Practice Report: Nicolas Batum takes fall, being evaluated

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Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts told the media following Tuesday’s practice that starting forward Nicolas Batum took a fall and ran into the stanchion underneath the basket during a play in practice . Stotts said the collision occurred on a play when Batum went up for a dunk and it was contested by Will Barton and Batum subsequently ran into the stanchion. Stotts said that he was being evaluated but there was no further update on his condition.

Mo Williams was participating in drills when the media were let in for practice and said he is “getting close (to 100 percent).”

“I’m taking it slow,” Williams said “I’m able to just get some good work in practice. I’m just listening to them. I don’t want to rush it. I’m feeling good, we just don’t want to take steps back, it’s part of the process.”

Dorell Wright and Earl Watson (calf) were not participating in the drills at the end of practice but Watson has been limited for some time now and Wright was kept out of the first preseason game to rest, so there was no update there.

From a tactical standpoint, the Trail Blazers went over film of their offensive and defensive positions from last nights game. Stotts noted the turnovers, of which the Trail Blazers had 21, as what held them back. He added they continued to work on their defensive coverages against dribble handoff plays, side pick and rolls and getting back in transition.

“There’s a lot of things we could have done better defensively,” Stotts said.