Last night I was watching the Pistons/Magic game on ESPN and I think it was Bill Walton said that Jason Kidd told him that he would vote for either Shane Battier or someone else (who's name I can't remember) as defensive player of the year. I was a bit shocked that he said this, I mean I am not surprised that he's respected by his peers, but I was surprised that Walton repeated it and didn't disagree with the two choices. Do yall think Shane actually has a chance at this?
Well he always gets the toughest assignment and his team is at the top defensively, so it's not a stretch at all. Beat out Bruce Bowen for the national team. He didn't make that team for his passing or scoring, I think.
It's possible since there aren't any other standout candidates. But I think the best he can hope for is a selection to the All-NBA Defensive Team, which I don't think he's ever gotten before.
He deserves it. He's the catalyst for the best defense in the league. But I'd put my money on Ben Wallace again. NBA awards voters suck.
I think a more realistic goal for Shane is to make his first all defensive team, as much as he does take tougher assignments and plays well, people like Bowen, Wallace, with greateer reputations will always remain a step ahead, unless the voters go crazy or something. I do think he should at least be in the top 5 when balloting happens, but he should definately make at least the 2nd defensive team
No. The problem with Battier's style of defence is that it doesn't show up on box scores, unlike Tim Duncan's blocks and Marcus Camby's blocks AND steals. Thus the voters don't have some hard stats to backup their votes, while people who vote for Battier can only go on his reputation and personal knowledge of Battier's play. For the record, I will pick Marcus Camby for hte DPOY, he will tie his career high in games played and lead the centers for steals and 2nd in league for blocks.
In todays NBA which is totaly perimieter focused, I would always give the award to a perimiter defender, because other then Yao, Shaq, Amare, Duncan and sometimes Howard, there are no legitimate scoring big men for guys like Camby to guard, making their jobs way easier. On the other hand, going up against Kobe, Wade, Ginobli, James etc most every night is a much harder assigment. However, NBA voters do suck, so its always a crapshoot.
if Kobe hadn't lit up Battier twice ( both for 50+ I think), we could make more of an argument. As much as i'd want shane to get it, no DPOY should be torched for 50 twice by the same player, even if it is Kobe
I think it's gotta go to Camby. He's been flat-out impressive on a team that otherwise plays no D and sends plenty of guys his way.
I think he should get it but probably won't for two reasons: 1) Those awards tend to be awarded a year after a guy "arrives." Same thing with the MVP many years (Dirk willl win this year and had a VERY strong case last year even though it makes me want to puke to admit it). It takes a year to build the momentum. 2) DPY usually goes to a big that can block shots. Not really fair, but that's what seems to happen. Recent, noteable exceptions being Jordan and Bowen.
Ummmm, on the second of those 50 point "outbursts" kobe shot the ball 44 freakin times on 43% shooting. To me, that's not impressive, its just plain chucking. If he hadn't have gotten hot in the 4th, he would have been in the low 30%s. As crazy as it sounds, I think it was a pretty good defensive job - weird to say when a guy scores 53, but it's true.
he clearly was (or at least should have been) the leading candidate going into the all star break. the rockets had the number one defense of the entire league and shane was the best defender on the rockets. plus, he's one of the league's most versatile (position wise) defenders. he guards kobe one night, dirk another night and i believe i even saw him on barbosa this season. he always gets the toughest assignment and he never fails to make his opponents earn their points. he may not be a top-3 defender individually at any position but given the facts above he was the favorite. right now our defense has slipped a bit and even shane has something to do with this. so it's a lot closer. but because there is no other standout candidate he should at least have a shot to win this award.
I remember during that game ESPN showed a little chart of players who guarded Kobe, and Shane Battier had done the best job up till that point. I believe Kobe shot like 3-18 when Battier guarded him.
He desever a shot at the defensive player of the year but he could shoot more to make his opponent playing defense.
i don't know if he's got a shot, maybe if it were up to the players. it seems like every sports site has a 'tim duncan for DPOY' campaign going on.
i could have sworn it was alonzo that was kidd's top candidate. it was after a heat highlight and they were talking about how amazing zo's story has been the last couple of years. and tim duncan is DPOY.
