[Chron]Feigan: Looks like Battier will play, lots.

Not surprising. Battier is a very good player, and real NBA people recognize that. The only people I've ever heard criticize Battier as a below-average player are nameless internet posters.

 

im predicting Battier will lead the team in minutes. he's just such a team player and fits in so well.

 

People also forget that Battier averaged something like about 16 ppg in his rookie year. I don't know if it was a result of Vancouver then playing at an extremely high tempo, or if Battier was more of a go-to guy than in later years, but it certainly shows something about his offensive game.

 

It's not surprising at all. Remember is Sactown, he gave another good defender, Doug Christie plenty of minutes in the rotation.

 

He is text book from NBA.

 

BINGO!!! I can't believe people thought Battier was going to get traded or lose minutes.. He is our best defender and who was going to guard the Carmelo's, Lebron, Kobe's of the game? Battier will not be used much for offense because his main role is to be on defensive side.. RA will not use T-mac because of his injury prone self..

 

Speaking of "real"...

"Real" NBA people allowed Battier to re-sign with Memphis for a contract valued at the MLE. There was no bidding interest....NONE.

"Real" NBA people don't ALL evaluate with $Ball.

Battier is a fundalmentally sound, blue collar effort guy. That...as opposed to "very good" is the term that "real" NBA types use.

"Very Good" would be a term used only by nameless internet posters who run to 82games to support their claim of how valuable blue collar "intangibles" are. While they ignore that Anderson Varejao had the same stat line and took twice as many charges. But Varejao isn't a "very good" NBA player because he doesn't exude "intangibles".

 

I suppose I have a name since I do not think Shane is below average. His above average intellect and his below average foot speed make him average. I hope he makes me put him in the above average category this year.

 

I consider both Battier and Varejao to be Glue type of guys. Liking one does not preclude you liking the other.

We usually agree Gater, but I believe you are 100% wrong on Battier......but I do think your Hayes points have serious Merit, he should not be starting for ANY quality NBA team.

DD

 

Battier and Scola are perfect next to TMac and Yao. Both Battier and Scola don't need the ball in their hands to be effective. At the same time, unlike Chuck Hayes, you can't just ignore Battier or Scola because they both can score different ways and/or assist on a bucket.

Furthermore, Battier and Scola will be tough defenders. Battier can defend the best permimeter player while Scola can defend the best interier player (not named Shaq). That frees up TMac and Yao to play fresh on the offensive end. Defensively, this is gonna be a hard-nosed team. Offensively, there are few teams that can match up with us esp in Rick's system.

Now that our bench can add offensive punch, Chuck Hayes playing in the 2nd unit makes MUCH more sense. Guys like Bonzi, Steve and Mike are great 1-on-1 players that will get double teamed off the dribble ...allowing Chuck to break free for some of his patented basket cuts.

Wow, never put this together. I'm even more excited for the season to start.

 

OH SNAP!!!!! SERIOUS BURN!!!!!!!!!!

i dont know what was worse...the gater post or the post by "reese" on feigen's blog. no offense, gater, but the battier criticism as i've seen it has yet to carry any water.

Carl Herrerra with the facial.



Speaking of Battier, did anyone see last night's game?!?!?!? 5 3pters, that quick 5ft put-back jumper, that insane 360 fade-away hookshot?!

 

this is very good to hear. i love battier.

 

I don't think Battier was a FA.

Adelman wasn't known to use $ball to determine playtime with the Blazers or the Kings. I don't think that he is using any of Battier's $ball numbers as a reason to play him. Adelman probably just likes his play.

 

See Herrerra's post above.

Anyways, big contracts are given to stars or players who GMs perceive as having the potential to be a star. Battier is not a star, and never will be one. That doesn't mean he isn't a very valuable player that any NBA team would love to have. Great teams need to have a couple stars, some young players who have the potential to become stars, and they need to have solid, experienced role players. Battier is about as solid a role player as it gets.

You keep bringing up this term, "$Ball". That's a baseball term. What exactly do you think that means in basketball?

You're right, all NBA people don't evaluate players the same way. You got your San Antonios, and you got your New Yorks. But I've never heard anything but positives from them, with regards to Battier. If you have evidence to the contrary, post it.

He's a fundamentally sound, blue collar effort guy, who's never injured and can play 35+ mpg for you. He doesn't tire, and he doesn't make mistakes. He's extremely efficient on offense, and he's an excellent defensive player. These are things that NBA types recognize, I think it adds up to being a very good player.

Van Gundy -- he's an NBA guy, right? You think all his opinions were based on "$ball" and running to 82games? He said Battier was a very good player. So, there's at least one counter-example. Hubie Brown and Mike Fratello and Coach K are others.

Except they didn't have the same stat line, and further they play very different roles on their respective teams.

 

The Rockets were a quality NBA team last year, and I think he should have been starting for them (you would have preferred Juwan?).

So, there's that. Who should start is determined by the makeup of the roster, and which combinations work the best together. Saying a player shouldn't start, without regard for who else is on the team doesn't make sense to me.

This season, I think Scola should eventually start. I don't know what's going on in practice, but based on what I've seen in the few preseason games, I think he should start opening day. We'll see.

 

I have been saying this all month, Shane will play an important role as a starter.
he is basicly the Doug Christie in Houston.

 

It was clear before Dallas that someone (if not Battier himself) had told Battier to look more for his offensive game. He created some of his own shots in the lane and is suprisingly good at finishing with that little left handed hook. He brought that hook out a little last year but it looks more confortable than ever.

His defense is not something that even deserves any more discussion. I have a feeling his offense is going to bring a lot of discussinon this year. That three pointer he made at the end of the shot clock in the third was not an easy shot. He seems to be more comfortable shooting.

More importantly he seems to be one of the only guys on the team (and the NBA) who sincerely only wants to win. No ankle-breakers, flashy dunks, or sweet passes. It is only winning. If that means scoring, passing, defending, or taking charges in the fourth quarter of a preseason game when you are up by 25, he will do it.

My only complaint is those weird ridges on top of his head. He needs to grow his hair out a little. Maybe go with a Robert Swift look.

 

I don't understand how you don't play Shane big minutes. He doesn't just play great man D, he changes the entire team defense by protecting the lane and blocking shots. Add his deadeye shooting to that and he's the perfect role player. They don't get much better than him.

Complaining about Shane's deficiencies is like talking about what Bruce Bowen DOESN'T do. They bring the stuff talented teams need. We're a talented team and we need him.