Batum Back to Portland: The Portland Trail Blazers have summoned Nicolas Batum back to over concerns about his shoulder that has been a persistent issue over the past six months according to Romain Brunet of Le Monde. Batum just helped lead France to a big victory over Italy and is disappointed by the news, but is hoping to return soon. Brunet also sat down with Batum before he headed back to the states, here's a look at what Batum had to say (thanks to Tim Brown of OregonLive.com for the translation):
-On his shoulder:
"It's OK, I got back to practicing on Wednesday, the tests confirmed some instability with my shoulder, but I got the green light to play from the doctors. Yesterday, I didn't practice, but that was just a precaution as we just didn't want to take any risks."
-How he evolved playing through pain:
"It's simple, 5 months ago, I was playing with one arm! I couldn't bend my arm or extend it all the way out, so I just ran around with my arm hanging at my side all the time. And now today, I'm playing just fine, in fact I'm feeling better than I ever have! I'm not seeing anything wrong: I'm jumping everywhere, I run everywhere, I can shoot threes, and I'm even dunking the ball all over."
-What kind of treatment was used:
"At the time, we just did minor care, and because the games in the NBA are so close together, I didn't have the chance to take any time off. As a result, I've been doing a lot of exercise to strengthen my shoulder since the end of the NBA season and i think it's because of that that I have experienced less pain, seeing that it doesn't hurt at all right now. The pain simply came back because i took a hard shot. However, this shoulder pain isn't that bad. It would be the same kind of situation if I had bumped my knee. I would have kept playing."
-Reaction in Portland:
"The French doctors sent them the results and we were just waiting on their response. I don't know how they will react. There has never really been a precedent for this type of thing for Portland, but for San Antonio, who have many international players and know how this works, they're used to the process. So, I don't really know what they're going to say. I'm just hoping i won't have to go and come back like Tony had to do. After, if they want me to go back,there will be several options, perhaps i could play Friday and leave for the US right after. Kevin Pritchard knows that I'm OK, I spoke with him via telephone on Tuesday and we both chatted about my good stats."
-Keeping focused:
"For sure! That's all I'm thinking about, my priority for the moment is the French National Team before all else. It's a decisive match because after beating Italy in Finland we will not have room for error. If we lose on Friday, it will be a catastrophe. We know what we have to do, we have the public behind us, and we're gonna have a big game."
-How he's preparing for the game:
"In the same fashion we have prepared for previous games. Why would we change what hwe have been doing if we're winning? It's simply that we need to concentrate even more, because they know that still have a chance to win. Especially after their defeat at Cagliari, they will want revenge, so we know what awaits us. However, I think they are wary of us as well. We have to have the same kind of start to the match that we did in Italy, we need to break them quickly so that we can get the lead and make a statement before heading on to the final."
-Reaction to the Italian coach's praise about the French's athleticism:
"Well, we'll have to see in the long run. Especially for the veterans, because they have been hearing that kind of talk for a long time. All in all, I think that's kind of a way to say that we're not good basketball players, but just athletes. We want to show them that we know how to play and play together and that our victory on their soil last time wasn't just a fluke."
-On the speed bumps this group has faced:
"It's important to have solidarity and for each one of us to support one another, but we can't just worry. Little by little, the team is getting healthy, and if we win over Italy, that could be the trigger for everything that will follow, because we know we can beat the Belgians, Bosnia or Portugal in the final. After the European Championships, we will know we can go all the way. we have confidence in ourselves, but we still have to keep working and never let up."
France is currently 3-0 and battling it out with Bosnia and the Czech Republic for the last spot in September's European Championships. If they're going to win the tournament and compete in next month's they'll certainly need Batum back quickly as he's been one of the standouts on the team so far.
ATL Lands Smith: Coach Mike Woodson has gotten the top big man remaining on his list in Joe Smith, who finally agreed to a one-year deal with the team yesterday according to ESPN.com's Ric Bucher. Smith is a great late pickup for the Hawks, who were limited in the frontcourt with just Josh Smith, Al Horford, and Zaza Pachulia as their only reliable big men.
Had Smith not signed the Hawks would have been forced to see if Othella Hunter or Randolph Morris could step up and become a regular member of the rotation for them. Now with Smith their big man rotation is basically set, and better than it's been in years.
With Smith in the mix the Hawks have a leader, someone that the younger big men can look to when they need advice or are having a tough game. With 14 years of experience under his belt Smith has seen it all and can help the Atlanta Hawks take the next step in their development as a fixture in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Smith's decision to sign with Atlanta comes shortly after the Cavaliers opted to sign Leon Powe to a two-year deal for their bi-annual exception.
A.I. Running out of Answers: As the summer comes to an end Allen Iverson remains without a team and he's running out of options by the second. The Detroit Free Press is reporting that the Miami HEAT may no longer be interested after their recent acquisition of Quentin Richardson. He quotes the Miami Herald's Mike Wallace, who says: "Considering the slightly higher luxury-tax bill, this could be the unofficial end to any interest the Heat had in acquiring Allen Iverson. There already were concerns about potentially getting everyone enough shots before Richardson came aboard. Iverson, a pure scorer, won't be needed as much."
Another team that Iverson can scratch off of his list if they weren't already is his former team the Philadelphia 76ers. They have a bit of a void at the point guard position now with Andre Miller in Portland, but they've got no intentions of looking to Iverson to fill that void.
"Allen Iverson is a very good basketball player," 76ers general manager Ed Stefanski said to CSNPhilly.com. "But we don't see him in our plans with the age of our kids. We are going to go with youth at the point guard position, and I am sure Allen will hook on with someone."
NBA Chats: My weekly chat gets kicked off at 1pm EST today. Get your questions in now regarding any questions that you have basketball related. I'll do my best to get to as many as I can, the earlier you get your questions in the better chance they have of getting answered.
