people always assume that battier will play PF, but to me it makes more since to move tmac to that spot. This isnt a bangers league anymore so i dont have a problem with him playing inside. But really the SF/pf positions are so subjective in todays game. I mean who would have actually thought marion could play PF before a couple of years ago? positions are changing so its hard to label them anymore.
I don't like the idea of Battier or T-Mac playing significant minutes at the PF spot. The argument against Battier playing PF is not defense, it's rebounding. I don't think he'll be able to rebound well enough at the PF spot. I don't want T-Mac at the 4, but I'm actually more comfortable with him there then Battier. I think J Howard is playing PF for us most of the time barring a trade.
And as a junior and as a sophomore. Not sure about his freshman year. All of this talk about Battier's "natural position" being the two or the three is way off base. He is a natural, high-post four who can drain his jumpers from the elbow and out to the perimeter, as well as hit those same jumpers off the pick-and-pop. That's what he has always done well and that is his natural position. Now, that is not to say he can play the four in the NBA as he did in college. Gasol immediately replaced Abdur-Rahim, so there really wasn't much of a chance to prove it. Now, criticisms of Battier's length, rebounding ability, and post-defense against larger, low-post fours are legitimate, but it's not like the four is a position foreign to this guy.
Please see forum rule 3.12.4(a)(i)(C) and stop posting facts that nobody wants to see. Thanks in advance!! J/K In all seriousness, don't you know that it would be a total waste of Battier's perimeter defense prowess if we don't have him parked on the perimeter so he can take charges, something he loves to do and is known for? Oh wait. Ok, seriously now. Battier played/shared PF duties at Duke while Brand then Boozer served as center. Since those 2 are now playing PF, it's natural to "demote" Battier to SF based on size. However, one of the strongest opponent of Battier playing PF for us in this thread is also a strong proponent of acquiring Dunleavy Jr. to play PF -- Dunleavy was SF at Duke. Go figure. We can all argue until we're blue in the face, but let's just wait until November to see.
I don't think Battier's defensive prowess comes so much from his play on the perimeter. A lot of the charges he takes are in the lane. He's very active around the basket, stripping the ball, getting deflections, and drawing charges. He'll do a decent job for us on the perimeter, but I don't know if that's really where is strength lies on the defensive end.
Back to the original topic... here are Coach K's postgame remarks on Battier. Very positive. Seems like if this game were the deciding factor, Battier would be in and Bowen would be out. http://www.usabasketball.com/seniormen/2006/06_mwc_exhibition_game1_quotes.html Oh, BTW here is the boxscore of the game. Shane had 3 points, 5 rebounds, an assist, 2 steals, and 4 fouls in 14 minutes. http://www.usabasketball.com/seniormen/2006/06_mwc_exhibition_box1.html
Look at all the FA's and players Dawson has legitimately tried to acquire this offseason. All 2 guards or backup PG's for the most part. Defensively at the 2 is where McGrady struggles the most. As a result of his inability to deal with body contact he gets torched by guards coming off screens -- which is in the arsenal of most NBA 2 guards. He has to guard more elite competition at the 2 (fatigue comes into play) and being on the perimeter takes him further away from the basket, where we desperately need his rebounding. Offensively you've seen the stats. Some players in the league just settle into a groove at a certain position, and as time has gone on in his career McGrady has adapted better at the 3. Playing at the 2 is too physically demanding for TMac. We may not want to admit it, but he is a fragile superstar and needs to be 'protected'. Atleast during the course of the regular season. Down the stretch (last 6 minutes of the game or so), we could see TMac at the 2 but for the most part he will stay at the 3. The 3 is his best position, if that's what you mean. But by virtue of McGrady not being able to play the 2 and the spacing he gives Yao when he's at the 4, he'll play PF more.
True. The rebounding rate dropoff from Juwan to Battier isn't huge but it does factor into us losing about 2-3 overall rebounds a game. I honestly don't think it will a problem. Rasheed Wallace has a similar rebounding rate to Battier, but it doesn't matter with Ben Wallace in the paint. Similarily with Houston having TMac and Yao at the 3 and 5, they can make up for a PF with a below average rebounding rate. Houston was 11th in the league in rebounds per game last season, but when you consider all the time Yao and McGrady (even Sura) missed, added with JVG's low posession count, it's not going to be a problem as long as opponents don't screen us to death and Yao isn't chasing guards on the perimeter every posession. Battier had a 114 blocks last season sharing time at the 3 and 4. Pretty impressive, but God-like when you compare it to Juwan's 13 blocks the last 2 seasons. I'm done with Juwan getting significant minutes at any position.
I watched most of the game, and Battier played minutes at PF alongside Brand (similar skillset to yao but more compact/stronger), and occasionally bosh/howard if I'm not mistaken. Also, 5 rebounds in 14 minutes is good even if against Puerto Rican rebounders and w/ lots of missed shots. I don't see why he couldn't be a 8-9 reb/game player if he plays PF. 5-6 for a SF is pretty good, and he could easily up that # playing the post more.
i think the 'battier at PF' or 'tmac at PF' arguments are a lot for a little. Meaning, they will play some PF but against certain teams at certain times. Howard will still get his 30 min or so and hayes will get his 10-15
you guys who want tracy to play the four must only want him to play twenty games. com'on, the reason he isn't playing two is because they don't want him to be chasing other twos through picks. you think they want him banging with fours?
I personally feel the line up will be: on offense: Alson McGrady Battier Howard Yao and switch to on Defense: Alsont Battier McGrady Howard Yao of course there will be bench players that will com in for mis match purposes, or if a guy is to fast. Then Battier would move to the PF position and McGrady would concentrate on the SF. With a reserve "hopefully a healthy Sura" would come in at SG!! Battier will likely play some PF, SF (Offensively - lost of pick and rolls on top), and SG (defensive).
Wow. This is how you guys overblow topics. One little word about seeing Shane at the 4, oh now he's our starting 4. I've stated this same thing in 1,2 or 3 threads. Stop overreacting to it. Shane is NOT our starting nor most rotational player at the 4 throughout the season, he will play 4 majority for matchups against say the Suns or Mavericks, but if you think he's our pencil-in 4, you are wrong. Completely wrong. He will slide to some 4, maybe T-mac too, for matchups, but that's it. For the last time, stop overreacting to it. It's people like Ronny that keep on bringing it back to life. One statement and all of sudden a whole new expectation level on the roster, impact, starting lineup,etc.
Battier played well for the amount of playing time he got. The 19-2 run that TEAM USA went on was becuase of role players like Shane Battier and Bruce Bowen. I think Bruce, Shane, and Joe Johnson played an important role in that 19-2 run.
I agree. Honestly though, Chris Bosh stunk in that game. On offense, he'd resort to shooting 3s, he couldn't handle Daniel Santiago, and just stunk. He was horrific. Defensively, he'd foul before actually deciding to contest.
