Dude mans up with the most difficult assignment every night and still manages to be efficient offensively for a team that is likely to be 1 in the West.Heck,he's even got his shot back. Anyway there is no way we even get a sniff this year if he's not out there. DPOY - Shane Battier And Tracy should get MVP if we close the season out 1,but something tells me because he didn't do it all year,they won't give it to him.Also there is so much love for LBJ,Kobe,and CP3. So I think Shane is actually going to get it.
It's effective on most players, but the great shooters only need one glimpse at the rim to make a shot. In practice, we often shot while closing our eyes, just one split second look at the rim, to practice against that technique. It doesn't work for most players, myself included. Battier does a beautiful job of getting his hand in their face through their arms without fouling, and it's the most annoying kind of defense. It's so frustrating to play against, I would hate being guarded by someone like that. I'm not saying the great shooters won't notice it, but it's not as effective, that's all. It's still an amazing defensive strategy. If you want to see Battier's value, watch him through the whole game. I know it sounds stupid, but when he's on the floor, don't take your eyes off him. You'll see a couple flaws here and there but you will see a lot of things you never realized he did. Same goes with a lot of NBA players, but Battier moreso than many.
Most know I was against the Battier acquisition. I have been very impressed with his defense this season. He really doesn't shut folks down but he does make them work, which is all you can ask really. I love the hands in the face without fouling!!! As solid as he has been I'm not sure if he will get on an all-d team....maybe the 2nd or 3rd one. You still have Bowen, Prince, Marion, Artest....
I don't think its mostly due to field of vision. It's just plain uncomfortable to have anything at your face that close when you are shooting. It throws off rhythm to have someone that close to you.
Battier plays the best man-on-man defense in the game. Bruce Bowen just high kicks the other player in the face and slap their nuts, and yet he is still considered the best defender in the game. Battier>>>>>>Bowen
its funny how Kobe tried to play D like battier by putting a hand close in T-Mac's face, and T-mac just drained it while getting poked in the eye
Oh I know I am just complimenting the great shooter's ability to ignore this strategy. It's ridiculously effective on most players, I'd say like 99.9% of them, but there are the few who can shake it off. Ray Allen, Rip Hamilton, Reggie Miller, etc. What I mean is you have to be THAT good of a shooter to not be owned by that technique. And Battier has it down. Of course it won't work every shot but you get my point, it's brilliant defense. It won't work on everyone but at the same time it will work every now and then against guys like Kobe, Ray Allen, etc.
Now that Battier has been exposed on TV, everyone will steal his special defensive tactic! Seriously tho, I tried this a couple of times in the past against my friends and it does wonders tho i'm always afraid i'll poke their eyes out.
the impressive thing is Battier shut him down and didn't put him on the line - only twice. Most players end up fouling Kobe because they don't have good position and end up reaching. Battier always gets great position.
