Are you still sure about that after watching your boy Battier look completely lost last night on offense against the Lakers? Oh, yeah I forgot - Battier has defense (which is overrated) and "intangibles" that Rudy can't bring.
I would venture that after being in the league as long as Battier has, that Rudy Gay would be able to play defense at an above average level. Battier's defense is one of the NBA's biggest urban legends.
his one-on-one defense is overrated, but his team defense is beyond reproach - watch the job he did in the second half last night. He was superb on that end of the floor.
Battier can't create his own shot. He can't haddle the ball. He doesn't get rebounds. He doesn't get steals. He's not a shutdown defender. Battier is a good role player that can shoot the three from the corner, a good help defender, takes charges and can occasionally post up smaller players. While he is a decent player unlike another starter on our team, he's very overrated by his coaches and this board. Battier has won exactly 3 playoff games in his career and they were all from last years playoffs. Last year was also the only year where his stats didn't dramatically decline during the playoffs. As I've said before, Battier is the anti Robert Horry.
That makes it even worse. Not only did they pass him up, they didn't want him to begin with. Portland was never going to select Jordan - does that absolve them?
Yes. Because it's truly amazing that Memphis teams led by Miller and Gasol haven't had nearly the same success as those Lakers/Rockets/Spurs teams featuring Shaq/Kobe, Hakeem/Drexler, and Duncan/Manu/Parker. If only Robert Horry played on those Memphis teams, we'd be talking championships in that town right now...
Horry doesn't shrink in the playoffs like Battier. Horry makes his presence known when things count where as Battier blends into the crowd. Horry>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Battier 7 rings >>>>>>>>>>>>>> 3 playoff wins and 16 playoff losses
I don't mean to go tinman on you but I can't resist. <object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GHkArsWPZbg&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GHkArsWPZbg&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>
Oh yes. Because we obviously know what Battier's made of after 19 playoff games. It's not as if playing 229 playoff games, on some of the most talented teams in the NBA, has anything to do with the fact that we have so many Horry-as-hero footages or anything. Rockets, Lakers, Spurs championship teams >>>>>>>>>>> last year's Rockets >>>>>>>>>>>>>> any team in Memphis history. See, I can play the same game. Even if we go by your logic that playoff means everything, Battier has shot better than Horry, while scoring 0.5 ppg less, and 1 rpg less. Yes, I can see your point Horry is obviously much better than Battier. I don't want to sound like I'm bashing Horry, because I will always root for the guys on our two championship rosters... even Kenny I-hate-the-Rockets-now Smith and even Charles freaking Jones. But it's annoying how people overrate Horry.
It is downright ridiculous to compare Shane Battier the Houdini to one of the best role player performers in the last decade or so. Robert Horry's career stats in every single category goes UP in the playoffs. Shane Battier's career stats in every single category goes DOWN in the playoffs. Actually I take it back. It is not ridiculous to compare the two. It is actually a good example of what is expected from your role players if you want them to play a role in winning championships.
The sixteen playoff losses were in Memphis. And last year, everybody, esp. Tmac, was taking it easy in the playoffs - I believe there was a report that they were laughing after losing Game 6 in Utah.
I don't know why everyone would prefer Rudy over Shane. Shane may be eight years older and not as athletic or as good a defensive player but Battier is a solid role player as a spot up shooter and does play good defense. And he is scoring 8 pts per game at 39% and 33% from 3 pt range. And it's not as if Rudy will make the All-star team prior midseason. Whereas with T-Mac being injured Bonzi won't take Shane spot in the starting lineup for a couple weeks.
