maybe CD or morey had some bad relationship with jerry west's daughter, and they are trying to make up for it. omg, that was r****ded.
School me on the so-called "stuff" because if you're talking about defense, blocking skills, and hustle, I think you can pretty much get that from Rudy Gay.
1) Why is everyone so damn focused on 10/5. Battier brings MUCH more to the table. He is one of THE BEST DEFENSIVE players in the NBA. And he can play defense on 2s, 3s, AND 4s. This will tremedously help TMac not have to guard the other teams star player. His scoring is a plus and he wasn't asked to score with Memphis. When he did he hit 48% FG and 40% 3pt. He'll get MANY more open looks with Tmac and Yao so his 10 ppg could easily jump up to 15-18 on the Rockets. 2) Getting rid of Stromile period was a plus. You don't pay 42 million for a 15 minute per game player. 3) Battier is 26. By the time Gay is ready for prime time, McGrady will on the down side of his career. How does this help us? 4) We'll find a way to make it work. Who says Juwan Howard is here to stay? I could see him traded.
Obviously you haven't seen much of him. He is not as quick as you think. Has trouble gaurding 2's and is regularly beat off the dribble. Gets charges but mostly from somebody elses man. Dude, you don't even know how old he is Born: September 9, 1978 which makes him 28 in 3 months. Now we are paying this guy, already slowing down for 2 more years than swift until he is 33 years old. Should be able to get that off our cap real easily later when we need to. That 10 and 5 you mention will be a good selling point. The only good thing you say is Juwan might not be here.
I'm sorry but I thought we're going to sign Mike James so he can take those shots / open looks? I still don't see what Battier brings to the table that a Rudy Gay (or even a Rodney Carney or a Brewer) couldn't. Battier's was pretty effective against the Mavs with that 6/6 and 29% from the 3 point line. Oh yea, Dirk went off for 31 a game on 50% shooting under Battier's defense. It's nice to know that the Rockets would actually give up on a player after one season...and not even give him a chance at back up PF either. He got paid the MLE per year so don't make it out like he's getting paid 13 mil a year. Because, on the outside chance that Gay turn into a decent player after three years, you will still have a pretty good player in transition to McGrady's decline. And judging by the chronic back problems, Gay could have been the fallback in case McGrady's injury is very serious. And there is also a team to support after McGrady leaves too y'know. PS: Shane Battier's birthday: Sep 9, 1978 according to NBA.com. If he isn't turning 28 by the start of the season, you must be driving a DeLorean For what productive player exactly?
Battier has never averaged more than 30 minutes his entire career. He's a smart defender, but not good in the sense that he'll shut down anyone. He knows when to go for the passing lanes and get ya a steal, or knows when to provide weakside defense and maybe net you a block. But he's slow, and isn't very athletic. He gets burned on man to man defense because he's an athletic liability. His playoff numbers dwindles even more than the okay numbers he sports in the regular season. I like Battier because he makes the most out of his talent and has a solid work ethic. But he was never even a starter for the Grizz, and now you guys expect him to log more minutes, and suddenly become a lockdown defender. Battier would be a solid candidate for 6th man of the year every season, but he's not starter material.
If he's supposedly such a defensive presence, why hasn't he ever been named to any NBA all-defensive teams?
That is interesting that the reactions of Memphis and Houston are night and day. Memph is giddy and happy. Houston is tight lipped and very quiet. Maybe Houston is tight lipped right now b/c they know that fans and interviewers will ask why they made such a trade. In which CD, Morey, and/or Lindsey would not be able to tell because of "ongoing negotiations" regarding another chain reaction trade. The Rocket Brass must have something up their sleeve and will start talking once their blueprint is completed. It's just that this first part of their blueprint isn't very popular. We shall see...
He isn't looked at as much as the other guys, sort of like how Yao should have made the 1st or 2nd team.
Thanks McGrady. You just validated my point even more. Battier ain't a bad player, but he's not a player that will get your team to the Finals either.
You first get on the team by play first. Then you keep your name on the team through reputation and name. Face it, Battier ain't the all-world defender some of these guys make him out to be.
1) NO he is not best defenders in the league. You have absolutely no proof to back up that claim 2) Stro signed for the MLE exception last season. roughly for about 23mil total and 5mil a season over 4yrs. Battier's, who is 2 years older than stro, signed the same deal with Memphis but has 2 extra years left. 3) Battier is 28 soon to be 29. While Gay is a teenager he did play 2 years under Jim Calhon at Uconn. And lead a team with 4 first round picks in scoring. So, please stop acting as if Houston drafted Darko. No one is assuming he'll be ready for stardom next season but if Head can put 8ppg and 4ast why cant Gay improve upon that? 4) Traded for who? Howard has 3yrs and about 20mil left on his deal......who's gonna take that??? So please tell us where's all this money gonna from so houston can sign these top-notch free agent(s)???
Seems like you did not watch Dallas kill Memplhis. Battier did not seem like the defender we are trying to pretend he is. Stromile was not good but at least was an assurance in case we need somebody to play center. Now, if Yao is injured, who is the backup center? JH being traded? Are you kidding? There are not many GMs like CD or isiah on the league. Most GMs have brains.
As in you can get those so-called "stuff" from average guys like Brown and Griffin. So basically, the "stuff" that you covet aren't valuable to begin with right?
