Chat with BATTIER??? Battier is NOT spelled B-L-I-N-E-B-U-R-Y. I scrolled down the page, saw "Blinebury" the entire way down the side, and closed the window.
Spend a few more seconds next time... The Battier chat is coming in like 40 minutes, that was just Blinebury chat transcript from Monday in the meantime.
I will update as the chat continues... Hey I was the second question! sigh... I try to forget he's a dukie... I gotta go now yall... maybe someone else can update the posts here!
Who the hell spells "Krispy Kremes" as "Crispy Cremes" - this can't be Battier, I thought he was smarter than that!
Shane_Battier: Hello everyone! I look foward to all of your questions. Bring them on! SuperSAM: What is the overall attitude in the locker room after Yao wnet down compaired to now after winning a couple of games? Shane_Battier: Good question. While, it was a complete shock to receive the news about Yao, our team took the news in stride. Instead of wallowing in self pity, we looked each other in the eye and started to plan ways to continue winning without him. I would characterize our lockerroom as resoulute. Hayesfan: Have you been asked to contribute more offensively this season? Or is all your focus still on defending the other teams best player? Shane_Battier: The coaches have never told me "Shane you must do more this game." I am a player that takes advantage of the opportunities presented to me. I do not like to force things. There have been a few more opportunities now that Yao is out. My main focus is still defense, that is my bread and butter. htowns_finest: What has been the highlight of your career? Shane_Battier: The highlight of my career was winning the national championship my senior year at Duke. There is no better feeling than being at the top of the mountain. It is a feeling I want to duplicate here in Houston! Blacksombrero: Shane,Thank you for taking the time to answer questions from your loyal fans. My question is not basketball related but I hope you answer it anyway. Who is the biggest jokester on the team? And ??? What???s the worst thing the rookies have had to endure from the veterans so far? Thanks and keep up the awesome work! I love your stifling defense and sweet 3's! Shane_Battier: The biggest jokester on the team is definately Rafer. If your college team loses a game, Rafer is the first to tell you about it. He will even text you at home to let you know your alma mater lost. The rookies don't have to endure any significant torture. They may have to carry a veteran's bag (Dikembe, Steve Francis), but for the most part they get left alone. I had to bring Crispy Cremes to practice everyday when I was a rook. BigRed: Hey Shane. I am a diehard Rockets fan and I hate watching ESPN because everyone keeps saying the Rockets are through now that Yao is out. Do you guys use that criticism in motivation or do you not pay attention to it? Shane_Battier: We love the criticism!!! Ha, it makes our job easier because less people focus on us and we can just play basketball. The NBA title is not decided by popularity or for that matter the "experts" who talk about us all day. It's decided on the court. We like it that way. lkyigloo: Do you have any plan over in China this Summer? Shane_Battier: Yes, I plan on my annual trip to China sometime after my wife and I have our first child this summer. It is always great to go to Asia because there are a lot of Rockets fans there! bluluvsrae: What would you say is the biggest team difference between this years Rockets and last years Rockets? Thanks Shane_Battier: We are a much different team from a year ago. Obviously with a new coaching staff we have a new philosophy and with the influx of guys like Scola, Landry, Brooks, Jackson, and Novak we essentially have half a new roster. We feel we are better equipped to handle Yao's injury this year. JDL: In your opinion, why is this rockets team so good now when it struggled earlier? What's the difference? Shane_Battier: Chemistry. It's not something you can force. You must allow it to develop on it's own. tony: Who is the toughest person that you have guarded in your career? Shane_Battier: Kobe. He's good. htowns_finest: What do you think about the competition this year in the Western Conference? Shane_Battier: tough. rocketsfan08: Shane, you guys are 21-9 at home. Besides playing great basketball, how much of that has to do with the energy the home crowd gives you guys night in and night out? Shane_Battier: When the crowd is into the game, you have more energy to run the court, rebound the ball and play tougher defense. We try to do these things on the road, but it just seems easier at home when there is an energy there that is behind you. maestro: Richard Justice said that someone said you read the entire 40 page report that the Rockets do on every game. Is this true? Shane_Battier: I try to prepare for my opponent as thouroughly as possible. I want to know every angle on the man I am guarding to give me an edge. I read many, many pages and go over strengths and weaknesses many times before a game. Proper Preperation Prevents Poor Performance. That is a motto I like. BigRed: Hey Shane! I heard that you go with Luis Scola and tour around the cities while on the road. Is that true and how close are you with Luis? Shane_Battier: Luis Scola is a good man and I enjoy his company off the court. He has played all over the world, so he has great stories to tell. We have really nice guys on this team. No jerks. RedRaiderG: How's Duke going to do in March? Shane_Battier: I think Duke will do pretty well. March Madness all depends on matchups. Big teams and fast guards always seem to give the Blue Devils fits, but I always like our chances in March. Ke: Who gets your MVP vote this year? Shane_Battier: Kobe. He's good. HOAC: Does it make a difference to the team if Yao comes to the games? Seems like it would add a little inspiration, and someone has to take Deke's place as the cheerleader. Shane_Battier: It is always good to have you teammates there supporting you. While no one can take Deke's job as head cheerleader (that guy is awesome), Yao does a pretty good job in his own way. teddy1224: Do you mention Luis Scola when talking about ROY? Shane_Battier: I think you have to include him in the discussion. His numbers don't stack up to a Kevin Durant, but his presence and contributions to a playoff contender put him in the argument. okiedokie: can you tell us why you went with neil diamond in your now infamous karaoke singing adventure Shane_Battier: I never, never take myself too seriously. If I can't do an awful take on Neil Diamond and laugh at myself, then I am in trouble. Work hard, play hard. mathieu: Hey Shane. Do you have a routine you follow before every game ? Shane_Battier: The NBA life is actually very routine and boring. Sorry to disappoint you. After shootaround, I eat lunch, catch the end of Days of our Lives, take my nap, wake up, hydrate, watch the first 10 of PTI and head to the gym. My pregame routine never changes. TheDude: Shane, Bill, Bull and Clyde always say you should be the NBA commissioner one day, that you would be the perfect fit for the job. What are your plans after you retire? Shane_Battier: Ha! I don't know what I want to do next week, much less after I retire. I want to spend time with my family, play golf, and relax. Then hopefully be in a position where I can help people. G-471956740: Hey shane, I know its hard to have to defend the opposing team's leading scorer every night, but you have also picked up a pretty important role on the offensive end as well as of late. To you, which one is more challenging? Shane_Battier: I think both are difficult. The key is EFFICIENCY! How many shots does it take you to score 20 points. Nearly every player in the NBA could score 20 points if they took 20 or more shots. The same goes for defense. Can you hold someone to 20 points by making them take more than 20 shots. That, ladies and gentlemen, is the difference between good offense and defense. Blacksombrero: Is there any significance or story to your jersey number, 31? Shane_Battier: After I committed to Duke, I vistited Cameron Indoor Stadium, where Duke plays. In the rafters, the retired jerseys of Christian Laettner (32), Grant Hill (33) and Danny Ferry (35) hung. I wanted to try to close out the 30's. So I picked 31. I am happy to say that 31 is also retired in the rafters. Brett: What is your favorite city to play in on the road? Shane_Battier: New York City. Nothing is like the Garden. Smells like Frank Sinatra and Elephant poop. It's awesome. G-471953499: Do you think they should change the way the playoff teams are determined ? Shane_Battier: The NBA always works in cycles. When I was growing up in Detroit, Detroit, Boston, Chicago, Philly, Washington, and Cleveland were the powers and the Western conference was the little sister division. Now the opposite is true. They should keep the format although some of the ideas are intrieging. TMacfan: Hey Shane, you guys have been rolling hot do you think Rafer Alston running the offense is a key to your success? Shane_Battier: Rafer has done a terrific job for us this year. Despite the criticism, he has performed like a professional and only worked harder. His play is a huge key to our success. NStorm: Shane, you've often been cited as a potential Defensive Player of the Year candidate...yet for some reason, you still haven't been seen on the All-Defense team. Do you think this is the year that your hard work finally gets reconized (in terms of awards)? Shane_Battier: Ha! While it is my goal every year to make the All Defensive team, I never let individual awards become the barometer of my success. I always think that if you are good enough, people will notice. If not......then oh well. Try harder next year. I might just steal one of Deke's Defensive player of the year trophy's and put my name on it. He has so many, he wouldn't notice. G-471949765: Shane, I've always read you would love to retire as a Piston. What's up with that? We have unfinished business here. Shane_Battier: HA, I was misquoted!!!! I think every player has a small dream to play for the team they grew up watching and cheering for. Don't worry, I want to stay in Houston for a long long time. Eric281: If you had to compare Carl Landry to another player in the nba, who would it be? Shane_Battier: While not as big, I think Carl reminds me of a young Otis Thorpe. cmack: Shane, are you a fan of any of the other sports teams in Houston? Texans, Astros, or Dynamo? Shane_Battier: I went to a few Texans games this year and I love baseball so I like going to see the Astros play. I love all sports, so I try to support our fellow teams here. primetime: Any thoughts of returning to Duke and Coaching like Collins, Dawkins and Wojo when your career is done. Do you still have that steakhouse in Memphis? Shane_Battier: I love basketball, but I don't think I have the patience to be a coach on a major level. I know the effort and dedication that I put towards basketball and I think I would be frustrated by my players if I didn't see the same motivation. That's probably unfair of me, but I think it's honest. ClutchCityD: With the success you guys have been having, how have you guys maintained your humility? You guys have been very realistic about the whole streak and such...how's that possible? Shane_Battier: We known that even though our winning streak has put us back into the playoff mix, we know that a losing streak puts us right back out of the mix. That is humbling enough for anyone. We just want to continue to play hard, play smart and play together. If we can do that, we will live with the results. Shane_Battier: Hey y'all, thanks for the great questions! I hope you enjoyed this afternoon's chat session as much as I did. Keep cheering for the Rockets, other's may doubt, but nothing worthwhile has ever been accomplished without belief and hope. Go Rockets!!!!
