The Skinny: Shane Battier scouting report

well lets get Gay back then why dont we?

dude. get over it. People are acting like we traded away d.wade...

 

If you were jumping for joy with the Stromile signing, you obviously didn't watch alot of basketball. Every knowledgable basketball fan knew he wasn't going to be a significant contributor, he just provided us with some athleticism, shot blocking and finishing around the basket. Worth his price for the MLE.

Battier, on the other hand, was one of the best defensive SF and PF's in the league last year statistically speaking (http://www.82games.com/0506/05MEM9C.HTM). On average, those two positions shot about 44.8% against him last year. He was actually a worse defender in the 2004-05 season when he played the 2 and 3 guard, as opposed to the 3 and 4 guard in the 2005-06 season. Battier is NOT someone we can put on Kobe or Jason Richardson, but that's not what we traded him for. Alternate him and McGrady at the 3-4 and we should be fine.

I've read MemphisX's post on BBB.net, and none of them are very logical. They are driven by homerism for the most part. Outside of the Grizzlies it gets even worse, the guy still thinks Eddy Curry is the next coming of Shaq. Sure, he loves Gasol now, but if the Grizzlies sent him to Minnesota as part of a KG deal he would talk about Gasol being no better than Al Harrington.


While Memphis may have dominated us in this deal, we still have two players Pau Gasol and Rudy Gay (most likely) won't compare to on any level. Take solace in that, if nothing else.

 

I am also concerned when I hear TMac can't guard SGs becuase of his back. That means Battier will be either giving up inches to PFs or riding the pine behind TMac. Ugh...

 

Gay aint coming back.

I don't think Gay is the next DWade. Without the trade, the Rox might not have even selected Gay.

We need a starting 2 and better depth. We got a backup 3 and lost depth.

Stop trying to blow sunshine up my *ss

 

but you're trying to discredit him based on nothing. as much heat as he catches on this board for being a memphis fan, he's actually pretty knowlegable. appreciate the knowledge of someone closer to battier than you are.

 

Can he make a pass into the post? What are those passes called again? The ones that Horry is great at?

 

I look at it this way... At least, in Houston, Battier will finally be on a team that will win a playoff game before he retires.

 

i agree 100%.

thats why hopefully we're not done. Add M.james if possible or a CHris Wilcox. Maybe even a shooter like Rush to add depth.

This is more like a 2 yr project.

 

I'm not trying to discredit him based on nothing. I'm pointing out that the scouting reports of other Memphis fans that I've read around the internet are very different.

 

Writing complete sentences with correct grammar doesn't make a person knowledgable.

 

well no one said he was the next dwayde.. its more probable that he be the next t price or josh howard or even shaw marion..

the problem is what we get in return.. battier..

is battier's value > then stro and gay combined?

 

That's my concern too. We didn't pick up a starting 2, we picked up a med-starting 3. IMO, Battier can't guard the 2 so that puts TMac there. If he can't guard the 2 or really doesn't want to guard the 2. We have Head and Rafer as our backcourt. And who else do we have to play back there? No one. Those 2 better hang on for 48 minutes for 82 games - and that won't be pretty.

We are still thin in the backcourt and now were are thinner in the frontcourt, but we did find a 5 year replacement for Rybo.

 

we gave up too much, yes i agree, but who is to say that we aren't receiving another player or a TE via a third team? There is no way swift is staying in memphis. Fratello hates that guy.

but there is the FA market to look at also. Wilcox/Evans/Ely/James/Rush, ect...

it's not the end of the world. Hey look at the bright side, at least we kept luther

 

Well he'll fit right in on the Rockets. Even our young guys break down and play like they're in their 30's rather than their 20's.

 

For those defending Battier, how many of his games have you actually watched, and of those did you really watch him? I'm not trying to challenge anyone, I just want opinions of those who have really seen him play.

If Battier does have a lateral quickness problem can't guard SG's then this trade does set us back. Every contender besides Phoenix has some type of player like that (Howard/Harris, Manu, Wade, Rip) and we don't need Tracy trying to contain them.

One thing stuck out about Memphis X post and using my common sense it would seem to be accurate. Since Shane has been their the Grizz did bring in Posey and E.Jones. That doesn't bode well for a "defensive stopper".

And he is right about another thing...going to the playoffs and landing a top draft prospect is better than going to the lottery and landing a role palyer.

 

Read Justice's article in the Chronicle...

This is not that bad of a trade. While at first glance it is very suspect, it gets rid of Swift while bringing in a player who is ready to contribute immediately. We are NOT rebuilding. We are trying to win now. Sometimes you have to sacrifice young potential for proven (albeit declining) talent. This is a playoff push for the '06 season. The trade still leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth, but I can see CD's logic and it may pay off.

 

I'm interested to see how Memphis does next year. If Battier really is the glue, then they will be taking a step back and won't be as good offensively or defensively. MemphisX may tell you that that's ok - they need to build for the future because they KNOW that they don't have a championship team now.

Unlike Houston, Memphis HAD to gamble because they don't have the horses right now. Nothing like getting swept out of the playoffs to clarify that for you.
Good trade for both teams, IMO.

 

Justice's blessing of this trade is The Kiss of Death <insert Super Mario picture here>. That seals the deal.

 

It sounds like Battier is good at playing team defense, but is a liability defensively playing on-on-one due to his limitations athletically. That definitely hurts come playoff time where teams will really exploit a matchup in their favor. It also doesn’t help that Van Gundy plays strict man-to-man defense and hardly ever plays a zone.