To add another .02: Rosen's the only one I've heard of ever complaining about it. If it was such a problem, wouldn't players actually say something about it? Ray Allen, Kobe Bryant, Vince Carter all voice their opinions on Bruce Bowen's ninjitsu defense and with reason. I think Bryant actually respects Battier as a defender.
the only other people complaining about it are noobs on lakers forums. so right there you have an idea of how far down rosen's "analysis" has fallen. he's talking out of his ass... to be honest dont blame rosen for a slight technical hiccup. writers are not walking encyclopedias and often make stupid or erroneous factual statements. rosen is a million years old and if this were 1988 back when he actually knew something and charley was writing for SI some fact checker would have corrected that before it went to print. unfortunately it's 2008 and it's the internet with no such due diligence instead blame rosen for being an old clueless fart whose "analysis" is crap. he's complaining kobe didnt get more foul shots like some 19 year old on an internet forum, when houston has been locking down guys for 22 games. rosen is a ****ing moron. I actually LOLed how everything he wrote actually echoes point for point QQ Laker fans' posts. what a tool
It isn't in the way Battier does it, you can't do while they are dribbling and stuff, but once they jump thats completely legal, Rosen needs to check rules before he says crap. On top of that, 90% of players faceguard ppl during jumpers (just aren't as good as Battier to do every time), its what they are taught (watch Nash if you don't believe me he is pretty good at that). Rosen is a joke.
Every forum has its hommers. Its just the Lakers forum has the worst case since theres a lot of bandwagon laker/kobe fans around the world.
How many players in NBA can block an opponent's vision without touching his arms and face. Legal or not, it is talent, art and science. Beauty of defense.
Battier does that to every player he defends, wade, kobe, lebron, etc. You cannot face guard before a shot but once they are in the act you can put ur hand anywhere you want as long as you dont touch them. This guy rosen needs to do his homework.
lol that thread is hilarious. lakers fans saying shane repeatedly hit kobe on the face everytime kobe shot LOL
This is the dumbest thing i ever heard. Face guarding is illegal?? Haha...that's like saying you can't guard with your butt facing the opposite of your opponents.
Wow... I thought we got over emotional. It is absurd to compare Battier to Bowen. The only thing they have in common is they play great defense. FACTS: 1) Battier does not play dirty. 2) Battier does not undercut players. NO ONE has ever landed on his foot after a jump shot. 3) Battier never fouls anyone in the face on purpose. Players occassionally get poked in the eye in the NBA because of face guarding, but Battier does not do it on purpose, and does not do it more than any other player in the league. 4) Kobe talks to the refs more than just about any other player. If any of this were happening, he would be giving them an earful.
Actually, when you get out of the thread and start reading the forum it gets even more crazy. After reading how Kobe 'gets no respect from the refs' and how 'Stern has helped the Rockets with their winning streak' I couldn't take it any more. lol
I cannot believe anyone is taking Rosen serious. He is so silly he did not even stop to think about the nonsense he wrote. If it was illegal, Shane would not have been doing it now for over two seasons. Stupid is a complement to Rosen.
the only thing illegal that went on this game with regards to eye guarding was when kobe poked t-mac in the eye trying to defend like battier.
hahaha!!! These cats are fired up because Kobe didn't get his numbers. What a bunch of clowns. Mad because their supposed GOAT got clowned by some old school, hard nosed, completely legal and completely clean defense? Keep crying kids because you still won't be contenders when the tissue paper PF from Spain returns and the Shaq-lite boy comes back from his injury.
