Oct 26 2008
Player Preview: A Couple of Small Forwards
Nic Batum was not supposed to be here. He was a project along the lines of a Petteri Koponen or worse, Joel Freeland, perhaps doomed to languish in Euroleague heaven, hopping between countries and spending euros like his name is Vanessa Paradis. He was well on that path when he laid a serious egg during the summer league, making guys like Steven Hill look like they’d be locks on this team before him. He showed glimpses of potential by extending his Doc-Ock like arms to get in passing lanes and in front of shots, but for the most part, he was a liability, going around in circles like a bike with only one training wheel. It was sad, cute, and just a little bit funny. “Aww look, he’s missing a lay-up!” Now, he seems like the quickest study this side of Edmond Dantès. He stays in front of his man and along with that can hit his mid-range jumper with confidence. Somehow he learned how to play basketball in the span of two months, and he’s even threatening to join the starting lineup, a move sure to ruffle Travis Outlaw’s feathers, as Outlaw is the only person in Portland who doesn’t realize he should always be coming off the bench.
Then we have the penciled-in starter at the 3 for this season - Martell Webster. In an ironic twist, the original preview I would have written for him would include the word “break” in various tenses and forms with different prepositions following it (break-through, break out, break dance) but now there’s only one form that matters - broken. For now it’s just that foot, which he injured in a dunk contest that broke out during an exhibition match against the Kings. The worst worry we can have is that for a guy known to be fragile like Webster, that term could spread to his shot and to his confidence. He was poised to actually become a real NBA player, emerging from his baby fat to become the next Glen Rice (and I mean that in a good way). Here’s hoping he can come back strong this January. I am not looking forward to a couple of months of Travis’ chucking.
Halloween Costumes:
Nicolas Batum
Fantômas represents everything about Nic right now. He’s unexpected, and he also walks with a cane and a top hat, because he’s just like that. (And yes, I got through this preview with only three references to France)
Martell Webster
Pirates are always in, and it’s a costume where it’s okay to limp around. And he already has the bird, as Martell’s main hobby outside of basketball is to collect and raise various types of tropical birds such as the macaw, parrot, and toucan.
