I find it incredible that Battier actually shot 283 free throws in a season with the Grizzlies. He shot 113 and 101 the previous two years with the Rockets.
Battier is definitely overrated by people on this board. Hopefully, Houston is looking to move him and can get something of value in return.
I thinks he is overrated on this board in general meaning. Not only on defense, because he is a great defender. Any time a guy needs 32 shots to score 33 points, it is great for the defense, you can live with that. But to trade him? Why not. I would do that to improve PG spot. But really, I am not so sure if he is ready to play...
Not to take anything away from wafer because he's played great, but I think people are mesmerized because we've been looking at a stiff like Battier for so long. Its like when the rox got Landry and scola how they just jumped and yelled to the top off their lungs, but when you have been watching chuck hayes for a couple of years, it kinda makes it look better than what it really is. I've been saying shane is a dud for awhile now. People always like the "intangibles" argument, but what about tangibles? I can see wafer slashing and cutting to the hole dunking and stuff. I can feel that and so can the score keeper. I've been screaming for a minute that there are many,many creases in the offense, but the rox don't have guys that can attack those creases. When you play a poor defensive team, most times its their help defense that's bad. If you don't have guys that can get to the rim and check out their help defense, then it does the team no good. Even earlier when people were wondering who should lose playing time when the team is healthy. I said it should be Tracy and Ron for 30 mins a night and wafer for for 18 and shane/barry for the other 18mins. I felt that earlier and with what he's doing now, I feel I was right again. Did anyone see how La didn't even have a pg on the floor for a lot of the game? When brooks came in, they brought in ariza to defend him. How good is that? Brooksball, you know I'm with you on brooks starting. Its no accident the tea played better with him at the point than rafer tonight.
That's what happens when all you do on the offensive end is run to the corner and stand there. Battier lacks athleticism. The quickness he had in his lateral movement and little athleticism he once also had are long gone. It's time for the Rockets to man up and tacitly admit they made a mistake in trading for him by moving Shane to a place like Portland, where they might want him.
I'm trying to tell you, when the rox gave up the #8 pick, they thought they were getting a guy that could get 12-15 pts, play good defense, slash a little, pass a little and do some of the intangibles too. They wouldn't have ever traded, especially dawson who would gamble on a high upside player, the 8th pick for a taller luther head. No way.
These are my sentiments exactly. I love Wafer right now, but a lot has to do with the fact that our role playing wings have been glued in cement for as far back as I can remember. The list is endless, going back to Matt Maloney, Sam Mack, Jimmy Jackson, David Wesley, on to Shane Battier and Luther Head, one of the biggest problems with the Rockets has been the sheer lack of athleticism on the perimeter. We exclusively play guys who, once closed out on at the 3 point line, become completely useless. A guy like Wafer suddenly looks like Lebron James because we've never seen someone other than McGrady actually pump fake the shot and drive to the hoop. Wafer, Brooks, Landry are a step in the right direction. We just haven't had real talent for so long after Dawson left the cupboard dry. You have to have guys that aren't just specialists.
The man was a walking disaster tonight. He got lit up effortlessly by Iguodala. In 30 mins he gave the team 5 pts 4 rebs, which included an amazing series of plays where he dribbled off his own foot with nobody around leading to a layup for the Sixers, bricked a wide open 3, and knocked the ball out of Yao's hands on an easy rebound with nobody else around. He doesn't even look like a basketball player. He looks like he's on a steep decline. Nothing on D and nothing on offense. You need more production out of your starting 3 in this league. The 30 mpg he's playing could be going to other more effective players like Wafer and even Barry at this point.
Count me in on the Battier criticism. As one of our starting players...he sure is adding very little value. He is only adding to the frustrating play of the team. I'm not sure if this is lingering effects of the injury or if he is physically wearing down with age.
Basically, he is just running around out there. The glue argument is fading. When lottery bound Eastern teams look like they have loads more talent that the Rockets, well, that is not a good sign.
battier sucks , stop making excuses for him. its not worth having him out there for 30 minutes and scoring 6 points and playing mediocre defense. Wafer deserves battiers minutes right now.they should trade battier for outlaw or michael pietrus someone like that if they can. people are forgetting about how good deke is out there. he brings energy and great interior defense. they have got to get him playing out there.
Kwame you have been right on about battier. its funny a couple weeks ago i said he was overrated and everyone was bashing me now everyone is starting to see
unfortunately with the "intangibles" we'll be seeing 30+ mins from him for the rest of the season. where was more wafer tonight? where was barry?
Glue player scoring in double figures and providing effective 3 point shooting like he's usually done, okay. This 3-4-5 points in 35 minutes guy, no thanks. Thats not even glue, thats like envelope moistener.
