#FIBAOQT: Without Batum and Fournier, France's depth to be tested further in Manila

(images from FIBA)

*This first appeared on FIBA.com.

France are going to be without two more of their important players at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Manila with both Nicolas Batum and Evan Fournier unable to participate because of their free agency status in the NBA.

Each could end up playing at the Rio de Janeiro Games if Les Bleus were to qualify, but getting to Brazil is going to be much harder for the French without the duo, and Rudy Gobert, who recently announced his decision to rest and recuperate from knocks that sidelined him for part of the NBA season instead of making himself available for the OQT.

#NBA2015: Players to Watch Part Five

With the 2014-2015 NBA season beginning in fewer than 10 days, I found it just right to look at some players we should all keep tabs on. There are no-brainers like LeBron, KD, CP3, and James Harden, of course, but there are also many other characters on whom we should put the spotlight. In this first of five parts, we’ll take a look at some key guys for the Blazers, Kings, Spurs, Raptors, Jazz, and Wizards.

In our final post in this series, we take a look at a host young guys on the verge os stardom.

Nicolas Batum (POR) - The high-flying Frenchman had a great stint in the 2014 FIBA World Cup, averaging abotu 15 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 steal a game as France bagged the bronze medal for the first time in tournament history. One would think that his awesome showing would translate to better numbers this season, right? Yes, but that hasn’t happened just yet. As of this writing, Portland is 1-2 in the standings and Batum is putting up a pretty pedestrian line — 9 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals per game while shooting a career-low 35% from the field. If Portland is to, at the very least, duplicate its great postseason run from last season, then Batum will definitely have to flash the form he had in #Spain2014.

The NBA: April 2014 Position Battle – The Top 5 Small Forwards Right Now

In this Position Battle post, we will focus on the top five small forwards at this point in the season. We will take into account just the players’ stats for the latest five games of their respective teams. This will, hopefully, give us a more current picture of each player’s production.

KD is going to be the MVP, but LBJ is still the best player on the planet. That’s what the numbers show so far. Also, PG24 makes a comeback to the top five, while a fiery Frenchman and a former Aztec round out the league’s top tier swingmen right now.

The four guys up top are all aching to dethrone the King at the bottom.

Note: All of the following stats are based on each player’s stats as computed by HoopsStats.com. They were taken on April 13, 2014 (Manila time).

The NBA: March 2014 Position Battle – The Top 5 Small Forwards Right Now

In this Position Battle post, we will focus on the top five small forwards at this point in the season. We will take into account just the players’ stats for the latest five games of their respective teams. This will, hopefully, give us a more current picture of each player’s production.

After his 61-point effort against the Bobcats, LBJ’s shooting has tapered off considerably, which means KD is back on top of the heap as the best swingman on the planet. Unexpectedly, this also means LeBron slides as far back as third on this list, with a surprising fellow becoming, currently, the second-best SF out there. And, no, Paul George, Josh Smith, and Chandler Parsons don’t even come close.

Note: All of the following stats are based on each player’s stats as computed by HoopsStats.com. They were taken on March 16, 2014 (Manila time).

A couple of new faces grace our list of top five SFs in the NBA.
(composite image by Enzo Flojo/Hoop Nut)

The NBA: Can the BLAZERS Make the Playoffs?

LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard plan to take the Blazers to the playoffs

The Western Conference has been the tougher conference when it comes to making the playoffs (needs at least 50 wins to assure yourself a slot) for the last 8 years or so. This season appears to follow that trend with teams like the LA Clippers improving their coaching staff and bench, the Rockets signing Dwight Howard, the Warriors getting Andre Iguodala and the Grizzlies adding perimeter shooting. Meanwhile, the top of the class: Thunder and Spurs both made minor changes. These six teams are expected to make the playoffs which leaves two slots left for the remaining 9 other teams in the West.

Last season, the Blazers were in the running for the last playoff spot (against the Rockets, Mavericks & Lakers) until mid-March when they stood at 31-34 and only a couple of games from the 8th spot. Injuries to Aldridge, Matthews and Batum plus their lack of depth contributed to their demise as they finished 3-15 in the last 18 games and lost 12 straight to end the season.

The NBA: January 2013 Position Battle – The Top 5 Small Forwards Right Now

Kevin Durant replaces LeBron James as the best swingman to start 2013, while two others creep up the rankings with superb all-around production. It is worth noting that this set of players is the toughest to rank, since, as you will see, the very best ones really fill up the stat-sheet. These guys are, in a manner of speaking, bona fide stat demons, or, as my students are wont to say – stat whores. (Stats as of January 10, 2013 – Manila time; these stats are from each team’s last 5 games only; source – HoopsStats.com)

5. Paul George (IND) - 19.8ppg, 10.4rpg, 3.6apg, 2.4spg, 20.8 EFF

The Indiana Pacers are withstanding the absence of Danny Granger mainly because of George’s meteoric rise. The high-flying forward is growing his game beyond expectations, and, reportedly, is still growing in the most literal sense of the word, too. Some sources say George is closing in on being 6’11. And this is a guy who plays shooting guard at times.

4. Nicolas Batum (POR) - 18.2ppg, 5.0rpg, 5.2apg, 1.2spg, 1.2bpg, .900 FT%, 22.2 EFF

One of the big reasons the Blazers beat the Heat in their last game was because Batum outplayed LeBron. LBJ was just one dime away from a triple-double, but he shot just 38% from the field and 40% from the line. Batum finished with a 28-7-5-2-1 stat-line while making 53% of his field goals and all but 2 of his 11 freebies. Now THAT is efficiency.

3. Carmelo Anthony (NYK) - 32.0ppg, 6.0rpg, 4.5apg, 25.8 EFF

For the first time since Decmber 9, 2012, an opposing SF outplayed Melo when Paul Pierce unloaded a 23-3-6-1-0 line while shooting 56% from the floor. In contrast, Melo’s 20-3-5-1-0 production was hampered by his anemic 6-of-26 FG shooting. Melo has really hit a snag of late, and the Knicks have been affected significantly. New York has lost 3 of its last 5.

Melo missed his last game against the Pacers, but he's
still one of the best SFs in the game.
(image by Kathy Willens/AP)

2. LeBron James (MIA) - 24.6ppg, 8.0rpg, 6.2apg, 1.4spg, 1.0bpg, .506 FG%, 26.8 EFF

Still the most dangerous triple-double machine in the game today, but the more curious thing is that his team isn’t piling the Ws as much as it should. Miami has dropped 3 of its last 5 matches, and they’re now just half a game ahead of New York in the Eastern standings. LBJ, though, isn’t really to blame if you look at his numbers. He’s been doing everything for Miami, and he’s making a good case to be the MVP of the season’s first half.

1. Kevin Durant (OKC) - 26.0ppg, 6.6rpg, 5.2apg, 2.0spg, 1.0bpg, .557 FG%, .892 FT%, 30.0 EFF

As all-around magnificent as LBJ has been, KD has owned OKC’s last five games. The Thunder did lose shockers to Brooklyn and Washington, but they still lead their division by a mile, and no opposing SF has managed to outplay KD since Christmas. With him missing the MVP trophy last year, it seems like Durant has made it his personal mission to show the whole world just how much he’s grown as an NBA superstar and all-around awesome player. The numbers speak for themselves.