If You are Cleveland and you could pick one Rockets ROLE player, who would you pick?

Yeah, it means West is on the bench and you have someone to cover Hedo or Rashard. However, Battier isn't going to give you a lot of offense and Scola would be a huge upgrade and would give you some low post scoring.

I voted Battier, just because I think if you slow down Hedo you probably win 2 more games, but Scola would be a great fit as well.

 

I'd say Wafer. The Cavs need instant offense. Wafer's got good size unlike most of the Cavs perimeter players. He's athletic, again unlike most of the Cavs perimeter players. LeBron could hit him for wide open threes a lot and Wafer would be the one player other than LeBron that could drive the lane for easy shots and get to the line.

 

Since i find this topic interesting, imma answer that question here in case you dont start a new thread.

As previously stated i'd pick Battier for the Cavs, for team need, defense, spacing, shooting and all the "intangibles." Also for Battiers effectiveness without the ball (delonte and Williams while good shooter are better rythym shooters, of the dribble shooters than strictly spot up shooters. Furthermore as Durvasa pointed out, I like having the option of lebron at the 4 and shane at the 3 along with the conventional lineup. Second option; Scola.

For the Magic, brooks is the no brainer option, seing as Jameer nelson is injured and Alston and Johnson are two horribly inconsistent shooters with little ability to create their own shot. Scola would again be the second option as the Magic could use a real pf and another low post scorer, especially when howard is resting or in foul trouble. Scolas ability to shoot and rebound would also help complement Howard when the do play together.
the duo of Peitrus, courtney lee makes selecting Battier moot.

For the Nuggets, i'd select shane battier. As the lakers series has shown, the nuggets desperately need a defensive stopper on the perimeter, another good spot up shooter for carmelo and billups to kick it out to, a strong calming influence on the court, smart basketball and level headedness. While Donte jones is a decent defender and scorer/finisher, he does not provide range/spacing by being a spot up shooter, 3 point threat nor is he an asset in shot selection, help defense or good ball movement. Second choice is a toss up between Scola and brooks, with brooks providing added depth scoring on the perimeter, behind Billups, JRSmith, while scola doing the same on the interior behind K.Martin. I guess if Scola would be the choice due just to the issue of depth.

For the Lakers, by far the easiest choice as they already have players to fill the roles of battier ie Ariza/sasha and Scola ie Gasol/Odom. With a glaring weakness at point guard, Brooks is the obvious choice. Second choice is going to be battier, just to throw a lineup of kobe, battier and ariza at the three perimeter spots (pg, sg, sf) in front of gasol odom or gasal bynum. It would hard to imagine Denver/orlando or Cleveland penetrating against that.

 

We always rape the Cavs... we deserve to take one of their players. LOL.. when's the last time the Cavs won a LEGIT game against us? I'm not trying to be biased... but over the last few years they have won 3 games I think since Mac was here... all 3 I believe were because of officiating (not saying that because we lost... but because of what actually happened in the games). This past year we all know Yao was blatantly taken out of the game by the refs, then when he came into the 4th Q, he raped everyone on the Cavs. I also remember a game this one year where Mac kept getting fouled on his 3 point attempts... it ended up a close game nonetheless.... but it was a trend where everyone kept getting fouled on jumpshots (I remember because there were so many airballs being made... followed by a fine after the game I believe). The third one I remember is the one here in Houston where LeBron got a call late when Yao was jumping straight up with his hands straight up and the Cavs went on to win by 1 or 2 points. LeBron is a not a factor right now though against THIS Rocket team whenever he plays against us... we're making him look like a scrub.

 

I don't understand what this post has to do with the thread topic.

 

Shane hands down.

Looking at how they scrambling around the 3 pointer line, leaving shooters open left and right, and they can't play Hedo and Lewis without fouling. Shane can be used everywhere on the floor. The difference will be day and night.

I don't understand how Scola is winning the poll. It's not about who's a better offensive player. Can Scola defend Hedu or Lewis? Those are the ones kill Cavs, all offense were started by pick and roll and ended by pick and roll. Big Z or Big Ben or Floppjao is no great interior defender, but DH12 isn't the problem, the Turkey guy is. Besides, can Scola defend Howard? I'd take Hayes over Scola in that match up.

 

Everyone has made good arguments for Shane. I don't think you can go wrong either way.

But my logic here is that despite the weaknesses on defense, 3 out of 5 games have been extremely close. Big Z and Sideshow Bob (2/5 of the starters, for you math geniuses) are non-existant threats on offense. I think Scola could make a bigger impact.

And I know I am basing this on this series alone. I'd have to see how this Cavs team plays against other contenders to change my mind.