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Shane Battier should be stepping up

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Ehsan, Dec 21, 2006.

  1. Ehsan

    Ehsan Member

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    I understand that Battier does the little things that helps a team. But right now, we're missing the big things: scoring and rebounding.

    Battier has been bad all season with his rebounding. 4 rebound sin 37 minutes is abysmal. Our team's wins are closely correlated with rebounding advantage.

    During T-Mac's 5-game absense, he has done nothing to help this team win but assist Luther with baskets in the Clippers win.

    His numbers in the last 5 games:

    7.6ppg, 5.4reb, 4 of 6[/]ft's (66.6%), 13 of 33FG's (39.3%), 8 of 19 3's (42%) and 3.6 assists to 2.2 TO's in 39.24 minutes per game.

    Absolutely ridiculous that he can't put up 10 points on a semi-decent % in 39.24 minutes a game. Can't go to the line more than 6 times in 5 games. So let's assume his role is not to go to the basket but shoot 3's. He's taking 3.8 per game, which is slightly less than his season average. He makes the best % there, so maybe he should take more of those.

    All I know is, with the way this team is desperate for scoring... Battier has shown he CAN go to the line more, he CAN score more, he CAN rebound better... He's done it throughout his career. This team is no different than Memphis - dominant big guy, everyone else is mediocre, needs a 3rd scorer.

    As I mentioned, about the only time he's stepped up to help this team during these tough times is his 7 assists against the Clippers. I know he does the little stuff, but he always does the little stuff. Luther is stepping UP. Yao is stepping UP. Hell, even Rafer has stepped UP, although that seemingly wasn't too difficult. Battier is the kind of guy who you expect to step up when a team is in need. When things get tough in the playoffs, is he going to dissapear?

    Right now, he's playing like a slightly better Ryan Bowen.In fact, if you project Bowen's 04/05 numbers to 38 minutes a game, all Battier has on him is 3pt shooting.

    The little things are great when that's all we're missing. How about stepping it up, and giving us some big things while one of our two big stars is out?
     
  2. Seven

    Seven Member

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    Shane plays the game very well. If there's an open shot...take it. If not...don't take it. He's not the type of player who could do that on a team like the rockets. Memphis is was way deeper than us and had a very nice passing game. Everything did not revolve around Gasol like it does with Yao in Houston. Yeah he needs to step it up on the scoring, but what else more do you want from him in the rebounding department? He plays the three not the four or five...5.4 is acceptable. He tips the ball to others alot during the game if you haven't noticed...If you were watching the games, I can't see why you would question his game. If you want to quesiton anyone's game...question Bonzi's Game. Question Alston's Game....but don't mess with Citizen Shane :D
     
  3. aussie rocket

    aussie rocket Member

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    Battier has never really been one to be able to create his own , just a very good complimentary offensive player who can make the open ones.

    As as team we need to hit the offensive glass more. Say what you want about how having Tmac out hurts Hayes scoring chances - but needs to make something for himself by using that nose he has for boards and getting some cheap ones.
     
  4. Ehsan

    Ehsan Member

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    Same old stuff. He was a better scorer and rebounder in Memphis. If they had more depth, that means they had less shots than a Mcgrady-less Rockets team. Which makes it worse.

    This thread is not about him tipping the ball to other people or jumping on the floor. He always does that. Just as we expect Yao to carry this team with his scoring, rebounding and shotblocking, we expect Shane to do all those things.

    This thread is about Battier stepping up. He CAN do better. He has shown it in the past. He just isn't. Take more shots. I'm sure there are more than 6 shots per game to take on a Mcgrady-less Rockets, even if you're not a good creator. Is Luther a cretor? Not really.

    Battier is doing what wopuld be required of him if McGrady was playing. It's a different situation. Adjust Shane. Give us more.

    Alston is not playing below expectations. He's doing better than last season. Bonzi wasn't even expected to be with the team a few games ago. Regardless, in the last 2 games, he brought something important. 12 points against the Clips, and 6 rebounds against the Blazers. That's more than I expect from someone who would not be playing if we weren't absolutely desperate without Snyder and T-Mac, and with Spanoulis/Novak not getting it yet.

    This is about more. Stepping UP while other players are out. It's usually the players who step up in these situations (team is ailing) that show up in the playoffs as well. Not looking good for Battier right now. He's dissapeared every time he's made the playoffs. I'd hate to think that the problem wasn't Memphis, it was Battier. People have speculated that he dissapears in the playoffs because... Well, when the playoffs arrive, EVERYONE is tipping rebounds, EVERYONE is flying into the seats, EVERYONE is playing tough defense, and EVERYONE is diving for loose balls.

    Battier does a good job with Yao and T-Mac together. But he's been a glorified Ryan Bowen out there since T-Mac's been out.
     
  5. ClutchCityReturns

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    So much for that article about JVG asking Battier to take a bigger role in the offense. It seems like he's actually assumed a diminished role instead.
     
  6. Red Chocolate

    Red Chocolate Member

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    Alston is a big black hole at the PG. Yao, Head, Hayes, and Battier are the only untouchables on the Rockets right now, IMO.

    Battier is definitely not the problem. He rarely makes mistakes, and that is huge in itself. If Battier can hit that elbow 3 with consistency he will be a huge force. Another problem for Battier is that often the passes that go to him in the wing are too low or off-center, which disrupts his timing.
     
  7. sun12

    sun12 Member

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    If Battier does not step up, this team is exactly like the team last year with both T-mac and Snyder out, and Bonzi not playing well.

    Luther is not a starter defensively. Chuck will have problems with good PF.
     
  8. watashi315

    watashi315 Member

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    I agree with some of the above comments. I think Battier should definitely take on a bigger role now that Snyder and TMAC is out. He can do the spot-up 3s just as well as any player on the roster (yes, Head included), hit the midrange jumper, and that lil' deadly hook shot which he can create for himself down low. No doubt he can contribute MORE to this team than he is doing now. So now people are asking, why isn't he?

    I think his biggest flaw (if you can call it a flaw) is that he's too much of a "thinker" -- a little too careful and efficient with the ball. Thus, making him the ultimate role player. He normally doesn't go beyond or below what's asked of him. If MAC is healthy and Bonzi is back to old form, then "role player" Battier is just the right fit for this team. But with a few key players out and a potential contributor slowly coming around, we need him to play with more passion like he has shown in flashes back in Memphis.

    We've lost a few games recently but not by wide margins. I think Battier can make the difference and tip this team over to the W column. I'm sure this same thing is going over in JVG's head at the moment. Let's see how to handle San Antonio.
     
  9. solid

    solid Member

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    Offensively, he has been a disappointment. He seems to miss alot of open shots at critical times. Not what I expected.
     
  10. yaominn

    yaominn Member

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    the bottom line is we cannot afford to have TWO starters only play defense, especially when TMac is out:

    last night, hayes 0 pt, battier 2 pt
     
  11. Jerry36

    Jerry36 Member

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    Quit making excuses. Battier is a little too passive for me. This is the same guy that talks about doing the things that help his team win ball games. One of the things he left out is called offensive production. Two points is not going to cut it for a guy that's starting. It just seems to me Battier has a lot more to offer and he's holding back for some reason.
     
  12. kokopuffs

    kokopuffs Member

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    Seriously, Battier needs to man up. Shooting 39% is inexcusable, it puts him in Rafer-territory.
     
  13. Rasselas

    Rasselas Member

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    Here's a thought experiment. What if Shane plays exactly the same way he plays right now....except he's not a very nice guy, inarticulate, and bad with the press?

    There's a tendency to give Battier a pass because he's such a "super duper" guy.

    Again, if he played exactly the same way he's playing now but was sort of a jerk off the court, we'd all be booing him and pining for Rudy Gay.
     
  14. HillBoy

    HillBoy Member

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    Well he is exactly what I expected. I also suspect that this lack of offense is why Jerry West was open to making the trade for Rudy Gay because of Gay's upside at the offensive end of the court. He's a great guy and all that but at the end games during crunch time I've noticed that he becomes the invisible man on offense. A look at his numbers gives some very telltale information:

    Shane is averaging 37.1 minutes per game in playing time but is averaging only 8.6 points per game which is extremely poor. In last night's game he played 37:20 minutes and scored 2 points in a 2 point loss. For the record, his counterpart at the 4, Chuck Hayes, played 19 minutes and scored 0 points while Juwann Howard played 26:51 minutes and scored 8 points. I'm not trying to bash Shane because he is what he is - a complimentary player. What I am pointing out is that they (Rockets) have to start getting more offensive production from their front line players if they have any hope of competing in the West which, in case anyone else noticed, is loaded with very good players at the 4.
     
  15. durvasa

    durvasa Member

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    Battier is a favorite of Daryl Morey and other "stat guys", so I don't know about that. He's consistently amongst the most efficient player in the league and always has a great +/- over the course of a season. People who value those type of numbers will like him regardless of his personality.
     
  16. wingz0

    wingz0 Member

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    Yes, he's great on the stats, but he also disappears when the pressure mounts. He's done it in Memphis, he's doing it here in Houston.

    I respect the guy for the little things he does to help the team win, and I can't call out his heart for all the dives and charges he takes.

    But the man needs to grow some balls. Break the play and score if the opportunity is there. You're an NBA player dammit.

    His problem is that he's TOO MUCH of a team player.
     
  17. rv2843

    rv2843 Member

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    Battier is known as role player and does little things here and there, and plus invisible contribution. I guess scoring is not a little or invisible thing, so it doesn't fall into Battier's capability. :rolleyes:
     
  18. Rocket River

    Rocket River Member

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    Interesting commentary

    Rocket RIver
     
  19. Sofine81

    Sofine81 Member

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    Solid post.

    Question, What if the draft day trade had not gone down at all? Do you think JVG would be playing Gay more than V-span and Navak?

    I like Shane, but I would rather have a more effective scorer with T-mac out. Which poses another question. Do we have the worst leadership in the NBA?
    Didnt they do their homework and realize that Tracy has completely convinced himself he is a year or two from retirement? We needed the 8th pick to be a future leader on this team.
     
  20. professorjay

    professorjay Member

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    I agree w/ what most people have said here. I've had several posts hoping for more offense from him for awhile now. Especially now, we can't count on Yao to outscore the opposing team by himself. And I'm not crazy about Alston taking it upon himself to be the second option. I'd rather have a team effort as our second option. Whether they like it or not, in Tmac's abscence everyone needs to step up a little more. And I think Battier has the most to offer in taking more shots.
     

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