On the Raptors floor on Sunday, the Sixers achieved a small feat: scoring 135 points while being deprived of their two best scorers, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. To compensate for these absences, Nick Nurse was able to count on the productions of the trio Kelly Oubre Jr – Tobias Harris – Cam Payne, all three at 20 points or more.
As well as a 4th man: Nicolas Batum. “ When you play without your two main attackers, you have to find solutions. We just tried to move the ball around, find different solutions in attack, and we succeeded. “, the Frenchman simply blurted out at the end of this match won in Toronto.
Positioned in one or the other corner, he benefited greatly from this ball circulation to achieve his record this season: 19 points on 7/8 shots, including 5/6 from distance, with 6 rebounds, 2 passes and 2 interceptions, without losing a ball (28 rating) coming off the bench.
“ He will do 'catch and shoot' when he is open, he is a good shooter. But in the locker room, he is very good. He has seen a lot of matches, whether in the NBA or at the international level. So it's a good thing “, liked Nick Nurse.
Increase your shot volume
The latter, speaking of this meeting in Canada, considered that his player had done “ two very big interceptions at key moments “, by reading the game correctly. ” He is one of our best defenders “, defined the coach, adding: “ It's good to see him shoot more than two or three times a night. I wish he took five 3-pointers here and there. »
A quota which he approaches by shooting three times each evening, with an excellent success percentage: just under 42%, his best career production in this area, for less than 6 points scored. The player profile which could be very important in the playoffs, especially with the return of Joel Embiid, likely to free up space behind the arc for his compatriot.
“ He is great. He's clearly an experienced player, a super pro, and he's really good on defense. I'm not sure people know that or give him credit for that. We put it (defending) on a lot of guys who were stepping up in matches, and he works really hard », complimented Nurse again.
In an interview, a few days earlier with SportskeedaNicolas Batum defined his role as “glue guy” with the Sixers with the simplicity we know: “ That's pretty much my job for ten years. I don't have the same legs now, but I still try to do it. »
| Nicolas Batum | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2008-09 | POR | 79 | 18 | 44.6 | 36.9 | 80.8 | 1.1 | 1.7 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 5.4 |
| 2009-10 | POR | 37 | 25 | 51.9 | 40.9 | 84.3 | 0.9 | 3.0 | 3.8 | 1.2 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 10.1 |
| 2010-11 | POR | 80 | 32 | 45.5 | 34.5 | 84.1 | 1.4 | 3.2 | 4.5 | 1.5 | 2.4 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 12.4 |
| 2011-12 | POR | 59 | 30 | 45.1 | 39.1 | 83.6 | 1.4 | 3.2 | 4.6 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 13.9 |
| 2012-13 | POR | 73 | 38 | 42.3 | 37.2 | 84.8 | 1.3 | 4.3 | 5.6 | 4.9 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 2.6 | 1.1 | 14.3 |
| 2013-14 | POR | 82 | 36 | 46.5 | 36.1 | 80.3 | 1.4 | 6.0 | 7.5 | 5.1 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 13.1 |
| 2014-15 | POR | 71 | 34 | 40.0 | 32.4 | 85.7 | 0.9 | 5.0 | 5.9 | 4.8 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 9.4 |
| 2015-16 | CHA | 70 | 35 | 42.6 | 34.8 | 84.9 | 0.8 | 5.3 | 6.1 | 5.8 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 2.9 | 0.6 | 14.9 |
| 2016-17 | CHA | 77 | 34 | 40.3 | 33.3 | 85.6 | 0.6 | 5.7 | 6.3 | 5.9 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 15.1 |
| 2017-18 | CHA | 64 | 31 | 41.5 | 33.6 | 83.1 | 0.9 | 3.9 | 4.8 | 5.5 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 11.6 |
| 2018-19 | CHA | 75 | 31 | 45.0 | 38.9 | 86.5 | 1.0 | 4.3 | 5.2 | 3.3 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 9.3 |
| 2019-20 | CHA | 22 | 23 | 34.6 | 28.6 | 90.0 | 1.1 | 3.4 | 4.6 | 3.0 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 3.6 |
| 2020-21 | LAKE | 67 | 27 | 46.4 | 40.4 | 82.8 | 0.8 | 4.0 | 4.7 | 2.2 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 8.1 |
| 2021-22 | LAKE | 59 | 25 | 46.3 | 40.0 | 65.8 | 0.5 | 3.8 | 4.3 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 8.3 |
| 2022-23 | LAKE | 78 | 22 | 42.0 | 39.1 | 70.8 | 0.8 | 3.0 | 3.8 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 6.1 |
| 2023-24 * | All Teams | 53 | 25 | 47.1 | 41.1 | 71.4 | 1.3 | 2.9 | 4.2 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 5.4 |
| 2023-24 * | PHL | 50 | 25 | 47.4 | 41.7 | 71.4 | 1.3 | 2.9 | 4.3 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 5.6 |
| 2023-24 * | LAKE | 3 | 18 | 37.5 | 28.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 2.7 |
| Total | 1046 | 30 | 43.7 | 36.6 | 83.2 | 1.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 3.3 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 10.4 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
