I don't want Battier to ever leave. Ever. Except maybe to come visit me. I want to pick at your brain, oh wise one! Just one afternoon is all I ask!
Laugh all you like,Battier will suffer in Ariza's absence. Lee should have been a replacement for Taylor. C-Bud will have to step up big time. If he doesn't,the team will feel the pinch.
Oh please !!!!! What will the team miss? His temper tantrums on the court, his constantly hanging his teamates out to dry as he goes for steal after steal? Or, maybe all those dribble turnovers? Good riddance...the dude was not even close to worth his contract. Adios Muchacho ! DD
I dont even know what this means. Battier slides back into the starting lineup where he belongs. He fits perfectly alongside Yao. He is a better player than Ariza and is more effective overall. Lee is a replacement for Taylor??? Not sure what you are trying to say here. Truth be told, I think Bud could play exactly the same as he did last year and I would be happy with him. We upgraded 2 positions, starting SF and backup SG with this trade and saved money.
Huh? their minutes (battier/bud) won't be that different, as there were 3 guys playing 2 positions. Battier's will stay at around 30 and bud at around 20...or maybe closer to a 24/24 split. Martin is the one who's really going to take the bulk of Ariza's left over minutes. Yeah they played together toward the end of the season (martin and ariza) but that's was garbage time and it's not really representative of last year and how they all fit. i dont see where anyone will suffer or feel the "pinch" with ariza gone. I think you're thinking of how much he helped a yao less and SG-less team last year and are applying that to this year, but we dont need him in that way or as much. Yao's back, Martin is here, and we have an extra big who can take a few touches a game in Hill, and an extra big who'll take some of the shots and touches in Miller. Lee can take some of that well backing up Martin. i dont think we're realizing how much Ariza's production and importance would drop with the depth we have on this team.
Battier is a great character. Budinger should start now. The Budinger era should get its chance to see what we have fully in him as a starter now. Its not worth waisting another year stunting his growth to squeeze one last year out of Battier. Its already obvious he doesnt have much time left here and Buds the future in that position or someone else. So might as well build up Bus and groom him as the starter if we are going into this direction.
As long as there are elite wing scorers in the NBA, Battier will start. I'm not quite ready to let Bud guard the best player on the other team.
Do you really want Budinger to start with Aaron Brooks and Kevin Martin? How fast do you want Yao to foul out?
Its what they built. Budinger needs starter minutes and you cant sacrifice him for an uinimportant year we wont be winning a Championship in anyways. So develop him and have him ready for next year when Battier is gone now instead of later when we still have Brooks and Martin a year from now.
I'd say Budinger is a better defender than you think. As a rookie he was much better on that end than those two guys.
v3, I'm all about results and dont care for the process. I was a pre med, so i fully understand the process when dealing with chemistry,biology and everything else associated with the end. I personally like battier the guy and the player, but what i do have a problem with are the results he brings that are blown way out of proportion. One minute, his per is the reason he is so valuable, but when his per is in the can, another excuse is made. I dont care about articles written,national tv games,or anything praising mediocrity. What i want to know is, did my team or players step up when given the chance. More times than not, battier hasn't despite being one of the highest paid rockets. The more you make,the bigger the compensation,the more is expected of a player. Luis will be excepted to produce like a near all star because he is now paid like one.Lowry will not be expected to perform like a starter because he is now paid like one. To scola and lowry credit, especially luis, he has performed well despite his limitations. Can we say the same about shane? In essence, i dont care as long as the job gets done.When it doesnt, i want to know why. When rookies or guys like chuck hayes are stepping up to the challenge,why is it not realistic to think battier shouldnt be held accountable? I know his value is his contract vs his play and thats cool too, but dont think for a moment he hasnt been mentioned in trade talks,but other teams act like they dont even hear his name. As morey said a few months ago, he gets more calls about brooks 1st and ariza 2nd. That says something about what other teams value off the rockets roster. If he's here after the trade dealine, so be it. If he's traded, thats cool too. Every player has an expiration date and i think he expired a year ago. Once yao was deemed out for the year, he should have been gone and the reset button pressed. No matter what, i will always support the rockets even if i think they are in the middle of nothing.
leebigez, you're my man 1 grand lol. I like your persistency, so how about Ricky Davis, let's make it happen!
To me this is an indication of just how low Battier's stock is amongst other teams. Sure, they will never say that publicly, but any objective observer can see that. His main value is as an expiring $7 mill contract. I'm hoping Battier, JJ, & J. Hill are traded to Philly for Iggy & a filler so the Rockets can get that athletic proto-star who plays solid d, hardly misses a game, and steps up during crunch time (while getting under the LT). I'm definitely not looking forward to seeing Battier hangout at the 3 point line while his man swarms Yao and Shane just stands there as if he's a fan watching the game courtside. If a move is not made for Iguodala, the Rockets will find another way to get under the LT and will be mediocre next season.
