If you buy into DaDakota's hype how Shane is the best complimentary player to the stars and how he can both slash and shoot the 3, you can predict Shane will not only make the team but starting also. So let me congratulate you beforehand, Shane.
How much do you want to bet that Battier makes it? How about a dollar amount to be donated to the Clutch Tip Jar by the looser! If you agree, I will bet you $100 that he makes the final 12 team.
I do think he is the best complimentary player we could have gotten...who can shoot the 3 and cut back door when his man leaves him. DD
I really do believe that Shane's inclusion on Team USA only reinforces what I have thought about him for the past several years: Shane Battier is the best role player in the NBA. The only way Battier doesn't make the team is if Coach K and Colangelo decide to reward Bruce Bowen for the past several years of defensive excellence (especially since there is no way Bowen will make the 2008 Olympic team due to his advanced age by then). That being said, if I were Team USA, I'd keep both. Players like Battier, Bowen and Brad Miller are vital to effectively supplementing a team's stars (although Miller is basically a star anyway). Rockets fans should look at how well-respected Shane Battier is by Team USA and realize that he is an ideal fit to play on a team with two superstars.
I don't know about you guys, but I'm finding it difficult to become a fan of Shane Battier. I just don't see myself cheering for Shane Battier.
And Colangelo oversaw the process, thus Joe Johnson, Amare Stoudamire, and Shawn Marion. Of course, Bruce Bowen and Brad Miller are perennial all-stars, as well, as is Luke Ridnour, so it was a no-brainer to select them, as well. Plus, it's obvious that Elton Brand was another "Dukie" selection. Bunk.
He would not have kept him if he thought he could not contribute.....Battier ain't at Duke anymore... DD
Agreed. There's enormous pressure to win and Coach K ain't no shrinking violet when it comes to winning. If Shane makes it, he does it on the court.
How aout cheering for the only Rocket player to make the USA TEAM. Even if he is a new player for us he deserves our support as the whole team does!
You must be a really hardcore Duke hater. Otherwise it is really difficult to hate on such a good guy, on and off the court, who works very hard and contributes plenty to the team.
the only pressure he has is the pressure he puts on himself. You make a good point in the sense that I'm sue he wants to win. but if he loses he has a job, and , they'll just blame the "selfish" players, not coach k. I don't buy into this notion that the team needs players like battier. let's be honest, he made the team for the same reason he is a rocket, intangibles. and to his credit he can shoot. which was a problem. but I think if they pick a few more players like battier they will be making the same mistake I feel the rockets are making. again no one dislikes battier, but I just think people are putting too much value in tangibles. for all the problems team usa had, they hustled and they played defense, and they shared the ball. they just were not a fluid team on offense. if team usa is gonna build a team like this, they might as well just take the nba champions. too much talent is not a problem.
