I can remember Battier playing very good with the reserves. He seems to shy away from his shot when playing with the starters. Make him that "scorer" off the bench, or a defensive stopper. He is also the ultimate team player, so not starting makes no difference to him.
I don't think it matters. What I'm wondering is, how many minutes does Battier play, and from whom does he take his minutes? Battier is too good to play 12 minutes a game backing up Artest. Does he pick up other minutes playing PF? SG? If he plays SG, Barry gets few minutes. If he plays 10-15 minutes at PF, I see Landry playing 5 minutes a game, and Hayes getting 1. Anyhow, DAMN THIS IS COOL!
First of all you have to consider their personalities...which one would be more willing to come off the bench...the consummate professional and team player or the one with a delicate psyche and ego. In addition, you generally are gonna put your five best players at each position in the starting rotation. Can anyone argue that Battier is actually a better overall player than Artest? Battier is a solid player and a great team defender but he has trouble scoring points at times. And then lets consider that the Rockets have been trying for quite some time to find that elusive third scorer to compliment Yao and Tracy...you finally get him and now you want to stick him on the bench? Now let's consider the bench..we'll have explosiveness (hopefully Landry and Brooks), scoring (Battier and Barry and possibly Novak), defense (Battier and Deke) and an x factor (Stevie). There's really no need to relegate Artest to the bench as they'll be plenty of options already...also keep in mind that not all these bench players will be playing at one time (usually). With Artest, T-Mac, Yao in the starting rotation, more than likely you'll have at least one of them on the floor at all times to help anchor the second team. Plus bringing Battier off the bench gives you an experienced veteran leader in the second unit (more so than say Barry or Deke). The choice is easy...Artest in the starting lineup, Battier off the bench.
I was going to let this ride, but that's not me. Battier is a bench player on a title squad. I can't get any simplier than that. Artest is the guy to keep the team out of droughts and always keep at least 2 legit scorers and playmakers on the floor. Battier can play 13 mins behind Artest and 15mins behind tracy to give him 28mins which is about right. If a injury occurs, he can play more minutes, but now tracy can get adequate rest without offensive fallout.
I think you play Battier off the bench. Start TMac and Ron, then TMac comes out for Battier. Ron slides to the two. Then TMac comes in for Ron. That way, TMac and Ron are both rested for the fourth. Battier is the perfect complement to either TMac or Ron when they're in the game. You could also use Barry similarly, bring him in as a SG and have him slide to the PG, or vice versa. If you do your rotations correctly, you can shave lots of minutes off for our starters, and keep injuries down. Hopefully a similar rotation of the bigs will keep Yao's minutes down.
Agreed. Either Francis or Brooks is going to log the majority of minutes at backup PG this season - and both of them are natural scorers. So surely they'll be the sparkplug off the bench offensively? If Steve Francis comes back with any sort of explosiveness then our second unit has some serious game: Francis Barry Battier Landry Dorsey Hustle, rebounding, defence, 3pt shooting, toughness. Love it!
Battier from the bench. Artest is too good a player on both sides of the court to sit him against the other teams best. According to Hollinger, the Rockets are looking at Artest at the 4 which may mean neither, but I'm thinking him at 4 is as a backup. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=artestdeal-080730
1st post.... why is this even a question? who in their right mind would play with Artests emotions and bring him off the bench. Battier plays like Artest except that Artest is 30 times better. Battier really doesnt have the skill to be a starter in the NBA anyways.... although he is a great energy man off the bench
I'd be more inclined to bring in Artest off the bench. With 5 min left in the 1st...that's usually the time Yao gets his first break...Artest enters the game. Scola or Landry move to center Artest plays the PF. It provides a scoring balance.
Start Artest, no question about it. As long as the game isn't already decided, at least 1 of the big 3 should be on the court at all times. Bench scoring shouldn't be as much of an issue now.
