FIBA World Cup: Batum Needs To Do More Than Make his Threes

Tuesday, September 09, 2014

Andrew Tonry, GoLocalPDX Contributor

batum_wikipedia commons

Nicolas Batum. Photo Credit: wikipedia commons

As the FIBA World Cup has moved into the knockout rounds, Nicolas Batum's play for the French national team has remained stuck in the middle. He's contributing, but hardly setting the world on fire.

In the final game of the group stage last week, Batum and France were walloped by Spain, 88-64. The Trail Blazers' swingman scored 11 points, but was hardly efficient, taking 15 shots to get there. Again, as has been the case throughout the tournament, Batum struggled from distance, making just one of five attempts from behind the arc.

Despite the loss, France moved on to the knockout round where, on Saturday, they topped Croatia, 69-64.

Batum's contribution was yet another facsimile--or, in the words of his native tongue, deja vu--His three's just keep clanging off the rim.

Against Croatia, Batum missed all six tries from distance, yet managed to pile up a team-high 14 points, along with four steals, two rebounds and an assist.

But when France again meets Spain on Wednesday in the quarter-finals, it'll take more than another middling performance from Batum.

More Than Make His Three's

To be frank, Batum will have to do more than just make his threes.

He'll have to do it all and then some--score 20-plus points, near double-digit rebounds, terrorize on defense and inspire his comrades. Even then, France is a staggering underdog.

At almost every position the French are outclassed by their Spanish counterparts--every position, the is, except small forward, where Batum goes up against his onetime Blazer teammate, Rudy Fernandez.

(For Portland fans who remember Rudy's tumultuous Blazers tenure, rest assured: his erratic play won't have anyone longing for a Moda Center return.)

Indeed, barring a miracle, Wednesday figures to be the final game of the cup for Batum and Team France. Top to bottom, individually and together, Spain is simply better--so much so that some NBA analysts are picking them to win it all, toppling Team USA in the process.

And while that alleged final still hangs in the balance, the same can't be said for Spain-France. Au revoir, Nico.

Let's just hope Wednesday's game doesn't end as frustratingly as have other clashes between the neighboring countries.

Home Page Photo Credit: wikipedia commons

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