He is definitely the glue buddy, however, he is not the foundation. That would be Yao and unfortunately he seems to be cracking. You can expect Battier to help bring us over the top defensively like Bowen did for the Spurs. You can't expect him to carry us. Bowen without Timmy just couldn't carry a team. Neither can Battier. That doesn't mean that both of them were not elite defenders and glue players.
This is where I have to disagree. I think you're tossing around the word elite too lightly. Elite defenders have an impact on the other teams ability to score regardless of who else is in the lineup and regardless of what team they are matched up against. Yao might be elite. Battier is not.
I still believe Battier is an elite perimeter defender, but every defneder has their deficiencies and Shane's is being magnified because we lost a 7'6 guy who can alter shots by just waving his arms.
Shane already talked about having a big man that improves his defense. He knew with Yao, you can force players into a direction because Yao was there. Without him Shane defense is not as effective, especially growing older.
One big difference is the 7'6" Great Wall. He isn't good against the PnR. He's super slow. But he affects a huge number of otherwise high percentage shots. I'm not surprised to see a big dropoff. Yao is a much better defensive player than any center we have; also Rafer (as much as I hate to say this) is a much better defender than Brooks.
Rick adleman is a dumbass coach thinking we could put a whole bunch of scrubs on the court to run teams off, its 2009 not 1999 when it worked... Really im a big rockets fan but im glad their getting their ass kicked, maybe it would teach this organization a lesson... I think this team and the brains behind it all depend on the garbage we have on the court to much, i really do feel that their about feeling and not winning, meaning that we are afraid to sign a free agent out their like an AI or Tinsley who might help the team because we obviously need a closer and a leader, we need players not scrubs, get some wins not loses... who cares if brooks gets his spot taken or feeling hurt hes not getting it done neaither is the coach, give scotts or bring van gundy back, atleast van gundy would have their asses playing D and if i recall Tmac did have his best season while van gundy was the head hancho... And if u dont wana play tmac trade the men than, stop playing with his contract, atleast send him for some one whos atleast going to hop on the court and help or score on this team... or **** bring him back the whole chemistry bs and him messing it up is a whole bunch of crap from what isee their is no chemistry and nothing to mess up when it already is...
you could've just said "play mcgrady or let him walk". that's more concise and saves a lot of time for everybody.
