How about if our two primary scorers that play aren't terrible or if our other two primary scorers actually play?
If his lack of offense at the end of the game, after already having 18 pts, almost cost us the game, then there's something wrong elsewhere...he shouldn't have to score this much for the team to win. Lowry and battier both had over 10 shots...that's pushing it. Miller was shooting very well and should have had more attempts. Lee also didn't take a single shot. If those others scoring options are being used enough, then battier should only need to score around 10-12 pts a game, at least while brooks is out.
I have observed Lee frequently passing up shots. Battier does it sometimes, too, but has been more aggressive recently. What is it with Lee?
Ive seen this as well. I wish he would take it to the hole more often, he seems very athletic and able to get some sort off lay-up or even foul attempt from it.
Today it mostly had to do with limited playing time...but i think he's having trouble with the offense in the halfcourt. Sometimes he has the ball at the top and just holds it...can't remember who's on the floor with him in those situations, but maybe he just needs to play off the ball more. He's been fine when the offense is running though.
I am not saying I want more out of Battier. Less would be fine if they would cover him. But they don't. They say let Lowry and Battier beat us. The Thunders were giving us that. They were all over Martin and covering Miller all the way out to the arc. It's not how many points he had. it's that in the end he is a poor offensive option. Lowry and Battier shot too much. I absolutely agree. They are average to poor offensive players. You don't want them as your primary scorers lat in games. Every coach in the league knows that. That is why they leave them open. That is why they play off of those guys night in and night out. When Lowry and Battier play good they destroy the other teams defensive strategy. I love Battiers hustle but on this current squad Battier is usually a major factor why we choke in the 4th quarter offensively. That doesn't even take into account his 3 pt shooting suffers as he gets tired. Maybe if Brooks is in their late with him his offensive deficiency would be less detrimental. Right now it took his best game of the year to squeak out a 1 pt victory that we could have easily. He deserves a lot of the credit for the win. But he also deserves credit for the fact that we didn't open the score up and barely won.
i think lately they're leaving it to battier and lowry to take too many crunch time shots, not just when the defense is covering everyone else. Tonight may be due to defensive strategy, but lately scola and martin havent been aggressive enough and pass up shots in the 4th. Seems like they're not moving enough on offense and the shot goes to lowry, who likely already has the ball, or battier because he always moves to the open spot in those situations. We need some more movement from others at those times.
Needs to be traded while his "he guards Durant" mantra is still lasting. This is like fools gold. Well we will see wont we? Until that point becomes clear.
still in for the trade.. it takes him few games to get his groove on... thats not the way to hustle back... ya trade him while he still a value!
If we are going to trade him, we should trade him to a team appreciative of the player he is. A team where he can contribute to winning. Like the Spurs or Celtics (I would say Lakers, but their fake fans don't deserve a player like him).
He'll never be a scoring machine but good things happen when Battier looks more for his shot, and not just the 3-pointer. In the Portland playoff series, his scoring in double-digits helped get us a few of those wins. And back when JVG was coach, he used to say how he wanted Shane to be more aggressive offensively but to no avail. At this point, he is what he is, but I think he sells himself and the team short by being so passive on the offensive end.
When Yao & AB is back... That's when Battier won't be asked to carry much of the offensive load at all and will nicely take up his role as the defensive floor general.
it's funny how everyone complains and complains and complains about our defense, but ask and plead desperately to trade our best defensive player...you people will never be satisfied.
people on here have no idea what they are talking about. They want to play bud and bench battier when our defense has been garbage... has anyone watched budinger play defense? It's really kind of scary and I would say *almost* as bad as novak was. So if you take away battier who on the wing is going to defend clutch bbs geniuses? bud is only good when he is making shot and this year he is not making shots. if you are going to trade our best wing defender then you better darn well get another guy that can play solid d. And when I say 'solid' it better be 'solid' not creamy... not squeezable.. I m talking vein popping constipation inducing solid. budinger is not solid on D. If anything I want bud sharing back up 2 load with courtney lee. and let lowry and brooks run it together a little. At least then we have some interchange between 'solid' defenders like battier,lee,lowry. We have to have defense and a good mix. You guys are trying to blow up the little remaining defense we have? It seems like rick is finally beginning to get it. Next we mix back in brooks and yao to the structure that is coming together now. That was a 'solid' win last night.
^ funny, just this weekend I was remarking to the people I was watching with that Budinger seems like Novak with added hops. I definitely didn't have that opinion last year. He needs to get it together.
Can't trade Battier due to playoff matchups in the playoffs If Rockets Face the following team, who's going to guard................... Lakers-Kobe Bryant/Odom? Dallas- Shawn Marion? Courtney Lee is too small and Marion will just post him up all day. Spurs- Manu Ginobili/Richard Jefferson? Thunder- Kevin Durant? If we want to go ALL the way we're going to face some of these teams. BATTIER MUST STAY IN HOUSTON!!!
