Nicolas Batum is adjusting to coming off the bench behind Gerald Wallace.

"I knew it was going to be different this year, that I would play less," Batum said. "But that's OK. We are winning, so I'm OK with that."

Batum has yet to show the confidence he displayed while playing on the French national team this past summer.

"I learned things (in France), but Gerald is playing like an All-Star," Batum said. "And Jamal (Crawford) has played great. L.A. has been great. I try ... I try to play great game, but ..."

The Blazers need Batum to be more aggressive in looking for opportunities to score.

"As I've said to him: 'Don't defer,"' Blazers coach Nate McMillan said. "Gerald has come in and become the starter, but I want him to approach it as: 'I want that position back.' I want (Batum) to be assertive."