Are you kidding me? Battier is one the best perimeter defenders in the league, has a good shot, a high basketball IQ and is a good all-around NBA pro. While I agree we didn't get quite enough back in this trade, it is a good solid deal.
Exactly all these "from the get go" Morey haters want to put this crap on him now. This isn't a moneyball move. Everything points to CD and JVG, it's in their frickin history. We don't know about Morey's MO just yet. I refuse to pin this nonsense on him when I have a strong feeling he was probably the only one objecting.
According to 82games, Battier has a net PER of 1.1. So while he is only putting up average numbers, the person he is guarding is doing even less. I expect his PER numbers to go down with the Rockets, but so should the PER numbers of the person he is guarding. With Battier, TMAC, and Yao, the Rockets will most likely win the PER battle at 3 of the 5 positions. Positions to be determined. I don't like putting a single number on a player, but PER seems to be the best out there at this time. Battier will come in make a few shots a game at a high percentage. Battier only attempted two threes a game in Memphis. He will not turn the ball over and will cause his man to turn the ball over. Protecting the ball may not be a high profile attribute, but Yao or Tracy should get an extra shot a game due to Battier. Battier is to Swift as Gay is to Griffin. Gay is not guaranteed to be anything. Gay has a higher ceiling, but Battier is a solid starter. I don't like giving up the depth in Swift since Deke is getting old and has been for a while. I wish the Rockets would have gotten a 2007 pick or Mike Miller out of the deal as well. The Rockets need a point guard (backup or starter) and a backup 4/5 and have assets maybe to get one. I don't like this trade, but it seems this board has turned into bbs.StevenASmithfans.net with the hyperbole. BGattier is a solid player and I'm happy to have him. Hopefully people won't hold who the Rockets gave up for him against him because he is a solid player.
I feel sorry for Battier. He's going to come to Houston and be "the guy that cost us Gay." Under other circumstances, Houston would love that guy -- good character, good lockerroom, leadership qualities, experienced, size, ironman, high percentage shooting, great defense, decent rebounding, and so on. But, fans won't forget that he cost us so much to get. The rest of his stint here, he'll be compared to the production of not only Gay and Swift, but everyone else we passed over like Brewer, Marcus Williams, Carney, etc.
I like Battier. Compare him to whoever you want. But as for me, I'm thinking of the JYD himself, Mario Elie. So that's cool. I like it. I'm happy he'll be a Rocket. And I hope he'll become the lock-down defender, spot-up, open-shot shooter I think he should be in this system. But I think the Rockets over-paid for his services. And where/how are we gonna land a back-up center?
it may not be a certainty, but it is a good possibility. we need to take risks like that if we are to ever become a great team instead of getting scared and grabbing a player that seems "safer."
i think the mario ellie comparison is a good one. tough guy like that can only help. he doesn't complain. i doubt gay would be able to contribute much next season anyway so i see this as a safe gamble. i was only slightly more in favor of keeping gay but i think battier will help quite a bit.
The guy on 610 am went with some 82games.com stats this morning. Battier, Eddie Jones, and Pau Gasol had the highest +/- ratings on the Grizzlies last year, with Battier leading by at least 2 points. (8.5, 6.8, 4.7). That means that his presence on the court had the biggest differential for the Grizzle last year. His impact is clearly greater than what 10 ppg / 5rpg would show. Why? Because he does all of the little things right. He doesn't make stupid mistakes, he plays defense very well, and he doesn't turn the ball over. Battier is also a good fit for the Rockets. How long have we been dreaming of having a good defensive perimeter player that could also shoot the spot-up jumper well? Seems like forever to me. Did I mention that he isn't going to be fighting for a bigger share of the ball and knows what his role is? I'll take a high b-ball IQ player over some random athlete any day. Btw, for those who wish we had gotten Mike Miller instead? He managed to outscore his competition by 7 points, but his team was a net -4.7 points when he was on the floor. Make no mistake guys. We just picked up one of the top 3 most effective players on Memphis's team - and definitely picked the one that would contribute the most to ours. Pau Gasol would be the 3rd option in Houston, and not nearly as effective as he is.
no, I'm trying to like battier, but rodney mccray was a ball handler who actually could run the offense for you.
As stated many times, Shane is a GREAT guy and a great fit for our team, but at a very high price. And this move leaves us stranded like fish out of water, with no trading assets and no exceptions to boot. We're dead, with a huge hole in PF (Personally I think putting both Battier and Tracy on the floor somewhat lessens the SG problem, if not solving it). Now we desperately need Mike James, and maybe Alston can fetch us a decent PF. TEs anyone?
For the doubters, Battier is a very efficient spot-up shooter, and darn near automatic with his baseline 3-pointers. I'd say his primary offensive weakness would be below-average ball handling ability and the fact that he isn't a slasher-type player. But what he can do, he can do very well. On the offensive side, he is a very good post-up player and efficient 3-point shooter. On the defensive end, he's one of the top players in the league at his position. I don't expect him to have success guarding small and very athletic shooting guards like Dwayne Wade, but other than those exceptions, he will be very efficient in guarding the opposing team's best player and should relieve T-Mac of a good deal of defensive pressure. Even though we paid too high a price for him, we did give our team a significant upgrade here. Also his presence on the team allows us to matchup very well when teams go small (he can play the 4 fairly well and still space the floor for Yao). JVG must be delighted. I'm looking forward to seeing what they do with the MLE.
