Trying to keep my mind off all this Me-Mac situation and the trade deadline I thought I'd mix it up a bit... With more than half of the season under our belt we have got to see what Ron has to offer as an individual and team defender. We all know what Battier brings to the table but never really got to see Ron on a constant basis tell this year obviously. Anyways the question is pretty simple who do you think is the better defender? Shane or Ron Ron
Ron. He would have played crazy defense when we were playing with Utah. Battier's defense was not seen in playoffs.
Well.. they defend differently. Battier's defense is fundamentally perfect imo. Ron plays dirty and bothers the player and affects them mentally. Very physical. I would take Shane over Ron.
I think that Ron can be more intimidating, and with that is better at times, but Shane seems to be more consistent fundamentally.
I personally voted for Shane. I expected a lot more from Ron but he didn't deliver the way Battier does night in and night out.
original nickname, me-mac...it depends on who theyre defending, shane does better on a kobe, whereas artest does better on a lebron
To anyone who actually watches and doesn't just take Jeff Van Gundy's word at face value, it's clearly Artest. And it's not even close. Battier is marginally a better team defender because he plays smarter and doesn't take the risk with steals that Artest does. But all other categories go to Artest especially since he 1) doesn't take goofy charges placing opponents into the bonus quicker 2) is superior in transition and 3) doesn't get beat off the dribble by mediocre players who then get fouled by Yao.
I vote Artest, but we haven't seen his best so far. He can really shut people down, but has done it only a few times this season.
Is this a joke? Defending the guy after he just blew by you when you went for a steal is crap one-on-one defense. Shane is always in the perfect position makes perfect decision between going for the block or the charge knows the stats on which way to make the guy shoot makes correct moves on helping or no helping.
Battier is one of the most fudamentally sound defenders in the league. He just completely understands how to slow down other players. Ron is a gritty, physical, rattle defender. He isn't fundamentally sound... actually, his fundamentals are pretty bad, but he just beats on the opposing player until they are thrown off their game. He'll often let players go by him, and then reach around and knock the ball away. I like Ron, but this isn't even close. Shane Battier is definitely the better defender.
My impression is that the Rockets coaches/staff believe Shane Battier is their best perimeter defender, from the post-game interviews, and the quotes from the staff reported in the Chronicle and Rockets.com. And one of their analysts posted "Battier for DPOY!" back in December over on the association for professional basketball research metrics message board, for what that's worth. In my opinion, Battier is easily their best transition defender (that was my view at the beginning of the season, and that opinion has only strengthened throughout the season), and he's a better help defender in the half court as well, all things considered. Artest is a more physical individual defender, he does more pushing and pulling, and he gambles more. Artest's strength and uncanny reflexes make him more effective in a scrum going after a loose ball, and unlike Battier he can convert a turnover into a good transition opportunity for himself. He's been no better at keeping his man in front of him as far as I can tell, and I thought that would be one of his strengths compared to Battier.
all other things aside, you actually believe that ron artest is a better transition defender than shane battier? wow.
i believe ron is the better 1on1 defender but shane is a good 1on1 defender as well as a team defender
I honestly think Chuck is the best defender. I mean its debatable, but he's definitely in this conversation. Amend the poll!