Easy, it was Jeff Van Gundy. Let me put it to you this way. Defensive effort isn't something guys instinctively keep up, unless they're defensive specialists and let's face it, teams aren't made up of defensive specialists...so you need someone who's going to be automatically devoted to defense to the point that they make sure everyone else is also devoted and therefore the team will consistently keep up their effort. JVG was that guy during those years, he shoved it downt heir throat so much their effort was always there. His final year was Shane's first here and shane picked up a lot of JVG's philosophy when it came to team D. That next year everyone worried the defense would take a hit with an offensive minded coach, but i clearly remember Adelman saying he wasn't going to tweak the D too much and the players were in agreement that they would pretty much carry over the same defense from last year. The players on the team talked about how it was shane and deke who pretty much kept them focused on it now that JVG was gone, and they have ever since. So it's not just about being one guy who everyone says has lockdown D. It's not just about having intangibles. It's not about being considered intelligent. It's about his devotion to being a leader on the defensive end and leading by example. You can throw out all the percentages and numbers you want, but the bottom line is you can't measure the spike in defensive effort he creates in his teammates when they see him not take one second off on each defensive posession. You think they are going to follow Ron? The guy who doesn't even put his hand up on a shooter half the time? The guy who pokes at the ball and then watches his man drive by? Yeah he has his defensive moments, but if he's leading then the team will have just that, defensive moments, not defensive games. If not Ron, then who will they follow? Adelman, the offensive coach? Brooks, Lowry, scola, landry, Yao?? Will they all get mic'ed up so Hayes can lead them from the bench??
Battier is the ultimate team player, given his college credentials, he should be shooting more than Artest. I believe the coach gives him the green light to shoot 20 shots a game, but he doesn't and sacrafices for the whole team. His 3s won a game for the Rockets against the Lakers. Chasing other team's best player isn't easy and takes a lot of energy on the offensive side. If we ever trade Battier, my love for the Rockets lose a little.
Do you think that the Spurs would seriously consider moving Bowen? My friends from San Antonio would laugh at you then tell you how important it is to have a player like that. This past series vs. the Lakers Kobe made some very difficult jumpers, didn't get into the lane as much as he would have liked to. T-Mac would resort to jumpers when he was tired in games and not drive the ball as much as we would have liked him to.. Kobe was making jump shots. Plus, Shane is by far our best player when it comes down to getting Yao the ball down low. I'll agree that his game is limited, much more so when Yao isn't in the game but when an opposing player from the opposing team looks across and sees Battier guarding him, most likely he is going to be in for long night.. Keep 'em
evreybody looks bad when passing to a guy who can't hold position alston looks like an excellent passer right now.
ridiculous thought.....battier is a guy every team needs.....I don't even want to start on my rant..not worth it..people have already said what I was thinking...
Hell must have just froze over!!!!!!!!!!! I said when I agree with anything you ever had to say, Hell would Freeze over! You are 100% right, i can't believe it, you need balance.
But not as a starter!! Battier has always been and will always be, a bench player. You need a player in that position that can at least keep the opposing players honest. Travis Outlaw would fit in well in Battier's position. He can hit the 3, he has a mid-range shot, plus he can penetrate. Here is to Battier for T. Outlaw and Channing Frye! Go Rockets
Hmm, as long as we're distorting reality I don't expect this debate to go very far. There's two sides to the floor and having a guy who can keep the opposing team's star wingman in control is vital. Besides, there's not enough ball to go around for 5 starters to average 15 ppg.
If you think Battier is better than Ron or T-Mac, I got some Enron stock I need to sell you. Whoa!! Better than T-Mac and Ron Ha, Haa ,Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!! Are you related to Battier or is this Shane Battier? Your not on any kind of drugs are you? That's a shane, uh shame.
Uh, I distinctively recalling JVG, T-Mac, and for that matter stating that they wish Shane would score more. He passes up too many shots. If he shoots more, it would open up the floor, so players like Yao and T-Mac would see less double teams. Basketball 101. If you recall in 2005 and 2006, T-Mac saw alot of high post double teams, other teams dared the Rockets to find someone else to score. No one else on the team could score. Defense is good but you have to make them respect you on the other end too.
Between the three players listed, Battier and Artest are the only two who give the rockets more possesions. Of those two, Battier is the one who is more likely to pass and create a shot for another player rather than take a shot. So yes, of three, Battier is better for OTHER rockets. All other things being equal, shot percentages of the three players listed, energy, and health, Battier is better than the other two if the other two AREN'T making their shots. Battier's impact on the team is constant over time and is only dependant on his health. Artest and McGrady are both dependant on health AND shooting percentages. So, averaged over time Battier has a greater positive impact per game as opposed to Artest and McGrady. McGrady and Artest both have the ability to take over a game and supplement their negatives on defense with their positives on offense, BUT, this is not always the case. As with age a shooter/offensive player loses touch. This is not always true of a defender. Defense is more contingent on knowledge of the game, so, as a defender gets older his ability to command on the defensive end does not necessarily go down SEE: Deke. Ultimately, Artest and McGrady are gamble players, not consistent ones. Gamble players don't win rings.
I'll say it again. It's easier to acquire scoring than to find a great defensive player like Shane. We have other assets we can use to find that scoring guard/wing we are lacking.
Bull**** thread yet do feel that Battier isn't what we made him out to be. Does anybody remember him as being called the third guy with Yao and TMAC. Hell they even had him on the cups at Toyota Center and having Bobble-Heads for him. He was really supposed to be the Ron Artest that we traded Rudy Gay for, and he just isn't but what he is a great smart teammate, and you need as much as you need top scorers. Battier Stays try somebody else.
Haven't read the thread, it's too long. But I'll just say NO, it's not time for this. The Rockets match up favorably against all of the teams currently playing, mostly b/c of Battier (or the Battier/Artest combo). Anthony, LBJ, and Bryant never seem to have their best games against the Rockets. LBJ in particular has played pretty bad against them, and I don't remember Anthony doing anything special recently off the top of my head. Seeing how easy Bryant and Anthony are having it right now really makes you appreciate Battier. Both are getting into the lane at will. The guy that really has it the easiest against Houston is Roy. But he needs screens to do it. And he seemed to tire out by the end of the series.
Yea Roy was quoted as saying he was exhausted by Battier and Artest. Again, I would consider moving him for the right player but moving him just to move him doesn't make ant sense.
Yeah let's get the guy who we just forced into 10 of 30 shooting in a series and was a complete non factor because if his shot aint falling he does JACK.....at least you know shane's D will show up every game..
