Shane Battier on the Heat and LeBron

[DeeDub]

I thought this was worth posting because I think Battier would be a great addition to this team and he's a free agent who may be looking to chase a ring with a contender. FRom everything I have ever heard, he's a coach's dream as a role player and locker room guy.

On LeBron’s struggles in the NBA Finals:

“I thought that, first of all you have to give Erik Spoelstra a lot of credit because it is tough to have to coach two of the top three players in the league because there is only one basketball. I think you saw it in the Chicago series, whoever had the hot hand that’s who had the ball in the fourth quarter. In the Chicago series it was LeBron. LeBron played great. Then in the Dallas series Dwyane Wade had it going and so with those two guys one of them is going to be standing looking at the other going to work. I think that’s what happened. LeBron is tough. I mean come on. For me he is a top two player in the league, right there with Kobe as the toughest player to defend in the league. I thought the criticism was a little unfair, but he’ll be back. He’ll be back and the Heat are going to be there to contend the next five or six years.”

Whether or not a team like Miami loaded with stars is the way to go in the NBA:

“Talent wins. Bottom line. You can talk all about the rah rah, the camaraderie, the Kumbaya, but in the NBA talent always wins. It may not be good enough to win a championship every single year but you’re going to be in the discussion.”

http://sportsradiointerviews.com/2011/0 ... ckout-nba/

It obviously doesn't mean he's coming here, but it does look like he thinks it would be an appealing destination and that he does not want to close that door. He manages to show love for Spo, Wade and LeBron all in that first sentence.

[AP_30]

they asked him a question about the heat and he answered it...thats it

now that that's out of the way, he's always been a smart guy. One of the nicest guys in the NBA

[DeeDub]

they asked him a question about the heat and he answered it...thats it

now that that's out of the way, he's always been a smart guy. One of the nicest guys in the NBA

He answered it by calling Wade and LeBron two of the 3 best players in the NBA and by praising our head coach. He also managed to get in there that he thinks LeBron will bounce back due to his toughness and that the Heat will contend for many years to come because talent is what wins. That may seem self-evident, but numerous current and former NBA players have had similar opportunities to say that but instead say they think the Heat model is bad for the NBA, that we don't play like a team, that our superstars took the easy way out, etc. Battier very much did not do that.

[wallsfamily]

Because he is a professional! Easy way out is bull. We were scrutinized more than a championship team. Every night we got a team's best! We had to allow two similar players to learn to play together efficiently and we were a great defensive team without being big. Lebron and DWade are still top 3 in the league and Chalmers and Joel proved in the playoffs that they are able to handle the extra spots. Miller will be better and Haslem will be well add in the natural improvement of chalmers and we have a team that will be better. in addition, Bosh got his first meaningful playoff pressures. They learned that the hate is for everyone and notice no player has said anything publicly against the other. As I said before the year to beat the heat was this year now it is on!!! Come on shane and get your title!

[Akshan]

IF this guy signs to Miami it will be amazing look at how he helped the Grizzles beat the Spurs I hope he wants to play for us even though I'm still mad at him for costing Dwyane Wade 2 years of ring chasing by dislocating his shoulder even though it wasn't on purpose.

[Chosen01]

IF this guy signs to Miami it will be amazing look at how he helped the Grizzles beat the Spurs I hope he wants to play for us even though I'm still mad at him for costing Dwyane Wade 2 years of ring chasing by dislocating his shoulder even though it wasn't on purpose.

Same.

[heat4life]

I would love Battier on our roster but I could see a team like the Spurs offering similar money and more PT with a similar type of organization.

[mikey1365]

He has been part of my ideal team since the season ended. CLASSY GUY !! I have always thought that one of the bestter ways to go when surrounding your core guys, is with smart class acts like a Battier.

My realistic ideal team, not my dream team, I guess my dream team would be you would add DeAndre Jordan & Steve Nash or Jimmer Fredette

Krstic,(LLE & or Min) Murphy, Pittman, Ilgauskas
Bosh, Haslem,
James, (Battier-MLE)
Wade, Miller, House
Hinrich, Cole, (Vet Min)

(S&T Chalmers, Anthony to Atlanta for Hinrich)

[-MK-]

^ Battier would be great, but this year's MLE (if there is one) needs to go to a good C (Kristic & Murphy are not).

[mikey1365]

thing is there are no good centers for the mle type money, i believe we need more of an offensive threat at the center position with guys who can space the floor that opposing centers have to chase and respect their ability to hit shots, which in turn opens up the lanes for lebron and wade and gives bosh room to operate. we dont have the assets or the cap space to get a shot blocking quality center besides othe than howard where are those guys, bynum would probably the next best thing and he aint no prize, he is just a product of a very weak era of centers

imo, our biggest weakness last year was our inability at the pg position where there is load of quality to star level of those guys that we have to play

our next biggest weakness was our lack legth to cover the defensive boards

[unowen85]

Battier was born and raised in the 305, bring his ass home, Riley!!!

[Heat3]

He was on Sedano this morning and was very positive about the Heat and said that last time he and Nick Arison were together they won a championship

[mikey1365]

If there is a MLE when this all gets settled, I cant think of a player that I would rather use it on. Sure DeAndre Jordan and Tyson Chandler, Samuel Dalembert, Nene etc but we all know that those guys are getting more than the MLE, much more

[DefenseWins]

Good, he doesn't hate the Heat and knows they'll compete. Lol he's a bit expensive but I would not mind him on this team.

Riley I don't think would pass up a veteran who has good defense and is very mature.

[iggypop123]

he'll be a clipper bridging the gap to harrison barnes

[twix2500]

I really dont see us going after Battier. I do not see us spending any more big money towards the 2,3 and the 4 position. Big money will be deligated towards the point and the center. After that we will again look for bargain players. I think we will see more of Eddie House if Cole can be an effective ball handler player next year. Other wise it will be a cheap option that we will look at and that may be resigning James Jones or some other cheap option. Its funny that many here are concern about the swing position, where that was our strength last year.

[DeeDub]

He was on Sedano this morning and was very positive about the Heat and said that last time he and Nick Arison were together they won a championship

I forgot about that Nick Arison connection.

I don't think Battier would necessarily require the MLE. I could see us splitting it and his taking about half and wouldn't even be surprised to see him take the vet minimum. He's worth more than that, but has made a fair amount of money over his career, is likely someone who has saved/invested it well, and strikes me as a guy who is primarily driven by finishing his career with a title or 2.

Here's a great article about Battier from a few years ago. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/magaz ... wanted=all

[DeeDub]

Battier was born and raised in the 305, bring his ass home, Riley!!!

He was born and raised in Michigan

[Dezmondballins3]

why wouldn't an old man like Shane love to come here for vet min. and win a chip?