I hate everything about this thread. Give an appreciation thread for someone who is under appreciated. But everyone knows why the hell battier is in the starting line up and what he does, yeah it's nice to have, and most players are lazy and don't do it, and I love having a defender out there who can give guy fits, but he doesn't deserve and appreciation thread because you ask any rockets fan why battiers on the team and starting and EVERY ONE will tell you the same thing. sorry battier just seems like a gift and a curse to me. I love having the guy on the team, i dunno maybe it's just cause he's a nerd
that's a weak position. Battier deserves credit (& this thread) because he has contributed, big time. if we're only gonna give credit to unsung players, when and/or where will we give deserving players their due? why do some "fans" have problems giving it up for true Rocket competitors? 'cause "he's a nerd" in some simpleton's deranged brain?... please. 12 straight baby! deal ...
What people don't appreciate about Battier is that they think guys like him are easy to find. That's just not true. If you think you can name 5 guys in the NBA who could do what Battier does for us, and whom we could realistically acquire without giving up one of our franchise cornerstones, you're not watching the games closely enough. Other role players are "like" Battier in the same way Clyde Drexler was like Michael Jordan.
I love Battier. I hope he will retire as a Rocket. I have said from day one that I loved the trade, and I don't regret it one second. Battier is perfect for this team.
Shane is great, but when we had Shane and Chuck and the poorly shooting Rafer it was terrible for the team. Now that we have Scola and Landry and Rafer becoming an above average point now we can see the beauty of having a Shane Battier on this team.
Battier does all the intangible things so well that they become tangible I really hope this isn't the first "appreciation" thread for him?
See I agree, and I'm not a hater, it's just like when you said he has contributed, big time. No. He's contributed. Tmac has contributed big time, the 2 headed monster at our 4 position, they've contributed big time. Battier has umm contributed. And that's exactly why I hate threads like this, because people over hype Battier's contribution. Please, I appreciate it, I just hate it when it's over hyped, but also I would hate it if it got no love. I'm confusing.
That was a fine post until you said Battier was the MJ of role players. Really?? Maybe if he could put up 20 a game then he'd be an elite role player (oxymoron?) And you put some hellu constraints on proving Battier's value to the team by basically restricting it so I can't name anyone. Just because we can't acquire anyone else without giving anyone up I'm suppose to bend over backwards for Battier and appreciate his amazing play? that's a horrible argument. But again, I love having Battier on our team, I just get irritated and when people over hype him, I should probably just shut up.
One thing I posted over and over again last year (and was largely ignored) was that Shane Battier is consistently one of the league leaders in Win Shares while almost never getting a Loss Share. Early this year, it wasn't looking so good. Battier had about 5 WS and 3 LS. I checked today, and he's now up to 16 WS and still at 3 WS. It's certainly possible for him to get into the top 20 in WS, yet again. Shane Battier is without question, one of the most consistent players in the league. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/battish01.html For reference, Rudy Gay's link: http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gayru01.html
Battier might not be as good of a scorer than Rudy Gay or Thabo Sefolosha but I can guarantee you that he's a way better defensive player. A constant professional, and the "glue" guy. Rudy Gay as of now, is only a scorer. His defense doesn't impress me much. Do you think he could defend Brandon Roy like Shane did? Thabo is a much better defender than Gay and has an all around game. On a team like the Rockets, I think Battier and Sefolosha are much better choices than Rudy Gay. Unless TMAC gets injuried.
