No Nic = Melo-41; Ariza-33

[plyrically]

That's all the difference ladies and gentlemen. Put the hard working, athletic Nicolas on the court, and we're easily 3-0 today.

I could spend hours upon hours braggin' about Nic's contribution to this team. Starting from playin' defense w/ his feet and not his hands, his finishing ability above the rim, maybe the best aside of B7 on this squad, going through the fact he has the greatest will to contribute to this team.

I really really hope, that Nate finds a solution. The SF position in our lineup, shouldn't be primarily a 3PT, offensive oriented shooter. He should be a defensive minded stopper. A killer. A guy that you see on you, and starting getting disgusted thinking about your team's next offensive possession. Nic fits that like a Cashmills sweater.

Hell, If I were nate, I'd shock this team right now and started Cunningham at SF.

[BlazersRizing]

I wonder how many Durant is gonna drop tonight. 40+ ?

[jeffhardyfan52]

Nic was a bigger part of this team then many think

please nic get well soon we love you BATUUUUMMMM

[ucatchtrout]

Nic is a nice player and an important part of this team. But our teams difficulties go far beyond the loss of Nic Batum. We got torched plenty of times last year with him in the game....including IN the playoffs against the Rockets.

TB Pup did a good job listing some of the issues in his post in another thread.

How to you get outscored in the paint 40-24 at home against a team full of midgets? (Game 1)

How do you lose a game where you get 20 more shot attempts than the other team? (Game 2)

How do you allow a team minus Yao, minus McGrady and having traded away Artest to shoot 40% from the field, 50% from the arc and put up 111 points on your "best young roster in the NBA"? (Game 3)

Is LaMarcus really invisible or does it only seem that way because I can't see him? (Game 2)

Is Greg dumb because he keeps reaching over players or is the coaching staff that bad they can't teach him to do otherwise. (Every game)

Why is it rust and developing chemistry when we lose but a team like Houston gets blown up and doesn't seem to be having any problems at all? (So far)

How do you get 26 turnovers when you don't run? (Game 1)

How poor is your ability to run a break when you can only get 2 fast break points in a game where 218 combined points are score? (Game 3)

How many of us knew Travis would come right back to earth on his career roller coaster? (Every other game)

How many head coaches would have Steve Blake as the starter? Obviously at least one more than the amount of shots he made against the Nuggets. (So far)

How come no one can see Greg when he does happen to be wide open under the hoop? How come it is a 2/3's chance he will get the ball knocked out of his hands even if he does get the ball when we constently hear about how strong he is? (So far)

How come they stopped going to Rudy when he had scored 12 points in 3 minutes? (Game 2)

Why does 90% of Portland's offense take place 18+ feet from the basket? (Every game)

Why was I hoping for better? (So far)

Bring back Nic and the team is stronger. But the presence of Nicolas Batum won't solve any of these problems. He isn't superman.

[mojomarc]

I find it hard to believe, especially with the level of defense that Webster has played so far this season, that a 17 minute per game player like Batum would ahve done all that much better of a job at slowing down opposing primary scorers. Our issue is team defense, not one wing defender.

[Soulyss]

I find it hard to believe, especially with the level of defense that Webster has played so far this season, that a 17 minute per game player like Batum would ahve done all that much better of a job at slowing down opposing primary scorers. Our issue is team defense, not one wing defender.

+1, it's definately not just the SF position... Melo is a super-star scorer.. he's always going to get his.. the problem really is the PG position and the complete lack of defense (Blake is bad, miller is worse).

[plyrically]

Martell, Chapeau.

[Spykes]

I find it hard to believe, especially with the level of defense that Webster has played so far this season, that a 17 minute per game player like Batum would ahve done all that much better of a job at slowing down opposing primary scorers. Our issue is team defense, not one wing defender.

Agreed.

Nic wasn't gonna stop Melo the other night. Anthony has stepped his game up big-time this year.

[SabasRevenge!]

Kevin Durant = 3 of 21 from the field

[BlazersRizing]

I wonder how many Durant is gonna drop tonight. 40+ ?

good call self. idiot.

[Wizenheimer]

I wonder how many Durant is gonna drop tonight. 40+ ?

good call self. idiot.

no personal insults in this forum...even when you're insulting yourself. The moderators job would be much more difficult if they had to defend you against you. Suspending the perpetrator would be punishing the victim

[d-train]

Bring back Nic and the team is stronger. But the presence of Nicolas Batum won't solve any of these problems. He isn't superman.

But, he is Batman.

[DaVoiceMaster]

I'm with mojo and those who agreed with him. Batum is a nice player and I look forward to watching him 2 years from now (when I think he'll be an absolute stud), but he only played 18 minutes per game, while Melo and the other star SF's play 36-40 minutes each game. Batum does a good job while he's in the game, but he never had that much playing time.