I see that the Blazers won't be putting Nico Batum in their starting five. Instead, they'll start Luke Babbitt. ... ... Luke WHO??

The Blazers have been screwing with Nico all season: starting him, and then not, on a seemingly random basis. Clearly, the front office is trying to sabotage Nico's contract season.

... ... which reminds me of another team trying to screw another French player in a contract season: We all know how the Bobcats' benching of Boris Diaw worked out in the end.

It would be truly excellent... truly superlatively über-cool... if the Blazers overdid their head-games with Nico to the point that he puts himself on the free-agent market.

Nico is a steady 15 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists at the 2-3 positions. More importantly, Nico knows The Secret. Nico is a team-player. A Popovich player. He and Tony know each other by heart.

C'mon, Blazers!! Make my day!