Time to replace Shane Battier in the starting rotation?

I think it's fair to say that Shane should START but not CLOSE the game. He threw up some horrible costly shots at the end and played terrible D. He was completely useless at the end of the game. Lee would have been perfect with that closing group in place of Grandpa Shane. Intangibles my ass. This ain't the 1950's

 

I've never for once said chase should be starting did I? The fact that we dont have options is the primary flaw of this team. They dont have player balance. Guys are either offensive or defensive types. The only 2 way guy on the entire team is yao and thats saying alot. The best defenders on the team team are also some of the worse offensive players and vice versa.

This isnt one game or 1 season, its the entire makeup of what will be a 48 win basketball team. Battier has a role on this team and in the league, but on a very good basketball team, he's 20 mins a night like matt barnes. When fisher wasnt having a good night, another intangible guy, where was he? Yep, you guessed it,but phil wants that guhy fresh for the ring run. One thing they also know is when the heat is turned up, fisher will make plays and knock down shots during high leverage moments. Just 1 game, but i doubt shane will get better before he gets worse. They shouldnt even give him a road jersey.

 

I'd say we lost because we missed 50 rebounds.

 

Shane's O has never been his strong suit. He's been "efficient" in that he doesn't take too many bad shots. His strength has been in his "intangibles" and his D. And since this team has offensive players like Brooks, Martin, Scola and Yao, having someone who doesn't need the ball and can focus on shutting down the opposing teams wing man (many times their best player) has been necessary and a great feature.

And even with his O slipping, that is ok. Going from 2-5 to 1-4 is not killing this team.

BUT...His D has slipped tremendously. He's gone from great to average. And on some nights - below average. He's losing his man and not switching fast enough to keep D converage tight. SF is our weakest position and considering Yao's foot and Lowry's back - that's saying something.

I do not propose moving Shane to the bench and moving Chase to the starting line up. However, I do propose moving Shane. The problem is that you will not get a better player in a trade if you are trading players of the same position. So you'd have to trade one of our players from another position where we have excess to a team who is weak in that position. I'd say we'd have to trade a PF to upgrade our SF position. Finding the right partner right now may be tough. Teams are at the starting line and changing tires right now is probably not something they'd do unless they have a flat. Finding a trade partner to upgrade the SF position is something that will most likely only happen closer to the deadline.

 

Not to mention AB isn't a good entry passer at his size, Shane is capable of hitting the kick out shot and get the ball into Yao with a smart pass.

Who is saying shane looks slower? He was on top of Kobe like always, but Kobe is still Kobe and he will still be able to score almost at will. Did yall not see the ridiculous put back attempt he went for? I thought it was Lee he got up so high I yelled "Damn it Lee that's two dunks you've missed," then my friend said "no dude, that was shane" I was at a loss for words. He looks healthier, he may not be shooting well thus far, but this is an 82 game season, Scola isn't going to average 16 rebounds, Brooks isn't going to average 25+ and Battier isn't going to miss from the corner all that often.

This isn't the NFL, or NCAAFB, every game does not matter. We have 81 more games and plenty of more practices to get better, so please stop with the nonsense threads about firing whatever player plays "poorly" on a given night.

 

Last year you proclaimed Battier's minutes were cut post trade deadline and he was on his way out.

Well then why did they trade a supposed two way player like Ariza instead, if Battier was on his way out?

You said you knew Adelmans system and what was coming. What is it, what is coming?

 

Wow I can't believe I'm reading this! What exactly did Battier do to contribute? Battier came in, bricked layups and missed 3s and you call that a "spark" off the bench? The Rockets caught up because Scola made several nice baskets to come back and take a 1-point lead. Then Blake hit that uncontested three (although not SB's fault). Then, rather than go for the win, he passes it underneath to Brooks where he has no room and is too small so he gets stuffed. If anything, he contributed to a loss with his lousy play and decision-making.

 

Trevor was traded for money reasons and the ability to get Lee on the cheap.

 

And to move his sorry overpaid ass out of Houston, and to avoid any cancerous behavior in the locker room due to his sorry ass having to watch 2 better players in Battier and Budinger blow right by him in minutes per game.

DD

 

It was a play on the previous posters statement who proclaimed Kobe came in, hit a jumper, and "put his team in a position to win"

Re-read the first few pages and it will make more sense.

 

First of all, he did not contribute to a loss. He made a few key defensive plays(with help)towards the end. The inbounds play was designed for Brooks who should not have dribbled the ball. He should have layed it in off the glass. He had his man beat when he got the ball. Brooks did a great job last night, but he should always be aware of where he is on the court.

 

Dont tell larsv8 that. As soon as they got martin,shane was on the bench. It was a money move,plain and simple.

 

Now listen up folks, here is a man who is speaking the truth.

It was a well designed play but Brooks got too close to the baseline and had to dribble and hesitate.

If he was a bit more towards the middle...like 1 foot, he scores there easily and we are headed to OT.

Well said and noticed Coachbadlee.

DD

 

Hes the defensive backbone of our team and basically a defensive coach out there on the floor.

 

This was explained by Bima. Something to the effect of $10M savings if you include LT. Ariza, the player, not the person, was missed last night. He would have given us better perimeter defense at the very least. I had high hopes for an Ariza/Battier s/f combo for this year based on what Ariza finished last year.

 

Battier used to be deadly from the 3pt line shooting something like 41%...but i am very disappointed with his performance. That is the reason he gets to start because he can SHOOT and play D....but if his shot is declining...maybe it's best to replace him. Did you also see him missing a crucial layup because he was rushing it while nobody is actually blocking him?? This is the reason i say he has no offense other than being a spot up shooter.

 

Then this team has osteoporosis.

 

You can be such a hater, DD. Ariza was good enough to start for Phill Jackson, he of eleven rings, and our own esteemed RA, but obviously he was not good enough for you. lol

Though one could sense that Ariza was a bit of a headcase, but make no mistake, he was moved because management thought they could get a cheaper replacement in Lee.

 

Didn't I already shoot this ridiculous statment down last year when you tried to proclaim his minutes went down.

He may have gone to the bench, but his minutes were more or less the same.

I am still waiting for you to tell me whats coming....

 

umm..he was in the game when we came back...


A lot of people in here:

You shold direct this thread to Adelman, i'm sure he'll take action ASAP since a lot of people agree. It's not like people outside of clutchfans exist.

there are ways to quantify the defense...you should look them up instead of completely disregarding them.

What layup attempt? i hope you dont mean Brooks'...