Article calls Battier and undersized Power Forward. ESPN is so stupid. I know better, and I could definitely write a better article, but yet I'm getting paid jack because I don't know the right person to give me that job.
i've started to dislike Battier a lot during these playoffs. part of it is of course that i'm Pacers fan. and i guess i'm subconsciously scared of another Pistons brawl, although this Pacers group is handling it very well so far. but also in general the NBA should take a close look at Battier. i'm always for playing tough but cheap shotting people, throwing elbows when the refs aren't looking -- that should have no room in the league.
Flop-a-minute Battier has been playing as an undersized backup PF ever since and Bosh went to full-time center over a year ago. That's his problem, he can't guard PFs like David West, so he flops and takes cheap shots. Sure he used to be a SF/SG, but that's not how he is used in Miami.
Man its crazy how the rose colored glasses really effect what you see out there. When Battier was on the Rockets I never noticed a lot of things about him, sure I knew he flopped a lot, but I didn't notice things as much as now. Now when I watch these games he makes me groan so many times at what he tries to do at times. I still respect Battier for the good years he gave us though. But when he isn't on your team, he is hard to watch.
Funny how homerism affect people. If this guy were on the Rockets you wouldn't see his dirty plays but now that he's on the Heat, he's on Derek Fisher's level.
Agreed! I never noticed that when he was on our team. Now I totally see why Jerry Stackhouse called him "a garbage player"
I have two thoughts on Battier and Roy Hibbert: 1. Battier's job is to get under the skin of the offensive player...so i guess he is doing his job...Battier has gone an entire career trying to guard those that are bigger, stronger and more talented every time...As his career as has, he has learned that he has to be more smarter than the opposing player...As a result, Battier has learned the art of taking a charge. Just looking back at his career here in Houston, we all know that he/his style of play would be game winning plays...I remember this one Chuck Hayes play vividly...Aaron Brooks, Landry, Scola(had it from Euro play), etc... The Rockets neutralized dominate paint play with well timed charging calls...that helped the scrapy Rockets play scrapy... I guess we are all getting mad when we see the players with the highest level of talent resorting to soccer like tactics on the basketball court... 2. Mr. Roy Hibbert...Shaq never complained when he had a smaller defender on him...He salivated on that match up...He let Kobe do his thing, but if he ever had a mismatch in the post, he would scream/demand the ball...he would give his defender the bow...and remind him that he is guarding someone that is almost 60-70 pounds bigger and 5 -7 inches taller..Thats what bigs in the past used to do...You have to establish you self as a physically dominant player...and therefore your more likely to gain that respect...If I were that big and that tall, and had a small guy try guarding me...I wouldnt think twice...to call an iso post play to were I was...and force the refs to call a foul either on me for being too aggressive or foul away from the ball... Stop being a pansy...and remember that you and West should be destroying the Heat in the paint... I can guarantee this...If the Heat do advance to face the Spurs, Duncan wont allow that. Period... The European art of playing a sport has had a tremendously bad influence, and made our tough guys play like total...(fill in the rest) /end of rant
Yeah I guess Hibbert should go out there and throw couple of bows and watch the next game from the hotel room The game is officiated completely different now and all the stuff that Shaq used to get away with wouldn't even be tolerated at all by the officials.