Shane Battier's defense...

[Miller4ever]

Contesting is good because it's contesting is not good logic. You can faze people by suddenly introducing something into their line of sight. If Battier gets quicker and hounds his mark with more intensity once he's back up to speed, you'll see the effectiveness again. With opponents now, the timespan of his arm being in the face is actually too long, because opponents adjust to it and can fire off a shot with CONSISTENCY, because they've adjusted. Once Battier gets his quickness, he'll be closing out faster, but will be able to put the arm up at a key moment in time to disrupt the visual consistency of what a shooter sees. I expect Battier to be in full working order once the All-Star break is over. He will be able to shut a man down, and you guys may be able to secure a higher seed.

[bigbreakfast]

i never thought battier was a naturally athletic/quick/long defender that has the ability to completely shut down a player in stretches, i always saw him as the guy who will play good solid defense for the entire game and reduce the offense player's efficiency greatly. i hve no problem with that.

[moofs]

Good logic. Wait, logic?

Shhh, I think I can sell it

[kam_soluusar]

Jesus Christ!!!!!!! Is this dude for real???? Any Coach with enough Neurons to form a Synapse can tell you that they would rather a player hit a 20 foot jumpshot, than give them the lane for a layup. Battier is an excellent defender, but he has never claimed to be an Hakeem like shot blocker. Iggy misses the shot, it was good D, he hit's, it's bad D. What about us not getting into that situation at all, that it comes down to a last second stop.

The Team's Help defence sucked the whole game, not just Battier.

I do wish he'd take a few more shots per game though, I know he says that he is there to play D, but we need his shot on O to help with player spacing, or to work a Pick and Pop situation.

Battier is the sort of level headed, un selfish player that EVERY Team needs. In a league full of Money grubbing Yahoo's, it's good to see a grounded person.

[sook]

Jesus Christ!!!!!!! Is this dude for real???? Any Coach with enough Neurons to form a Synapse can tell you that they would rather a player hit a 20 foot jumpshot, than give them the lane for a layup. Battier is an excellent defender, but he has never claimed to be an Hakeem like shot blocker. Iggy misses the shot, it was good D, he hit's, it's bad D. What about us not getting into that situation at all, that it comes down to a last second stop.

The Team's Help defence sucked the whole game, not just Battier.

I do wish he'd take a few more shots per game though, I know he says that he is there to play D, but we need his shot on O to help with player spacing, or to work a Pick and Pop situation.

Battier is the sort of level headed, un selfish player that EVERY Team needs. In a league full of Money grubbing Yahoo's, it's good to see a grounded person.

he's so unselfish he is stupid.

How many times have you seen a wide open layup that he gets he passes off? Too many times we work hard to get an open shot and he passes it off, barry is the same way

[kam_soluusar]

As I said, I wish he would take a few more shots a game, 7-8. The way Rafer is shooting AT THE MOMENT, Battier should take a few more. You want 5 on D and 5 on O, (in an ideal basketball world.)

[SportsFan215]

Would the Rockets consider trading Battier for Barbosa straight up as part of a 3 team deal?

[moofs]

Begone thou intrepid ruffian, lest your vile dalliances bring pithy spite upon ye!

[tisbee]

SportsFan215
That was Moofs way fo saying F*** NO!
Of course he's classier than me.

[TMACFORMVP]

Battier's defense has been mediocre at best, he's losing his man, and not with his defender the way he was last season. From underrated to overrated this season.

[moofs]

Battier's defense has been mediocre at best, he's losing his man, and not with his defender the way he was last season. From underrated to overrated this season.

He's not overrated this season, he's hurt. I don't think anyone is saying his defense is up to his normal standards right now, but that also doesn't mean he won't eventually recover.

However, there are two things I've been wrong on this season...
1. Artest's defense will help us a LOT and give us some straight-up nasty teeth at that end
2. Battier coming back from injury will fix our defense

Based on #2, I still thought we could make some noise this year, but it looks more and more like Iggy was right (for once! ... ow, typing that kinda stung) - we're not going far in this year's playoffs.

[SportsFan215]

Would the Rockets trade Battier for Al Thornton/expiring?