The difference between "shooting guard" and "small forward" is arbitrary in many cases. At SF T-Mac would have to chase athletic freaks like Lebron, Pierce, etc., who have all the ball-handling and shooting skills of SGs. Just play T-Mac and Battier at the wing positions, and tell Battier to devote all his energy towards chasing the tougher opposing player (which he would probably do anyway). Uh, the stats you present show Battier to be subpar at defending PFs (a HUGE drop from his excellent perimeter defense). T-Mac seems to do worse at SG but is still All-Star level (discounting the insignificant 118 minutes he played SG this season, which is 2.5 mpg). Basically, sticking Battier at PF is giving up too much just so that T-Mac can hold the arbitrary label of "small forward." You squander Battier's elite perimeter defense, and you keep Hayes on the bench. Meanwhile T-Mac would be playing the same role he would be playing anyway. I'll bet that JVG would choose to start Juwan, even though it should be Alston, T-Mac, Battier, Hayes, and Yao.
battier is a natural swingman, and he started his career as a "2". there's no doubt that he'll play 2 or 3 on the defensive end most of the time. I think JVG will employ battier against smaller lineup as a so called PF, but the job he'll be doing would not be much different. in otherwords, if we are playing against a team like san antonio, there's no way battier will play at PF. but when we're paying the likes of phenix, then battier will be matched up agaonst marion. that's very clear and theres no doubt that this is what JVG has on his mind. this raise the question, given the consensus that juwan is a terrible defensive player aginst the likes of duncan, stoudamire, dwight howard, etc...., if we need a big guy to defend these guys. curreently, howard is the ONLY capable player for crying out loud. this is clearly the weakest espect of this supposedly prided defensive rockets team. i suggest we get cato to fill this role.
There is no way Battier can hold down the 4 spot throughout the whole game. I'm sure it'll be fine when hes the 4 if we're doing a small lineup at times, but Shane will be more productive at the 2/3. His perimeter defense is his strong point and we need to exploit that. And who says T-Mac can't play the two? The only reason he plays the SF position is so he wouldn't have to chase the quicker guards around all game. SF or SG, T-mac will still get his on the offensive end.
Using Dallas to justify salary situations is like comparing me to Donald Trump next time I buy a new house.
that quote by battier about guarding the tougher opponent was from right after the trade. once we got snyder the two most important quotes were overlooked by a lot of ppl here. 1. CD said that snyder is coming into a good situation because there is basically no one else at that possition. interesting, because tmac and shane should've been thought of as starting there right? 2. tmac said on the radio that he expects shane to play the 4. this backs up CD's point that they expect snyder to start. lastly, JVG said before the offseason began that he wanted (1) a 4 that can shoot, (2) 3 PG's on the roster, (3) and a big athletic SG. well so far we got snyder. i think he qualifies as the big athletic SG. we got vpsan and lucas to team with rafer as the 3 PG's on our roster. and we are left with shane...the 4 who can shoot.
I just don't think he is a 4. Last night I fell asleep watching the game, but not before I saw that Puerto Rican guy with the glasses take it to him a few times. I love Battier as a player. I see him as a 3 for 25 minutes and a 4 for 8-10 minutes. I will hold firm in my desire to pick up another 4 for this year. Though I don't agree with it I think he will be playing the 4 because Van Gundy won't play Tmac at the 2 much. I just hope it works out.
if the above turns out to be an incorrect statement i'll announce my retirement from Clutchfans. And before I do that i'll post a pic/photoshop of me declaring my undying love for the game's worst ever power forward (im talking about Swift people, not Juwan)
Yeah well if we are using that as a basis, then remember when JVG supposedly told someone (an insider) that if Sura is healthy at training camp he WILL start period? Ok, now despite JVG's ovious view that Sura is better than Alston and probably he feels Snyder too, does that have anything to do with Sura being able to handle 30 or more minutes? No. There are about 10 reasons to start Juwan at PF and mainly everyone has to do with he's the only one that could play there (along with Hayes - but I don't see Hayes as a starter yet) because we didn't add anything else there. Think about it, using the theory you have above, REALLY says Novak was drafted to be bulked up, groomed and play PF and spread the floor, Battier was drafted to be our lock down perimiter defender. I think you have it backwards. Snyder CLEARLY was brought into take Bogans role who was let go, that role is backing up for T-Mac and Battier at the 2 and 3.
As I (and others) have said many times. You don't play Battier at PF except when playing the match-ups. The guy is a great perimeter defender. Playing him at PF negates his best attribute. Even if you take the type of PF he matches up best against it doesn't make sense. When Battier guards Dirk Nowitzki, all Battier can do is slow Dirk down a little and bring him a little further away from the goal on defense. But put him on Josh Howard and Battier can make him a non-factor on offense, while having the ability to shoot over him or post him up. Ron Artest would be a better PF than Shareef Abdur-Rahim. If the Kings put Artest at PF, everyone would think that it was stupid. But some of you are suggesting that the Rockets do almost the same thing.
Yeah, seriously, thank you. Imagine Battier on Tim Duncan. And this is the same thread that basically brings up the idea that Battier will replace Bruce Bowen in the Team USA line up. Uh, wait. What position does Bruce Bowen play again? Oh yeah. Battier on Duncan, Amare, Brand, Brian Cook, Okur, Haslim, etc.? No. Battier on Bowen, Matrix, Livingston, Kobe, AK47, DWade, etc.? Hell yes.
Well, Battier is doing quite well in this game, warranted for the coach to singled him out for praise. Go Rockets.
Forget about the link. Here the link= http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=sheridan_chris&id=2539099
I also think Battier would defend Dirk Nowitzki very well. I think this team needs to make a move for some athletic size at the 4 like Clyde Drexler commented on in the last few games of the season.
