yeah.Battier is smarter and Artest is wilder. i love them all... and i very much enjoy the slow motion of Battier defense, wow,that's just art...
Artest's defense in playoffs with the game pretty much on the line: <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rtPB5Xq9t3c&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rtPB5Xq9t3c&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
Artest is a more physical defender. this is a guy who can stay infront of brooks in practise and then stop yao on the other end. the man is the most versatile defender in the league. shanes probaly smarter with the size and agility. overrall its artest. infact artest is the best two way player in the league. we dont know how lucky we are to have a player of his calibare
Sam Hinkie weighs in: [rquoter] As with any conversation involving the Rockets these days, it didn’t take long for the name Ron Artest to surface. Specifically, I wanted to know how he compares to the Rockets’ other defensive ace, Shane Battier. “I think Shane’s one of the better defenders in the league and one of the very best team defenders, without question. But I also think Shane and Ron are very different and they actually provide us with more breadth in exactly who we can guard. One of Shane’s big benefits is he can guard twos, he can guard threes and at times he can guard ones. He can even slide over in a pinch and guard fours. His strengths are focused on his overall basketball IQ, staying in front of drivers without fouling, contesting jump shots without fouling, fighting over screens and really, really being smart about the other team’s gameplan and using that to his advantage. That’s what really makes him special. “Ron is special, too, and different. Ron’s defensive capabilities, to me, are much more about creating havoc, being physical, keeping people out of the post, using his length to really disrupt, deflecting passes, stripping guys with that this great left hand that he’s got and being so big and strong while still being able to move his feet so well. Could each of them guard the same guy? For sure, but they would each do it differently. And while Shane might be better at the margins at chasing a guy off pin-down screens, Ron, I think, will be better at the margin on chasing a guy on flex screens coming across the lane. So, say, a bigger, heavier, stronger, more physical three, I think Ron can do things against that type of player that Shane hasn’t been as strong at. And I think a lighter guy who is consistently running a pin-down offense and coming off of screens for jump shots, I think Shane has already proven to be very, very good at guarding that type of player. “So having the two of those guys in combination, I think really makes us interesting in that, if they’re both healthy – and we hope they both will be – there won’t be many nights when we say, ‘Oh no, this guy on the wing – we don’t have a good answer for him.’” [/rquoter]
I'm better than both.Morey get it done! Geez.Just wait to see who's better,season is starting tonight.
I think if you take a look at them objectively, you have to say Artest. He's one of the few, non-superstar, non-bigman players that has a DPOY under his belt. But if you want to look past awards, I like Rons strengths over Battiers. Battier just plays old fashioned smart defense. He isn't exactly gifted athletically in the way that Josh Smith is, but he'll make every shot you take difficult. Ron Artests strength, on the other hand, include: Getting in the mind of the guy he is guarding. That "fear" of Ron Artest, might throw the offensive player off a bit, similar to how Bruce Bowen gets into someones head. Ron plays the passing lanes more, but does it in such a way that he doesn't give his guy a clear shot to the basket if he misses. He can guard multiple positions, while Battier can really only guard outside shooters effectively. I also think Artest has more heart, not to say that Battier doesn't, Ron just has more of it. If he makes a mistake on defense, he takes it personally. Game on the line, one play, who's the better defender tho: I would have to say Battier because he's less prone to mistakes, he plays smart and cool. But over the course of a game/series, I'd have to go with Artest.
That's interesting. I might agree with that. But I think many would see it differently -- they'd have Battier over the course of a game, but with the game on the line they'd want Artest.
I think, one defensive stop to win us the game? I want them both on the floor. With Rafer at PG (unless they have a stronger taller PG then I want Ron on the PG with Tmac and his long arms and Rafer is out), Shane to direct traffic and playing the best SG, Ron on the SF, Chuck on the PF (unless it's Garnett - and maybe even if it is Garnett) Scola or Landry on the center (unless it's Shaq or Bynum). If I had to play one or the other over the course of a last four minutes of a 4th quarter stand, I still want them both on the floor. Seriously. I would want Tmac, Shane, Ron, Luis and Yao in the game in that situation. Tmac would have to start the offense though which is going to hopefully not be problematic. The other option is to have Ron as the PF there and have Rafer in the game. The more I think about it the more it would depend on who we were playing. In most all situations though with one stop for a win, I want them both on the court.
Okay, then who do we have to stop? Paul Pierce and Ray Allen? Kobe and Lamar Odom? Rip and Chauncey? I want them both on the court! LOL
Game on the line, I think you want Battier. Generally for game winning shots its a perimeter player shooting it. Battier is good at not letting his opponent have an easy path to the basket, and then contesting the shot when it happens. Artest on the other hand, I think he'd be better at guarding post players, or even the point guard if he had to. I wouldn't mind having Artest on the floor game on the line, just think Battier is better in that specific scenario. Still think Artest is the better overall defender though.
Battier just because he was born to be a defender. But only by the littlest of margins. Artest can be a defender and a scorer. I think the top 3 defenders in the league are: 1)Battier 2)Bowen 3)Artest Out of those 3, the better overall player is artest though.
im gonna have to go woth the DPOY on this one, Ron Artest is like a defensive machine...but Battier is right up there no doubt, but i'd have to give it to Artest.. glad there both on the Team, i'd hate for us to have to go up against either of them
I'll take Battier on the perimeter, Artest on the inside. Maybe it's just me, but Artest's perimeter defense didn't seem to live up to the hype when I've watched him. His man seemed to get around him with relative ease.
Battier doesn't have the greatest lateral quickness either, though. So when you have really quick players that don't have a lot of strength (like Kevin Martin, for instance), the Rockets may actually prefer Rafer Alston. I wouldn't be surprised to see Brooks and Alston together a lot more this season, against the quicker lineups.
Battier is a better perimeter defender but Artest is strong enough to guard the post and the perimeter. Honestly I have not seen Artest enough to really be able to judge but since Battier has a red jacket I voted for Batman.
