[SportingNews] Q&A with Battier

Spacemoth · Apr 10, 2009

LINK

Another eloquent performance off the court by Battier, about how we're trying to navigate the last three games of the year, if we prefer facing one team or another (you know he's gonna dance around that), how the team reacted after Tracy quit on us, err, "got injured", and what making the All-Defensive team means to him.

Sean Deveney said:

Q&A With Rockets forward Shane Battier

As the season winds down, one team trying to make a push into the Western Conference's upper seeds is Houston. The Rockets have overcome a slow start and the loss of Tracy McGrady to put themselves in position for homecourt advantage in the postseason's first round. Sportingnews.com's Sean Deveney got Shane Battier on the phone to talk about gearing up for the playoffs. SN: There's still a lot to be resolved for you guys in the last days of the season -- your seeding, your opponent. What are you hoping to accomplish down the stretch? Battier: The big thing is we have put ourselves into position to have homecourt advantage in the playoffs, which is huge for us. We have to hold onto that. And we want to get into the playoffs with momentum. We want to be playing at our best, at a high level when the playoffs start, so that's our focus. We've played well lately, but we can get better. So, it's just getting ramped up. SN: Are you looking at getting the third seed, maybe No. 2? Do you have goals as a team like that? Battier: In the West, it almost doesn't matter. You want to have homecourt, of course, but look at who you could have -- Portland or New Orleans or Utah. Any way it shakes out, you're playing a very good team. SN: The Rockets, as a franchise, have not been out of the first round of the playoffs since 1997. Is this the year? Battier: We hope. We're excited about our chances. But, then, we were excited about our chances before, but it didn't work out. We've been close, but we have not gotten over the hump. We feel if we can get out of the first round, there is a chance we can get on a roll, and go deep into the playoffs. But it's not going to be easy. It's not like the East, where you can look at the first-round matchups and pretty much pick the winners right away. SN: What did you think about Manu Ginobili's injury? Battier: Obviously, the first reaction is, you feel bad. You never want to see a player go down, especially a guy like Manu who is so important to his team and who is fun to watch and has so much fun playing the game. That definitely hurts them. But, look, it is the NBA. No one sends condolence cards, no one sends out get-well e-mails. We've had more than our share of injuries, and I can tell you, I haven't gotten any comforting calls or flowers from other players. SN: You guys had a bunch of injuries to start the year. That really seemed to hold the team back. Battier: In the first third of the year, our situation was so fluid. Tracy [McGrady] was out. Then Ron [Artest] was out. Then Yao [Ming] was out. We just had no identity as a team, because we were not able to piece together a lineup consistently. We lost a lot of games that, in retrospect, we should have won. We'd be in a better position now if we had. It's only really been since the first of the year, when we had sort of a break in the schedule, that we were able to play with consistency. SN: Tracy shut it down for the year, and, surprisingly, you guys started playing better. The simple explanation is, you're a better team without him. Battier: I don't believe that's true. First, Tracy was playing hurt, so he wasn't really himself out there. And I think what happened is, when Tracy finally went down, we had a talent deficit. Maybe we -- the other players around Tracy -- relied too much on Tracy's talent to bail us out. But when Tracy went down, we started to realize we had to overcome that talent deficit. We started playing harder, playing more together. We took it up a few notches. You can't say that's Tracy's fault. SN: Those of us in the media take a lot of heat from fans for not knowing what we're doing when it comes to voting for the league awards. But I was looking, and, as good as you are defensively, you've only made the All-Defensive team -- which is voted on by coaches -- once, last year. That was a surprise to me, that you haven't been on it more. Battier: My first two years in the league, I understood, because I was young and still learning. But after my third year in the league, I thought I had been playing pretty good defense and I still didn't make it. I was disappointed, but I said to myself, "You know what, if I let this bother me every year, I am going to set myself up for a lot of disappointment." So, I put it behind me and I honestly have not worried about it since. It would be great if it happens, but I think what happens is, if there are a few more stories in the paper about your defense, if there are more talking heads mentioning it on TV, your chances go up. SN: To me, the lesson is, the media aren't so bad at picking awards. Battier: No, you guys do a pretty good job at it.
Click to expand...

vlaurelio · Apr 10, 2009

you lumped it all together in 1 big paragraph?

SN: There's still a lot to be resolved for you guys in the last days of the season -- your seeding, your opponent. What are you hoping to accomplish down the stretch?

Battier: The big thing is we have put ourselves into position to have homecourt advantage in the playoffs, which is huge for us. We have to hold onto that. And we want to get into the playoffs with momentum. We want to be playing at our best, at a high level when the playoffs start, so that's our focus. We've played well lately, but we can get better. So, it's just getting ramped up.

SN: Are you looking at getting the third seed, maybe No. 2? Do you have goals as a team like that?

Battier: In the West, it almost doesn't matter. You want to have homecourt, of course, but look at who you could have -- Portland or New Orleans or Utah. Any way it shakes out, you're playing a very good team.

SN: The Rockets, as a franchise, have not been out of the first round of the playoffs since 1997. Is this the year?

Battier: We hope. We're excited about our chances. But, then, we were excited about our chances before, but it didn't work out. We've been close, but we have not gotten over the hump. We feel if we can get out of the first round, there is a chance we can get on a roll, and go deep into the playoffs. But it's not going to be easy. It's not like the East, where you can look at the first-round matchups and pretty much pick the winners right away.

SN: What did you think about Manu Ginobili's injury?

Battier: Obviously, the first reaction is, you feel bad. You never want to see a player go down, especially a guy like Manu who is so important to his team and who is fun to watch and has so much fun playing the game. That definitely hurts them. But, look, it is the NBA. No one sends condolence cards, no one sends out get-well e-mails. We've had more than our share of injuries, and I can tell you, I haven't gotten any comforting calls or flowers from other players.

SN: You guys had a bunch of injuries to start the year. That really seemed to hold the team back.

Battier: In the first third of the year, our situation was so fluid. Tracy [McGrady] was out. Then Ron [Artest] was out. Then Yao [Ming] was out. We just had no identity as a team, because we were not able to piece together a lineup consistently. We lost a lot of games that, in retrospect, we should have won. We'd be in a better position now if we had. It's only really been since the first of the year, when we had sort of a break in the schedule, that we were able to play with consistency.

SN: Tracy shut it down for the year, and, surprisingly, you guys started playing better. The simple explanation is, you're a better team without him.

Battier: I don't believe that's true. First, Tracy was playing hurt, so he wasn't really himself out there. And I think what happened is, when Tracy finally went down, we had a talent deficit. Maybe we -- the other players around Tracy -- relied too much on Tracy's talent to bail us out. But when Tracy went down, we started to realize we had to overcome that talent deficit. We started playing harder, playing more together. We took it up a few notches. You can't say that's Tracy's fault.

SN: Those of us in the media take a lot of heat from fans for not knowing what we're doing when it comes to voting for the league awards. But I was looking, and, as good as you are defensively, you've only made the All-Defensive team -- which is voted on by coaches -- once, last year. That was a surprise to me, that you haven't been on it more.

Battier: My first two years in the league, I understood, because I was young and still learning. But after my third year in the league, I thought I had been playing pretty good defense and I still didn't make it. I was disappointed, but I said to myself, "You know what, if I let this bother me every year, I am going to set myself up for a lot of disappointment." So, I put it behind me and I honestly have not worried about it since. It would be great if it happens, but I think what happens is, if there are a few more stories in the paper about your defense, if there are more talking heads mentioning it on TV, your chances go up.

SN: To me, the lesson is, the media aren't so bad at picking awards.

Battier: No, you guys do a pretty good job at it.
Click to expand...

Spacemoth · Apr 10, 2009

The same text as above but formatted. I really should preview my posts more.

SN: There's still a lot to be resolved for you guys in the last days of the season -- your seeding, your opponent. What are you hoping to accomplish down the stretch?

Battier: The big thing is we have put ourselves into position to have homecourt advantage in the playoffs, which is huge for us. We have to hold onto that. And we want to get into the playoffs with momentum. We want to be playing at our best, at a high level when the playoffs start, so that's our focus. We've played well lately, but we can get better. So, it's just getting ramped up.

SN: Are you looking at getting the third seed, maybe No. 2? Do you have goals as a team like that?

Battier: In the West, it almost doesn't matter. You want to have homecourt, of course, but look at who you could have -- Portland or New Orleans or Utah. Any way it shakes out, you're playing a very good team.

SN: The Rockets, as a franchise, have not been out of the first round of the playoffs since 1997. Is this the year?

Battier: We hope. We're excited about our chances. But, then, we were excited about our chances before, but it didn't work out. We've been close, but we have not gotten over the hump. We feel if we can get out of the first round, there is a chance we can get on a roll, and go deep into the playoffs. But it's not going to be easy. It's not like the East, where you can look at the first-round matchups and pretty much pick the winners right away.

SN: What did you think about Manu Ginobili's injury?

Battier: Obviously, the first reaction is, you feel bad. You never want to see a player go down, especially a guy like Manu who is so important to his team and who is fun to watch and has so much fun playing the game. That definitely hurts them. But, look, it is the NBA. No one sends condolence cards, no one sends out get-well e-mails. We've had more than our share of injuries, and I can tell you, I haven't gotten any comforting calls or flowers from other players.

SN: You guys had a bunch of injuries to start the year. That really seemed to hold the team back.

Battier: In the first third of the year, our situation was so fluid. Tracy [McGrady] was out. Then Ron [Artest] was out. Then Yao [Ming] was out. We just had no identity as a team, because we were not able to piece together a lineup consistently. We lost a lot of games that, in retrospect, we should have won. We'd be in a better position now if we had. It's only really been since the first of the year, when we had sort of a break in the schedule, that we were able to play with consistency.

SN: Tracy shut it down for the year, and, surprisingly, you guys started playing better. The simple explanation is, you're a better team without him.

Battier: I don't believe that's true. First, Tracy was playing hurt, so he wasn't really himself out there. And I think what happened is, when Tracy finally went down, we had a talent deficit. Maybe we -- the other players around Tracy -- relied too much on Tracy's talent to bail us out. But when Tracy went down, we started to realize we had to overcome that talent deficit. We started playing harder, playing more together. We took it up a few notches. You can't say that's Tracy's fault.

SN: Those of us in the media take a lot of heat from fans for not knowing what we're doing when it comes to voting for the league awards. But I was looking, and, as good as you are defensively, you've only made the All-Defensive team -- which is voted on by coaches -- once, last year. That was a surprise to me, that you haven't been on it more.

Battier: My first two years in the league, I understood, because I was young and still learning. But after my third year in the league, I thought I had been playing pretty good defense and I still didn't make it. I was disappointed, but I said to myself, "You know what, if I let this bother me every year, I am going to set myself up for a lot of disappointment." So, I put it behind me and I honestly have not worried about it since. It would be great if it happens, but I think what happens is, if there are a few more stories in the paper about your defense, if there are more talking heads mentioning it on TV, your chances go up.

SN: To me, the lesson is, the media aren't so bad at picking awards.

Battier: No, you guys do a pretty good job at it.
Click to expand...

LabMouse · Apr 10, 2009

Battier is just a smart person, and a high IQ NBA player. He is playing better right now on offensively, and also acts a good team leader, this team really needs him in the playoff run.

Rocket River · Apr 10, 2009

Battier getting interviewed all over the place now

Rocket River

LAYGO · Apr 10, 2009

I like watching BattMan doing the little things to keep the team on it's toes. Like that time everyone thought it'd be a full timeout, but Batt saw it was a 20sec & had the guys rallied to keep them alert. Also when he's organizing on D calling out assignments/plays/etc.

Totally love what BattMan does for the team!

Fyreball · Apr 10, 2009

Guys like Battier, Wafer, Landry, Lowry, and Hayes are going to have really provide a big spark if the Rockets want to make any noise in the playoffs. The fact that Battier has apparently found his shot over the last few weeks has really opened up the offense in a very noticeable way. Let's hope our role players like Wafer, Landry, Lowry, and Battier can continue to play at a high level.

ParaSolid · Apr 10, 2009

I'd like to hear what Shane really thinks about the Tracy situation. He's just so diplomatic that I can't really believe that what he says is what he's actually thinking.

Rocket River · Apr 10, 2009

I think Artest and Battier has FAR FAR more defensive chemsitry
than
TMac and Battier had Offensive Chemisty

Rocket River

durvasa · Apr 10, 2009

Battier has been as aggressive as he's ever been since the recent break in the schedule. He's got his shooting stroke back on the 3-ball. But, interestingly enough, we've lost most of his high scoring games.

ringin08 · Apr 10, 2009

Battier will be much more appreciated when the Rockets wise up and make him the 6th man. He may even win 6th man of the year then....at least he will be in the discussion.

buzz1701 · Apr 10, 2009

durvasa said:

Battier has been as aggressive as he's ever been since the recent break in the schedule. He's got his shooting stroke back on the 3-ball. But, interestingly enough, we've lost most of his high scoring games.
Click to expand...

Yes...he finally got his shot back. I was ready to run him outta town earlier in the year, he sucked on offense. But since the allstar break he's been much much better. I love it.

tiger0330 · Apr 10, 2009

durvasa said:

Battier has been as aggressive as he's ever been since the recent break in the schedule. He's got his shooting stroke back on the 3-ball. But, interestingly enough, we've lost most of his high scoring games.
Click to expand...

That is odd. Yao, Artest and Battier were having good games yesterday against the Kings but the Kings still kept it close until the Rox tightened up the D. Now that he's got his stroke back, I'd like to see Artest give up some of his shots to Battier and for Battier to think shoot first rather than passing when he has an open look.

AstroRocket · Apr 10, 2009

ParaSolid said:

I'd like to hear what Shane really thinks about the Tracy situation. He's just so diplomatic that I can't really believe that what he says is what he's actually thinking.
Click to expand...

And yet, at the same time, he still gives you a little bit more info than the average player interview. It's a weird dynamic.

Spacemoth · Apr 10, 2009

I do like how Battier's been peaking at the right time. If I didn't know better I'd have guessed he was a San Antonio Spur--

unathletic,
unselfish,
always with his head in the game,
never out there to get his own stats,
starts off slower every year,
but by the end you'll know he'll be just as good as he always is.

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[SportingNews] Q&A with Battier

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