TheChamp (24 posts)  12/6/2012 3:41 PM

Nic Batum did something to his lower back yesterday. Anyone have any further info on this? I looked at Portland's schedule, and they play Sac followed by the Raptors. Do you think Portland will rest Batum so that he can recover? Who do you think the major beneficiary would be if they did? I've picked up Luke Babbit just in case.

ferris (307 posts)  12/6/2012 3:43 PM

very concerned about this injury -- a whole lot of mystery -- the lower back

at least he has the top of the line blazer medical staff to help him (d'oh)

ferris (307 posts)  12/6/2012 3:44 PM

this might not be a short term issue -- who knows

mbuser (4331 posts)  12/6/2012 4:00 PM

Yeah, nothing has come through good/bad as of yet, so we've got no choice but to wait and see. Sounded like a pulled muscle. He talks about it here, fwiw it doesn't sound despondent or anything: http://www.csnnw.com/pages/landing/?blockID=810523&feedID=5212

TheChamp (24 posts)  12/6/2012 4:07 PM

Who would you all pick up from POR to handcuff Batum? Who would get the mins in his absence?

rtracy12 (22 posts)  12/6/2012 4:21 PM

The ghost of Brandon Roy.  But seriously, Portland's bench is garbage and I wouldn't pick up any of them.  Why don't they sign some vets like Michael Redd or Kenyon Martin?

TheChamp (24 posts)  12/6/2012 4:23 PM

I understand the bench is weak, but if he is out, someone will come in and play 30+ mins per night, so they are worth a pick up in a deep league.

mbuser (4331 posts)  12/6/2012 4:28 PM

Pavlovic would likely start, but it's doubtful that any single player (Pavlovic, Barton, Babbitt) would emerge with any value outside of very deep leagues.

mbuser (4331 posts)  12/7/2012 6:37 PM

Nicolas Batum did not practice due to a sore lower back. He will continue to get treatment and his status for tomorrow night's game against the Sacramento Kings is unknown at this time. Batum sustained the injury in the first quarter of the game against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night. He says the pain progressed throughout the course of the game to where he couldn't go in the fourth quarter. According to the small forward, he says he has experienced similar back issues this summer playing for his national team. He says it took about 3-4 days before he was able to get back on the court. He doesn't consider this a major issue.

http://www.csnnw.com/pages/landing/?blockID=811177&feedID=5212

ak murthy (196 posts)  12/9/2012 5:59 PM

This wouldn't be considered back spasms, would it? Excuse my lack of medical knowledge. It's certainly encouraging that he doesn't consider it major and has previously dealt with it in a 3-4 day time table. I hope he takes all the rest he needs.

mbuser (4331 posts)  12/9/2012 8:03 PM

It hasn't been called spasms yet, but I don't know if that's good or bad. It seems like an aggravation of a previous muscle injury, and those lingering injuries are always a bad sign.

mbuser (4331 posts)  2/5/2013 3:09 PM

This wrist thing is a problem. He clearly needs to sit and let things heal, but neither he nor the team is interested.

Nicolas Batum’s ailing right wrist is not right and it’s unclear when it might be right again. Batum played a gutsy 35 minutes against the Minnesota Timberwolves, wincing and grimacing every time he banged his wrist the wrong way. It clearly affected his play as he looked nothing like the player Blazers fans have watched all season — a borderline All-Star and triple-double waiting to happen. “It doesn’t always really bother me, but today it was really painful,” Batum said after the Blazers beat the Timberwolves. “I was really scared about every contact."

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2013/02/blazers_rundown_nicolas_batums_right_wrist_is_not.html#incart_river_default

nolagoblue (85 posts)  2/5/2013 4:11 PM

Just lost Rondo, have a beat up Batum, Duncan, Dwight and Curry. Man, I wish Portland would sit him until his wrist heals. I wish all these guys would just sit until they heal. 

dcdoorknob (206 posts)  2/5/2013 4:19 PM

It must be hard for Portland to even think of letting Batum rest given the sorry state of their bench still.

neocache (69 posts)  2/5/2013 8:20 PM

Given what batum and the blazers are saying about this, best hope seems to be batum making it to the all star break w/o really damaging something, then using those off days to get some healing in.

So-Tex (246 posts)  2/5/2013 10:16 PM

I've said this before on the old Busersports forum, and I'll say it again here, someone's got some seriously bad voodoo working against the Portland Trailblazers!

As a multiple-league Batum owner, I have some SERIOUS issues with how they're letting the guy "play through the pain". I don't question Batum's manhood in any way - but if they think he'll make it to the All-Star break without having his hand fall off at the wrist, these guys are playing with all things flammable! 

It's not looking pretty in Portland, folks...

tonika_zr (991 posts)  2/5/2013 10:36 PM

hilarious post (but true ofcourse) Tex, even HF wouldnt mind to write something in that manner

twilo28 (212 posts)  2/5/2013 11:18 PM

I've been predicting a Portland Trailblazer breakdown since the beginning of the season. These guys are all playing far too many minutes and they may have the NBA's thinnest bench. Their starters are gonna break down, get hurt, or have massive slumps/ hit a rookie wall a la Lillard. We've already seen cracks in the armor. Or as ESPN would say "A Chink in the armour". LOL

mbuser (4331 posts)  2/19/2013 2:14 PM

Chris Haynes ‏@ChrisBHaynes
#Blazers F Nicolas Batum says wrist hasn't improved. He received laser treatment over break. "It's just something I'll have to play through."

nolagoblue (85 posts)  2/19/2013 3:01 PM

Doesn't surprise me at all. I'm running awful this year. Rondo, Batum, Dwight, Duncan, Drummond and Larry Sanders. Oh what could of been

hsahardid (50 posts)  2/20/2013 7:50 AM

Can his wrist improve in the next month while he's playing or does he require prolonged rest to heal it enough to score more efficiently?

mbuser (4331 posts)  2/20/2013 11:35 AM

There's been no indication that it can't improve while he's playing. What should help is that the Blazers only play three times over the next ten days [schedule].

hsahardid (50 posts)  2/20/2013 11:45 AM

thanks matt.  your reasoning always seems to be on point.

tonika_zr (991 posts)  2/20/2013 9:37 PM

@hsahardid: Dont expect too much from Nic & Wes in last month,month and the half of the season, Portland have no logical reason to play them with their playoffs chance fading lose after lose (6 straight and LAK,BOS,DEN games coming with 4.0 GB from 8th place Houston), both of them are future for Blazers organization and they have nothing to gain playing them hurt untill legs and arms fall of with multiple injuries which its nursed thru all season long. 

jfantonio (12 posts)  2/21/2013 10:35 AM

Is Nic Batum a buy-low candidate right now?  Or, is it better to just stay away given the uncertainty of his wrist?

mbuser (4331 posts)  2/21/2013 11:08 AM

It depends how low. As mentioned, he's going to get more time for things to cool down over the next week-plus, but this would not be a move without risk.

So-Tex (246 posts)  2/21/2013 12:53 PM

I'd buy low if it was a keeper league...but in a standard re-draft, I'd probabaly stay away.

I own him in both types of leagues, both h2h. And if he continues with what I've been getting over the last month or so, it's pretty much "wait until next year" in the keeper, while I'll have to struggle in the re-draft. 

jbs5635 (21 posts)  2/21/2013 1:35 PM

Just turned down a Batum for Jefferson offer. I have bigs, and could possibly use another guard, but that wrist has me worried and poses too much risk going forward imo.

jfantonio (12 posts)  2/23/2013 9:43 AM

After last night's line, it seems like his wrist is feeling better.  Shot attempts (14) and 64.3 FG% are encouraging.

tonika_zr (991 posts)  2/23/2013 12:30 PM

Most important thing its that both Nic&Wes will be shutdown sooner or later, with 7 straight loses POR is done when we talk about playoffs.

Better trade them (if its not keeper/dynasty league) while you can get something good from them, after next missed time who knows how much less value will be gained bc of it.

deefor3 (26 posts)  2/28/2013 12:21 PM

I'm worried about Batum going forward. He's played well the last two games but I'm worried about week 22, the start of the playoffs when stats really count. I was looking at moving him in hopes of getting great value back. I feel I can still obtain a great player back that will help my team but it's hard to ignore the amount of games he plays in those weeks. I'm looking at moving Deron and Batum but I'm torn. What do y'all think?

12 Teams 13 Per Team [9 Active = pts 3 reb ast stl blk fg% ft% to]

power101 (327 posts)  2/28/2013 12:25 PM

I own batum as well... that recent wrist injury was scaring me, but its starting to appear he is over it. If you did want to move him, I would give him a game or two, because healthy batum= top 12 IMO, but right now you wouldnt get first round material because of that stretch with his injuried wrist.

Plus, with a 5 game week coming up, I would hold him.

tonika_zr (991 posts)  2/28/2013 12:44 PM

Cant wait to see when fantasy playoffs come who will play and who wont with POR already out from top 8 race.

power101 (327 posts)  2/28/2013 12:56 PM

my league does our playoffs early to avoid the whole "shutdown april". Round one is actually starting this monday, which is why I feel a bit safer running with batum for the stretch.

deefor3 (26 posts)  2/28/2013 1:36 PM

Thanks guys. My concern was who POR will play down the stretch if they aren't in contention anymore. It's hard to see him NOT getting shut down to avoid further damage. I'm having the same problem with Deron and his ankle injury as well.

And even though POR has a 5 game week, if he reaggrevates the wrist it won't matter. Whats your play if you were in my position?

mbuser (4331 posts)  2/28/2013 3:38 PM

It's subjective, and I'm not moving Batum anywhere I have him. Agreed that, if you do try to move him, his trade value will likely be depressed, so you are getting knocked for his injury risk either way.

tonika_zr (991 posts)  2/28/2013 4:59 PM

@power101, thats something different, my opinion is base on standard playoffs shedule (18march,25march,1april).

mbuser (4331 posts)  3/13/2013 2:19 PM

Seems like it's getting worse and not better. The silver lining is that he dealt with it all of Feb and shot 44% for the month (41% 3PT). But I did just dock his offense, his volume is and has been down and doesn't look like it's going to recover.

http://basketballmonster.com/PlayerInfo.aspx?i=2810

dasein (616 posts)  3/13/2013 2:20 PM

silver lining = late season swoon might earn you a discount in net year's draft. 

EwingsKneepads (19 posts)  3/18/2013 1:20 PM

And right on cue, Batum strings together two nice games in a row.  Go figure.

mbuser (4331 posts)  4/3/2013 2:04 PM

Could be trouble...

Chris Haynes ‏@ChrisBHaynes 
It's actually pain in Nicolas Batum's right shoulder. He's been told if not 100%, he shouldn't play. Says he's 50-60%. Could sit out season.

Kazuyo (11 posts)  4/3/2013 10:30 PM

I can't see him playing considering they are out of the playoff race and his wrist and now shoulder are hurt. What are the odds he pulls a Marc Gasol?

mbuser (4331 posts)  4/4/2013 1:34 AM

If that tweet is to be believed, then this is a situation where he was specifically told not to play, obviously Gasol was not given those instructions.

mafix (100 posts)  4/4/2013 6:21 PM

do we drop him???

mbuser (4331 posts)  4/4/2013 6:22 PM

"Could sit out season" doesn't sound promising.

Mike Tokito ‏@mtokito 
Terry Stotts said Nicolas Batum's injured right shoulder is "still sore, weak. There’s no change, really."

mbuser (4331 posts)  4/5/2013 1:51 PM

Chris Haynes ‏@ChrisBHaynes 
Terry Stotts says Batum (shoulder) feeling better but not ready. Says there's no timeline on return. He expects him to return this season.

mbuser (4331 posts)  4/6/2013 2:19 PM

Joe Freeman ‏@BlazerFreeman 
#Blazers F Nicolas Batum said he will not play tomorrow vs Dallas and will be reevaluated for availability next week.