Are you suggesting that using Artest primarily as a floor-space/3-point shooter is not a waste of his talent? Artest is shooting a good percentage from 3s, but he takes different types of shots from there. He likes to shoot off the dribble more. He's not comfortable getting the ball and in fluid motion putting it up. That's the type of player you want for floor-spacing.
I never said he wasn't solid, I'm just saying on a contender, he's a 20-25 min bench guy. Like James Posey except posey is a big shot taker and maker. We can talk about the intangibles and bbiq which are good, but there are times when players need to seize the moment. When team are closing on you out of control, u need to put the ball on the floor and get to the rack. When there is a fast break, it wouldn't hurt to fill the lane to receive a pass for a layup or dunk instead of stopping and spotting up. There are times when being unselfish isn't the correct basketball play.I like him, I just know what he is.
You may be right that he's ideally suited for 20-25 on this team, given our depth. I don't think anyone is really disputing that with a healthy Tracy and Ron Artest and good depth at PF, Shane Battier does not need to be playing 30+ minutes every night. It's your insistence that Artest has to start, and Battier has to come off the bench which I'm not sure about. I felt before the season that we should just start Artest, but I think there's a valid argument that Battier fits well with the starters because he's a better floor spacer, while Artest will be able to more fully take advantage of his talents with the second unit. In any case, Artest will get plenty of minutes alongside Yao and Tracy; I don't think that's really an issue.
Durvasa- another poster mentioned radman starts over odom even though odom is the better player. I said its because radman is a better spot up 3pt shooter and if odom was starting, that's wasting his talents. Plus when looking at la, they have 3 threats on the floor already and having 2 knockdown 3pt guys with the 2 bigs and kobe works better. In the rox case, artest is just as good from 3 as battier plus it allows scola or rafer to be option 4 or 5 which is what they should be.
Durvasa- I get it, but I think u start ur best players. I think with artest starting it takes the pressure off yao and tracy. Then it moves rafer up the option chart which isn't good either. It will work itself out, I just think having that 3rd option early gives the rox a better chance opening the game. I mean think about the 1st dallas game. Ron and Yao kept the game close early. Shane isn't doing that.
Shane's got great chemistry with Yao. He's always looking for Yao to re-post and is ready to shoot the three when it's kicked out to him. He also done a good job protecting the lane. That's three things he does that Barry brought none of. I'm glad to have Shane back out there.
I'm not going to derail this, but its not about yao. Its about who gives the rox the best chance to win whether that's yao touching the ball 30 times or 3. What happens when utah or la or boston front or just play pgysical with yao? Shane isn't the kinda player that will say, let me go to the basket. Instead, he will burn shot clock and then the team will have to force up a shot.
Shane is a beath of fresh air for us. He is a great teamate, a true professional. It is good to have him back.
