Shane Battier

[Rodrizzle]

I am tired of hearing how everyone is talking about him being done...especially the commentators.
Mark my words he will have a big impact at some point in these playoffs and will make some big plays for us.

[funk99]

No doubt,

he was shooting terribly in '12 until the '12 finals when he went off and was also shooting terribly until game 7 last year.

never doubt the heart of a champion

[SWadeUP]

he smashed Spo's ol lady...

He wont get playing time.

[dancing2thabeet]

"It's better to be timely than good."

[DefenseWins]

I don't think he is done, but they needed to manage him better. Playing him PF against god like PF's will make him look worse than he really is. If they just used him as an SF to play defense and shoot 3's, he would be fine. His legs can't take the load of defending people in the post anymore.

Against the Nets or the ECF, we will need him.

Against the Bobcats we don't, but we need him down the road.

[zogster]

^Agreed we will need him vs the Nets. I assume if the Nets beat the Raptors we will start him in place of Haslem (assuming the Nets are going to start Deron, Livingston, JJ, PP, KG).

[shanedude]

Battier will come through for us one last time.

[dancing2thabeet]

^Agreed we will need him vs the Nets. I assume if the Nets beat the Raptors we will start him in place of Haslem (assuming the Nets are going to start Deron, Livingston, JJ, PP, KG).

That's what I think too, his defense against either JJ or Pierce will be important.

[basketball in Miami]

hes being saved for other games and series. just like most of the team did throughout the season. look how fresh UD looks.

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[MisterHibachi]

I believe he's getting the UD treatment. Bench him for a long ass time and unveil him when he's completely healthy. Battier will come up big time in the ECF and Finals.

[MiaFLSurf]

This is the biggest mystery for me this season.

I know why Beasley doesnt play. I KIND OF know why Lewis plays. I know why Cole gets big minutes. I understood the Wade rest. The Haslem minutes. The Oden project.

I do NOT know why we dont play Shane. Even for 10 minutes a game. Let him cover the other teams best wing player. Spread the floor.

How can he not do that for us right now?

Are we resting him?

I will say this - Spo and the Heat do a FANTASTIC job being coy with why we do things. And it works out for us.

So I trust them. I just dont get it!

[NBA82]

Because Shane hasn't been spreading the floor for us this season. He shot under 35% from 3 for the year, even after his late-season garbage time hot streak. When he can't hit his 3s, he gives us very little. He's too slow to run with us, can't put the ball on the floor, and can't score inside the arc at all. He's too small to defend most PFs, and too slow to defend guards. And he's a bad rebounder.

Rashard may stink, but he's a better rebounder than Battier, he holds up better against PFs, and he's a viable scoring threat within the arc.

I would love to see Battier get another shot because when he's hitting his 3s, he's our best option out of the Rashard/Haslem/Oden grouping. But when he's not, he's basically worthless.

[basketball in Miami]

Shane is an integral part of Miamis plan. the strategy here is to save his body until the right match ups appear. so far against the Bobcats he wasnt needed. the same is true for Wade and UD throughout the season. i doubt they were truly struggling with injuries for most of the season. its all a ploy to ensure our players are fresh for the playoffs. its been 3 staright Finals and now grinding things out for a fourth one.

[Dupas]

He ll be fine. But please dont put him against PF. He defend KD like a boss on our last meeting