He’s not shying away from the big game

Batum getting more consistent, confident

By kerry eggers

The Portland Tribune, Apr 7, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (1 Reader comment)

Only 20, Nicolas Batum has exceeded expectations – and generated hopes that he can develop a Scottie Pippen-like physique.

L.E. BASKOW / TRIBUNE PHOTO

There was a slight limp to Nicolas Batum’s step as he walked to his locker room after the Trail Blazers’ decimation of the Utah Jazz Tuesday night at the Rose Garden.

The rookie small forward had just made the most of a season-high 35 minutes, collecting 17 points and five rebounds while feeling the effects of a tender left ankle.

Batum sprained the ankle March 18 at Indiana and missed two games. He is back, but not at full strength physically.

“It’s really sore,” he said as he dressed.

Batum could have fooled everyone in the sellout crowd of 20,675. He sank three 3-pointers and scored on four dunks, knocking down 7 of 10 shots from the field.

“I felt like I could not jump this high,” he said, indicating with his thumb and forefinger that his vertical leap felt as if it were 3 inches.

Might Batum be forced to sit out a game to allow the ankle to recover?

“He’s tough,” interjected teammate LaMarcus Aldridge from an adjacent locker. “We ain’t giving him a game off.”

Batum smiled and nodded.

“I’ll play through it,” he said.

Nate McMillan is glad about that.

“Nic’s ankle is very sore, but he just goes out there and plays,” the Blazer coach said. “When he’s knocking down his shot, it just makes it more difficult to play us, especially when Brandon (Roy) and LaMarcus have their offense going. (Jazz defenders) were leaving (Batum) like crazy, and he was getting to the open spot and knocking down his shots. He just continues to get better.”

All this has been a revelation to the Portland front office and coaches, who loved Batum’s potential when they selected him with the 25th pick in last June’s draft but considered him a project.

It appeared the 6-8 native of France — who turned 20 in December — might be sent back to Europe for another year of seasoning. But the more Blazer officials saw of him during summer league, the more they thought he might develop more quickly if they kept him with the team for the 2008-09 season.

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