Battier did a good job on Melo. Melo was just super aggressive going to the rim last night and the refs were calling it in his favor. Great scorers are going to get their's but Shane made him work hard. Melo ate McGrady's lunch (understandable) and pretty much had his way with Ariza as well. I don't get the "Shane has lost a step on defense" talk. Never have all season. Nobody is hotter than Melo right now and Shane was right in his face all night. The few times Melo did genuinely get by him were with world class moves that nobody could have stopped. If Ariza had guarded Melo all night he would have had 45 points at least. I literally cringe every time Battier leaves the game and Ariza slides over to guard the other team's best wing player. The guy is so effing overrated as a defender it's funny. I'll take Chase's defense over Ariza's at this point. no joke.
As someone who doesn't watch the Rockets as closely as you guys do, I have to say I think you're being a little harsh on Ariza. Honestly, his D isn't at the level it was last season -- I don't think anyone denies this. That said, he's had to pick up a lot of the slack on offense. If Yao is in there, Ariza slides over to the 2nd option (possibly even third behind AB) where he's more comfortable. Right now you can physically see him trying to carry the team on his shoulders, and it's taking a lot out of him. Next year, when Yao is back (or some new star from the T-Mac money), you'll see the Ariza everyone expected. Until then, what you have is pretty good honestly.
He was not THAT bad. he was ok. decent defense.. better than usual. and Ariza gambles too much. Battier is just so much better than anyone.. The national media rates Ron and Trevor as fantastic defenders.. but heck. we rockets fans know that shane is just too good in comparison.. if only he can do more on offense. and anybody with insights on how good Thelfosha (that OKC guy. i hope i got the name right) is when compared to Shane?
Ariza was much better on defense last year. I know he's been very lackluster this year, but he may be tired from the increased minutes and offensive load. I'm glad we still have Shane for defensive purposes while Ariza's adjusting.
Shane did a great job lastnight. It won't show in the box score, but if you watched the game you'd know.
good points there. i hadn't really thought about how him trying to carry the offensive load might be hurting his defense.
Said a few times, its okay for a defensive big to be a nothing scorer, just be a tall guy on D getting points on putbacks. But any other position they have to have have potential as an 18 PPG scorer or they're trash. So 1 dimensional defense only applies to PF/C 6'9 and over, 6'8 and under you gotta come with the scoring and AND play D. Chuck Hayes....he's just a big out there playing other bigs, he's excused. Battier...OMG complete ZERO. They're the same thing, just one in the paint on the perimeter. Double standard.
I think when TMac comes back to the strating lineup Ariza should be the one to go to the bench. i think he should back up Shane and Bud back up TMac. I know RA likes to keep the rotation tight but i think we can run 10 deep in the regular rotation: Brooks/Lowery TMac/Bud Battier/Ariza Scola/Landry Hayes/Andersen Taylor and Cook behind the bench
T-Mac's defense on Carmelo was alright. It might've been even better than what it used to be, but his offense needs work. I think he just needs to shake off the rust, then he'll be back at a competitive level.
Sort of on the same topic, I hope you guys don't mind me asking this... I've only seen a few Rockets games, and I didn't see this lineup listed on 82games.com, but have you guys ever thrown out the Lowry-Ariza-Battier-Hayes-Landry lineup? Yeah, there are questions about the offense, but that might as well be dubbed the "You'd better stop us, because you aren't scoring" lineup. I swear, if you guys can get Yao back healthy next year and improve at the PG position (as you saw in my AB thread, I like him just not necessarily as a starter) you guys could be deadly. You guys have unreal versatility. EDITED TO ADD -- I've seen a few people say that TMac did a "decent job" on Melo defensively. No. No he didn't. He was horrible. Ariza did a "decent job" on Melo. Battier did an "absolutely frustratingly (for me) amazing job" on Melo. TMac got "abused" by Melo. You guys need to dump him ASAP because him stealing minutes that should be going to Budinger is a traveshamockery.
Trust me, MOST Rockets fans appreciate what Battier does for us. It's just that the minority that don't like him happen to be a very LOUD minority.
Battier is an excellent defender against the Melo and Bron types. Big, muscular SFs. However, his defense on Roy/Kobe quick SG types is only as good as the next defensive stopper. Although, I will say Battier is an excellent defender against PGs as well...even though there might be a speed mismatch... Battier's length and size advantage bothers the PGs a LOT. Rick Adelman only employs this strategy when the opposing SG can be contained by Brooks or Lowry.
I think Adelman is too afraid of what that lull in offense could do for the tempo of the game. I agree that defensively, you aren't going to get much better than that, but I have a feeling that things could get very ugly offensively. I'm having nightmares just thinking of all those clanged Ariza jumpers. And I agree. T-Mac wasn't "ok" on Carmelo....he was groin-kickingly BAD. I understand that he needs time to adjust to the game, and get back in shape, but he had no business guarding an MVP candidate this season.
What do you think we can get for him? Nene? Birdman? 1st round pick? Do the Nuggest even need a Battier type player now that you guys got Afflalo? He performs the same role and function that Shane does for the Rockets, but he's younger, cheaper, and cost A LOT less.
There is a player you might know named Derek Fisher. I believe he started for the Lakers last year. What about Bruce Bowen.
I have always loved Battier, he is a smart player, he works hard, and although he may not be a great offensive player, he is capable of hitting wide open shots and although he takes a lot of corner threes, most of them are wide open, might as well keep going to the corner if they continue to forget you're there. That being said, when Hayes is on the floor we have little offensive threat from 2 of our players, we basically have a 2 man defensive team and 2 man offensive team with Ariza as the guy trying to do both. I think that is why we are successful, we have some balance, but we need playmakers, we need a yao or a tmac in that mix to be a contender.
I noticed it too, Battier was a beast against Melo. When Shane went to the bench Melo started attacking without problems...
The worst is with all of this trade talk. I actually saw somebody suggest that instead of shipping out McGrady, we package Battier and Chuck Hayes. Really? Our two best defenders? Our two team captains? The guys who (along with Yao and Luis Scola) have basically defined what we are as a team and inspired the young players to work hard, hustle and play tough nosed d? It's just crazy. Honestly, if there are two guys on this team I hope I see retire as Rockets it's Battier and Hayes. And you know what? I'm saying it. If they retire here, I'm not so sure I wouldn't want their numbers retired. YEAH! I SAID IT!
