Despite being towards the end of his career at 36 years old and in his 17th season, Nicolas Batum remains an elite role player. That's something Trail Blazers fans have known for years, as Batum spent the first seven seasons of his productive and underrated career in Rip City.
The Clippers are just now making that realization after Batum was the X-Factor in their Game 6 playoff victory over the Denver Nuggets.
Batum hasn't been a key contributor this season, averaging 4.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 17.5 minutes per game. But he just stepped up when the Clippers needed him the most, recording a well-rounded stat line of six points, six assists, five rebounds, three blocks, and two steals in a surprising 34 minutes.
Nicolas Batum just saved the Clippers' season
Batum averaged 21.8 minutes in the previous five games, showing how important he was to the Clippers' Game 6 outcome.
He shot just 2-of-5 from the field, all of which were three-point attempts. But Batum is the special type of talent that impacts winning at a high level without needing to score.
His Swiss Army knife style of play was extremely valuable for the Blazers. Batum's void and unique skillset have been missing in Portland for quite some time, but fortunately, they finally landed a similar versatile wing last summer in their trade for Deni Avdija.
Several years later, Batum's proving he can still be a valuable role player on a playoff-caliber team. One of the advantages of homecourt in the playoffs is that surprising role players typically are more prone to stepping up, shifting the outcome in unexpected ways. This time around, it was the veteran Batum.
Despite the Clippers shooting 30.8 percent from beyond the arc, they were able to pull off the win, 111-105. Largely because of Batum's play, the Clippers will now head to Denver for the best words in the NBA: Game 7.
Tip-off at Ball Arena is slated for Sunday, May 3, at 4:30 pm PST (7:30 ET) on TNT/truTV/Max.
The Nuggets have the homecourt advantage -- and the best player in the world -- working in their favor. But, as Game 6 proved, the Clippers are winning the depth battle. Batum was just the latest example, but Los Angeles has a lot of players capable of stepping up and turning the tide in their favor, even on the road.
NBA fans are spoiled to have this matchup in the first round, as neither team truly deserves to go to Cancun this early on.