heart problems before the draft
Batum had never really heard the full story before
in the end, nothing wrong
this program estimates that Batum lost 4-6 million dollars because of his slide in the draft
Batum practically lived at the practice facility over the summer
starter... was dreaming all week, telling himself that at 19 years old, first game would be against Kobe
was pissed off after not starting, turned his back to the coach
he's made a list of all the "stars" whose shots he's blocked... Prince, Chris Paul, Parker, Duncan, Allen Pearce, Shaq, Nash, Iverson, Wade...
his salary in Portland is 12 times bigger than it was in Le Mans
talking about the rookie handbook, which tells you how to do everything (eg. how to hold a fork)
they even give you a yoga DVD to teach you how to relieve stress (which Batum hasn't used)
surprised by how much food-money (in addition to their normal salary) players are given on road trips
happy that Roy praised him
proof from the horse's mouth that Batum has a girlfriend

Batum blog March 16

#10 — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 21:27:26 -0000

link

via www.ouest-france.fr

I scored 20 points for the first time against New Jersey. There's something symbolic about reaching this mark. Doing it as soon as my first season makes a good impression. The most important thing was that I made the decisive shot, a three pointer, with 25 seconds left in the game. I was wide open so I took my chance. I didn't really have the time to reflect. Besides, on the replay you can see that I didn't hesitate. My teammates congratulated me but it stopped soon after. There are so many games during the season that you move on very quickly to the next one.

Dwyane Wade at the moment is playing at an unbelievable level. He scored 50 points once again against Utah. When I'm asked whom of Wade, LeBron James or Kobe Bryant will be chosen as MVP, I change my mind every five minutes. It is said that the fact that Wade is playing on a team a little weaker than the others should be counted against him. Personally, I think the opposite; it could help him.

Concerning the race to the playoffs, Phoenix is a bit behind but everything can change very quickly. I'm convinced that in Portland we will still be playing for our qualification the last week of the regular season. We still have big games against Denver, San Antonio, the Lakers, Houston, Utah, Cleveland... It's not over.

At the moment in the US, the only thing people talk about is March Madness. Before, I only followed the Final Four because I didn't really understand how it all worked before that point. The experts say that the level is less exciting this year. There was recently an unbelievable game that I watched on TV between Connecticut and Syracuse, who needed six overtimes to decide the game! Each time, Connecticut had easy shots to win at the buzzer but they never went in...

In France, the nomination of Vincent Collet as the head of the French national team must have made some headlines. I'm very happy about it, I know that it was a dream for him. He's the man of the hour. I know Vincent well, I know what type of basketball he wants to play. I had him on the phone recently and he told me that I wanted me on the "Bleus" this summer.

When I arrived in Portland, I told them that I wanted to play for France that summer. They agreed. But in the NBA, you have to be careful. They tell you one thing in June, and, a few months later, they've forgotten. But I got the impression that they were laying the groundwork [for arguing over whether he plays for France or not]. They know that I want to play for France. Besides, they know that Vincent is the one who had confidence in me at Le Mans. That could be in my favor. They're aware that if I go play for France, it will be to play, not to spend my time on the bench.

To be with the "Bleus" motivates me. I'm not afraid. On the contrary, it's a big challenge. The fact that we still have to qualify to make it to the Euros could be a good thing because we'll have some solid games under our belt beforehand. Provided that we qualify, of course. I talked about it with Tony [Parker] when we played against San Antonio. He already know that Vincent was going to be selected before it was official. He's very motivated. He has a very important place at the heart of the "Bleus." When you've won everything like he has, when you play 100 games every year and still you get your jersey dirty playing for France in the summer, you have the right to some influence. He doesn't have a big head, he doesn't act like the king. But he's a natural leader and I find it perfectly normal that he has his say.

Batum and playing for France...

#10 — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:24:56 -0000

link

via www.lequipe.fr

I’m more and more comfortable and offensively I’m attempting to do more since the All-Star Game (4.7 points and 4.2 shots before, 7.5 points, 6.2 shots after). I hit the rookie wall in December, with five or six games without scoring (5 out of 6 games). I was exhausted. I hadn’t stopped since mid-August, since my arrival in Portland. Now, playing in every game this season has become an objective for me. Especially because I tell myself that if I miss a game it will really cost me. At the moment, I have tendinitis in my knee, my shoulder hurts, but I play… If you want to succeed, you know what you have to do. And that’s to work.

via www.lequipe.fr

I work hard every day. I must have increased my workload ten times over. I worked like that my first professional season at Le Mans, two years ago. But last year, unconsciously, I fell into a comfort zone. Coming here, I started from zero all over again. I’m better than I was last year. Especially physically. I’m doing everything all lot more quickly than before… I’m compared more and more to Tayshaun Prince. And even Scottie Pippen sometimes. They’re great defenders, but also great players who can do a lot of things. I don’t want to be limited to a defensive role. Even if I’ve defended Wade, Kobe, LeBron, Tony and Nowitzki this year. That’s my role. From the 1 to the 4. Except for Yao and Shaq, they’re all for me. And I hope that that will allow me to make a big contribution to the French national team. And I’ve already told the Blazers that this summer I’m going to play for France... During the last days of the before the trade deadline, I had some big doubts about my future. I often heard my name. In fact, it was talked about a lot with Charlotte. Portland's management told me that afterwards. But we have a good chemistry and the decision was made to not change a winning team... There's a lot of talent on our team. But we aren't going to get ahead of ourselves: the objective is still to make the playoffs. After that, we'll see.

via img.lequipe.fr

"I already told the Blazers that this summer I'm going to play for France" said Batum. It remains to be seen what Portland, whom the FFBB (French Federation of Basketball) must contact, and Vincent Collet, who had launched Batum's career and gave him responsibilities at MSB (Le Mans Sarthe Basket, Batum's old French team), think of that. "Vincent will speak with him, we know that he's interested and Nicolas is as well" explains Crawford Palmer, head of relations between the NBA and the FFBB. "After that, there are questions about his rookie contract, knowing that a part of his salary is often linked to participation in the Summer League, where games will last from the 11th to the 19th of July" (the French team's training camp in preparation for Euro 2009 qualification begins... July 11th). "We haven't contacted Portland yet. We will see with the coach [McMillan] if there will be a way to release him, since he [Nate] also has two Spanish players in the same situation. But before that we have to talk about it with Nico." Charged with following "Les Bleus" before a meeting this weekend, Vincent Collet should then be able to identify which players are a priority, which could end up helping Batum's case.

Batum blog March 6

#10 — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 00:43:40 -0000

Part 1, from a few weeks ago

link

via www.basketsession.com

[continuing from part 1] Afterwards, we were at Amare Stoudemire's restaurant, which is right next to the stadium. A good little restaurant.

via www.basketsession.com

Afterwards I participated in a clinic for kids at the Jam Session. Each Adidas player was there and we put the kids through exercises, shooting, and we played with them. And then afterwards each player signed autographs.

Next I was at Boris Diaw's place who organized a poker tournament for charity. I didn't play because it started at 1 and finished at 5, and I got there at 3:30. I don't remember who won, there weren't just basketball players there. In any case, TJ Parker went very far in the tournament. The prizes were nice: two pictures made by a painter, one of Tony [Parker], one of Boris, and Tony's shoes from the All-Star game were sold in an auction.

via www.basketsession.com

Saturday night I went back to the stadium to watch the contests. Well not really the crappy ones, with the old players, the Bill Laimbeers. In fact, I didn't really watch, I went to get myself food. I've realized my fantasy! When you're on the bench and you see people coming down with big trays of food, you really want some too. Since the start of the year I've really wanted to do that. So I left to get myself a sweet tray of food: nachos with cheese, chicken nuggets and lots of things.

And what was awesome Saturday night was that when you went to get yourself something, you ran into George Gervin, Magic... And best of all Scottie! Finally! I was happy. But impossible to go meet him. I didn't dare. I was blocked.

But I went to see another old player that I talked quite a bit with: Gheorghe Muresan. We were together in a suite reserved for foreign players. We talked about Pro A, we talked about Pau-Orthez. He still follows the team, he's sad for Pau. His son who's already 4 feet tall [1m30?] at 2 years old was there... Alright, I'm exaggerating, he must be 12 or something, but he's already pretty tall.

Otherwise I still followed the other contests. There was the Point Guard contest where Parker choked a bit. :) On the other hand, for the three point contest, I had made a little bet with Antoine Le Roy [from Canal Plus, which followed him for the program "Intérieur Sport]: I bet on Danny Granger and he on Kapono. On the other hand, for the dunk contest, I'd made a bet with George Eddy [again, from Canal Plus] and I went with Nate Robinson. George had chosen JR Smith.

The dunk contest was pretty close. The dunk over Howard, not bad... Robinson is impressive. There was also my teammate Rudy Fernandez. He wasn't laughable, it went well. What was too bad for the second was that in practice, he had done it passing himself the ball all by himself, and with a small windmill behind. I don't understand why he did it with Gasol, since he managed it all by himself in practice.

I know that he also had a second idea, which was to put a mask of Dwight Howard on Pau Gasol. He didn't dare do it, but it would've been awesome.

The next day, slept in. After that I did some spots for Adidas TV, which will be on the site [I assume here, but nothing is up yet]. And after I went to the game. It wasn't bad, but the Rookie Game was better. Except of course for Shaq, who was totally unreal. Absolutely awesome. And there was Britney Spears... who's better live :) But the game was below the rookie game. Afterwards I ate, then had a calm evening because the weekend was pretty intense and I had to leave Monday morning. Had to get back into regular season mode. Because the All-Star Weekend really is something else. Besides, it's exactly what we needed. With 53 games played, it's good to have a break in order to better restart. Personally, I really needed this break.

Batum blog March 2

#10 — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 22:19:13 -0000

Nicolas Batum: "I was almost traded to Charlotte!"

via www.ouest-france.fr

I experienced All-Star Game weekend on site in Phoenix. I was expecting something big, but there, it was huge! I was followed all weekend by the people at Canal +. Friday, I went to see Boris Diaw, who still has his house in Phoenix. That night, I commented on the rookie game, it was a funny experience.

Saturday, with my sponsor, I did a clinic for kids at the Jam Session. The Jam Session is some sort of big, 5 acre theme park. I came across George Muresan there, the giant who developed at Pau [French basketball club] before playing in the NBA. We talked about Pro A [French basketball league]! He told me: “oh la la! Pau are bad. But Le Mans aren’t doing too bad. » He was there for his son. I don’t know how old he was but he was already really big.

Next, that afternoon, I went back to Boris’ house. He organized a poker game for a charity. Some of his friends and some rich people played. In any case, he had two nice cars parked in front of his house… The evening continued until there was an auction. Tony Parker, in particular, gave a pair of signed shoes. Then we went to see the different events. The three point contest, the point guard contest, where Tony choked a bit… And finally, the dunk contest.

I was in the front row to see that. I participated in it in my own way because I was the one who, with Travis Outlaw, gave Rudy Fernandez the idea for the behind-the-back pass. In the history of the dunk contest, the image that I remember is Michael Jordan’s dunk from the free throw line. I was able to do it. I remember, it was last year with Le Mans, in Malaga.

Sunday I slept in. I only watched the All-Star game with one eye. I was at a hotel and I spent a lot of time talking. I met Scottie Pippen, Magic Johnson, Beyonce and even… John McCain! He was there, calm, no bodyguard. I told myself: “and you, you’re not scared, you should watch out!”

Tony Parker scored 39 points on us with San Antonio. A member of the Blazers’ staff told me: “You see who the best point guard in the world is.” I told him: “There’s still Chris Paul…” But the question deserves asking.

The trade deadline has passed. In Portland, pretty much every player except Oden, Roy, and Przybilla were affected. I know that San Antonio called about me. But Portland’s management immediately hung up. Concerning me, there were advanced negotiations with the Bobcats. At one point in time, I told myself that I was maybe going to leave. The deal was credible, it nearly happened. That would’ve bothered me to leave for a team that won’t play in the playoffs. With Portland, we’re still in the running. Basically, if you exclude the Lakers, who are far ahead, there are eight teams for seven places. You get the sense from the media that the pressure is rising. It’s the homestretch.