In the Portland Trail Blazers locker room, Nicolas Batum's locker is jammed in-between Greg Oden and LaMarcus Aldridge's stall – otherwise known as stuck between a rock and a hard place.
 
Most nights after games at the Rose Garden it's a virtual game of "Where's Waldo" trying to find the 19-year-old Batum among the media moshpit that flock Aldridge's locker and Oden's - when he was healthy and readily available. As of Wednesday night in Utah against the Jazz though, you won't have to look hard to find the kid.

He'll be the one starting at the three from here forward according to head coach Nate McMillan.

"(Batum) has done a nice job of just guarding his man and weakside help," said McMillan on Tuesday at Blazer practice. "I think if he can do that for us, it'll give that first unit something that we don't have with that group."

Bottom line - it's the right move (again) and worthy of a Top 5 list as to why Batum is now Portland's starting small forward:

5. Travis Outlaw Isn't A Starter: This isn't a knock on Travis by any means. Actually, it's more about applauding his strengths – namely energizing the second unit. It's what endeared him to the front office, coaching staff, teammates and fans last year when he owned Portland's "sixth man" role, and it will be his signature calling card again this year alongside Rudy Fernandez, Sergio Rodriguez, Channing Frye and fill in the blank here (Ike Diogu for girth, Jerryd Bayless for quickness). As for Outlaw, McMillan will plug him in at the three or four.

4. Nate Second-Guessed Himself: Looking back on that game with the Los Angeles Lakers, you have to think Nate McMillan second-guessed himself into starting Travis Outlaw. He thought it was the right thing to do, and I can't argue with his final decision – even if it backfired and shouldn't have happened. Batum should have started. He earned it with his play in the preseason. Forget the bright lights of the Staples Center. Forget being on a national stage. Portland needs to go with what works best at a given moment. And on opening night against the Lakers, starting Nicolas would have been the right decision.

3. Defense: Is there any doubt Batum is blossoming into one of the Blazers best defensive assets (5 steals and 2 blocks in three games) thus far? His 1.67 steals per game is second on the team behind Brandon Roy, and he's tied with Roy for third in blocked shots (.67) behind LaMarcus Aldridge and Greg Oden. For Nate McMillan, this kid is a godsend. He gets into passing lanes. He rarely loses his man on switches, despite often being outweighed by his opponent. And when he's on the court, he always makes something happen, regardless if it is a tipped ball or missed shot tap-out to a teammate. Nate said he wants more defense at the three – well now he has it.

2. Remember The Alamo: Last Friday night at the Rose Garden in Portland's home opener against the San Antonio Spurs, Batum stole the show. He rattled off 12 points in 22 minutes, including going 5-9 from the field. Batum didn't cringe in front of a national audience then. In fact he achieved the opposite.

1. The Kid Is Ready: It was only a matter of time. The fact that Batum is getting the nod before Rudy Fernandez (who would start at shooting guard, leaving Brandon Roy to slide over to small forward) is saying something, especially after the way Fernandez played in Phoenix on Saturday night in a loss to the Suns (22 points off the bench). That's not to say Nate McMillan won't explore that option. But the timing is perfect for Batum. Portland is doing the proper thing by moving Nicolas into the starting lineup.