The Night Batum Went to Minnesota a Boy, and Came Back a Man
Ezra Ace Caraeff | Saturday, February 27, 2010 at 7:53PM 
There are two people that benefitted from the Portland Trail Blazers’ 110-91 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves: Nicolas Batum and Martell Webster’s therapist. While Frenchy 88 was putting up career numbers in nearly every single category (31 points, 7 assists, dunking on Ryan Gomes), Webster saw his future as a Blazers starter disappear into the ether. The writing was on the wall last season, but injuries left things unclear. Now that we have witnessed a healthy Batum versus a healthy Webster, we have our answer. (Spoiler alert: It’s Batum.)
The win was the first for Marcus Camby as a Blazer (since he spent most of the New Jersey game in an MRI machine, that doesn’t count), and marks a dozen consecutive Blazer wins against the T-Wolves, plus their third straight sweep of the season series as well. This streak is the franchise’s longest against any team, dating back to a 15 game run against the 1993-96 Wolves. Basically, the Blazers are the worst thing to happen to Minnesota since Brett Favre in the fourth quarter of a playoff game.
It’s hard to focus on any other individual performance when mild-mannered Batum went all Batumshakalaka in the third quarter, dropping 22 points in that quarter alone. Compare that to the measly 10 points that the Wolves scored the previous quarter, and you can tell what kind of game this was. For Portland, few things make the team go from 98 pound weakling to Charles Atlas (all my references can be traced to ads in the back of comic books) than a meeting with the Wolves. With their self-esteem on the mend, all that remains for Portland on this road trip is a pivotal game in Memphis.
Now that is one sentence I never thought I’d type.
Reader Comments (12)
It is one game, one night. I'd say you're fairly premature in declaring the reign of Webster over. Yes, I love the frenchy, as much as the next guy. But to declare the supremacy of Batum, especially on a night that he puts up career best? That's pretty foolish.
Also, Patty Mills could be our starting point guard. I mean look! 8 pts in 4 minutes? Come on!
Really, totally ignoring Patty Mills in the writeup? Shameful.
@ Hays-
You must be high on more than just life--whatever it is, lighten the dose bro, you are Blazed! The minutes that Patty Mills got today meant NOTHING! He's playing junktime against one of the most lifeless teams in the league, who had long given up trying.
Furthermore, if Batum can do what he did--including besting Martell Webster's career high, even though he's been in the league twice as long--what makes you think he's not the starter? I like Martell, and think there is a place for him, but Frenchy88 plays better defense, has better handles, is more consistent, better at getting teammates involved... come to think of it, the way Batum has been shooting from deep, I don't think there's a thing Martell does that Batum can't do better.
Heh, the bit about Mills was a joke. Kind of a play on my being cautious on calling Batum a starter.
Alright, I'll fully admit that Batum is the more exciting player, and definitely has more of a future, but I still do like the way Webster can handle perimeter shooting.
Just warning that you shouldn't be overzealous about Batum, quite yet. Give it a little more time.
look its obvious batum88 has more potential than martell but WHY THE HATE ON WEBSTER? youre normally funny but does it make you feel better bashing a great guy of your own team? hes inconsistent but he hustles and when he made kobe go 7 for 87 in our last win vs LA i didnt see you complain..what a dbag you seem to be dude!
I assure you I am not hating on Webster, in ALL CAPS or otherwise. Batum is not infallible and has a long way to go as an NBA player. But when you consider that the last month has been the first time anyone has seen a healthy comparison between the two players, the numbers on both ends of the court favor Batum. Plus Webster has had four seasons (we won't count last year's five minutes in Toronto) of experience, while Batum has had less than a year and a half—yet the French kid commits less on-court mistakes. He's a safer bet in the short run, and the future of the team at the SF position in the long run. This says more about Batum's ability than it does Webster's struggles. Webster is an integral part of this franchise, an amazing shooter (no one is better when hot), a great guy... but he's just not the starting SF.
There really is nothing to debate here, seeing as how this was the plan all along. Batum was the starter last year and this year right up to the point his shoulder began dangling like a rubber band. Webster has had moments, works hard, is a great team guy and I think could some day be a sixth man of the year canidate, but come on....... Anyone who watched Batum this summer during the world games could see this coming. He can flat out ball, period.
McMillan doesn't run plays for Batum, at all. Last year he was told to lock down on D and hang out in the corner on offense. And he did. This summer he Won games for France, and looked like the best player on the court in half the games he played. Now, without having a freaking play run for him, he's made this quantum leap as an integral part of this team. Hence the adios to Outlaw.....
Oh, and it's not just one game. By his third game back this season, without Roy, Batum was all of the sudden an offensive option, and has one hell of an efficient run going right now.... And his shoulder hasn't fallen leper-like to the floor, yet.....
Webster is cool, and personally one of my favorite players on the team, but Come On..... There is absolutely nothing to debate here; Batum is 21 years old, plays D eerily similar to Pippen and is making crazy improvements on his offensive game. All you all who would rather see Martell start over Nic just need to put the cuckoo back in the clock....
Kdjinx has a point and I feel like adding that Webster is also one of my favorite Blazers. Dude is a great interview—very candid and less guarded than other players (which sometimes shows on the court)—and his jumpshot is the sweetest thing ever.
I also agree--Webster is one of the most honest interviews on the team. He'll actually say how he feels, and how much a win or loss really means to the team's psyche, and as a journalist, that's priceless.
Oh, and one more thing I forgot to mention. This quote from Brandon Roy, "I put him right up there with us as far as importance," Roy said earlier this month. "He's a glue guy, the type of guy every championship team has to have."
Us being Roy and Aldridge and also truly making the whole point mute......
I WAS NOT EVEN DISCUSSING WHO SHOULD START, TO ME ITS OBVIOUSLY BATUM. BUT YOU DONT NEED TO ATACK A GREAT GUY ON YOUR RECAP JUST BECAUSE THE GUY WHO PLAYS HIS POSITION HAD AN AWSOME GAME, GIVE CREDIT TO BATUM, DONT BASH MARTELL!! and while your at it, dont sh1t all over minesota like mike and mike! last time we played in memphis they did the same thing and then went crying after they stole 2 games in the Rose Garden, no scouts and all...a litle humility wouldnt hurt, but its not me everyone calls jerk so i dont care that much(last sentence about mikiandmike, this one not to RoudBall society).
Batum is always the stronger choice as a starter because he can actually play DEFENSE. But it is good to see him score as well.
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