I don't think he can keep up and effectively guard the better 2's in this league and I don't think offesensively he is a 2 because it looks like he can't create his own shot or nor does he have a quick release so if he's a three, why do we need to trade gay with his potential to be at least josh howard, prince or even marion and swift for tmac's backup.. or is tmac going to 2 and chase opposing teams sgs around? or is he the 3 pt shooting four we need? and cd and jvg use his defense as a justification, didn't jvg say get some one who can score and teach him defense..
To slow for the 2. To skinny for the 4. Shane might be able to guard a bad 4 like Juwan or a bad 2 like Head.
He is our starting PF. We are spreading the floor for Yao Ming. McGrady will spend some time defending the longer 4's, alternating with Yao on the Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett types (now that foul trouble is not a problem for Yao).
Battier is a natural 3. He can guard 2's and 4's though, which is his main defensive asset. Unfortunately aside from Yao there is no one else on the inside to back Battier up, at least in Memphis, there was a bevy of power players who played defense (read: a bunch of PFs not named Juwan Howard)
Yep, he's on our team now whether we like the trade or not, so we may as well start trying to figure out how to use him best. I think he can guard the smaller 4's which have become the norm lately. Sort of like when Horry played the 4 in the 2nd championship year.
Ruh roh. Yao will foul out with all the cutters flying past the perimeter defenders and going to the rim.
Battier can play all 3 positions. He's tall enough and strong enough to guard almost all of the 4's in the game and he is a good enough back court defender to guard almost all of the 2's in the game.
Hmmm...not a bad idea. That will be stealing a page from Phoenix. I really like the idea of spreading the floor with his at the 4 and Mac and the 3. Now if can only find a reliable 2 I will feel so much better. I just trying to look at this now in a positive light since there is little we can do now - Jerry West has popped the champagne - the deal has all but been sealed so we must find a way to love our new bride. Bring on Battier - a nice teammate - a solid pro.
I think Shane gives us some good flexibility. He is a good face the basket player, and at 6'8 225, he is only an inch shorter that Slowmile and only a few pounds lighter. I think he could play a little 4 and create mismatches ala Suns & Mavs small ball. I am a little curious how this could pan out. I like his tough physical play and his Sura demeanor. He is a player who will play with some attitude and desire (so lacking with Slowmile). I am a proponent of not judging a baller just based on his "length" and "wingspan". Shane could be a baller for us, and motivate and rub off on Yao and McGrady who are a little to passive sometimes for my taste.
