Heat closing in on Shane Battier!

[eliteballer]

WojYahooNBAAdrian Wojnarowski

Y! Sports Free Agency Buzz: Pat Riley, Heat in strong position to land Shane Battier. http://tinyurl.com/6lh99lt

:rolleyes:

[StacksOnDeck]

Who cares. He fell off.

[ConanRulesNBC]

This team needs some bigs who can play defense. Not another guy taking shots.

[Go Getter]

How is this going to help Bosh/Haslem with Dirk? :oldlol:

[AMISTILLILL]

Yeah, he'll be a real difference maker for those 12 minutes LeBron isn't playing. :rolleyes:

[L.Kizzle]

Shane is a good guy, doesn't need to be surrounded by these guys in Miami.

Come back to Houston Shane, don't do it.

[DMV2]

Don't you guys see? This is more of a public image move.

Good ol' Dukey Shane won't make the Heat less hated by the fans. :D

[Go Getter]

Tbh though a lineup with Lebron running point, Wade at the 2, and SB at the three is pretty sick.

[TMT]

Shane is a good guy, doesn't need to be surrounded by these guys in Miami.

Come back to Houston Shane, don't do it.

He wants a 'ship. Best way to get one is to jump on the Miami bandwagon.
Is he signing for the MLE?

[pauk]

Pg - lbj
Sg - wade
Sf - battier
Pf - bosh
C - dalembert
:applause:

[coin24]

Great signing if it happens..

Just need a centre then. It's not like they really need much. If lebron bothered to show up in the finals they would have already won:facepalm

[Lebron23]

Pg - lbj
Sg - wade
Sf - battier
Pf - bosh
C - dalembert
:applause:

That's a very tall lineup.

[InspiredLebowski]

So they're just going to have the minimum to get a C? I guess I could see Battier taking the minimum and leave them the 3 mil (right?) MLE.

[Lebron23]

Great signing if it happens..

Just need a centre then. It's not like they really need much. If lebron bothered to show up in the finals they would have already won:facepalm


LeBron also struggled against Dallas in the Regular Season. Let's see if He's going to use newly learned post moves on Christmas Day.

[Haymaker]

OMG OMG Shane Battier 8 titles MVP sheeeet OMG
http://i42.tinypic.com/ji252w.jpg

[kidachi]

Ah shyyyt.

Chandler should be their priority.

[coin24]

LeBron also struggled against Dallas in the Regular Season. Let's see if He's going to use newly learned post moves on Christmas Day.


He can't do much worse than his attempt on barea and kidd:lol :lol

Any word on Pittman or curry???

[ClutchBucketz]

The team doesn't need any more talent, not that it's gonna hurt but they're their own worst enemy until they figure it out imo..

[Lebron23]

He can't do much worse than his attempt on barea and kidd:lol :lol

Any word on Pittman or curry???


Dexter Pittman is in good shape. I haven't heard any latest news on Eddy Curry.

https://twitter.com/pun45



The team doesn't need any more talent, not that it's gonna hurt but they're their own worst enemy until they figure it out imo..


The Heat's off season moves reminds me when the Lakers signed Ron Artest in the 2009 off season.

[ClutchBucketz]

The Heat's off season moves reminds me when the Lakers signed Ron Artest in the 2009 off season.

I can see that, although less risk goes along with signing Battier you'd just hope that he can bring that key ingredient. :cheers:

[d.bball.guy]

Ah shyyyt.

Chandler should be their priority.
That would be epic if they get Tyson before Christmas lol

[D-Wade316]

Would be a great addition. Shane puts up his body on the line. Just the type of player Riley and Spoelstra would love to coach.

[kidachi]

That would be epic if they get Tyson before Christmas lol


yeah, Or at least a decent big.. like Dalembert

[All Net]

So dalembert won't accept the MLE?

From that article they will sign battier with part of the MLE and kwame with the other half?

[(e)]

Ah shyyyt.

Chandler should be their priority.

Pipe dream.

I'd say getting Battier means goodbye Mike Miller?

[kidachi]

Pipe dream.

I'd say getting Battier means goodbye Mike Miller?


haha yeah, helluva dream.

it could mean goodbye.. or bench..

[Pushxx]

Shane would fit well with the Miami system, but only if he can be had for the veteran's minimum.

I think it's obvious the Heat need to spend their MLE on a center. Wade and LeBron showed throughout the playoffs they have no problem holding the perimeter down without much help.

[UtahJazzFan88]

Why do they need another SF? They already have a SF/SG that basically does the same exact role as Mike Miller? I don't understand. Yeah LeBron can play the point guard role, but I'm not sure how good he would be at the actual position on both sides, even if him or Wade could play the PG, it's not that big of a move to me.

[Unforgiven]

Shane would fit well with the Miami system, but only if he can be had for the veteran's minimum.

I think it's obvious the Heat need to spend their MLE on a center. Wade and LeBron showed throughout the playoffs they have no problem holding the perimeter down without much help.

I agree, but I doubt the Heat coaching staff really like the fact Lebron plays every single minute. They want to buy him some time on the bench, Battier would be a great addition to most/any side.

[All Net]

I agree, but I doubt the Heat coaching staff really like the fact Lebron plays every single minute. They want to buy him some time on the bench, Battier would be a great addition to most/any side.
More so with the back to back to back.

If Dalembert won't accept MLE then

Battier and Kwame may be good options.

[bagelred]

Shane Battier always was a force for good. Now he's turning to the dark side.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqTi0ZFDawY

[swi7ch]

How is this going to help Bosh/Haslem with Dirk? :oldlol:
dirk has trouble being guarded by in your face smaller guys like posey, battier, etc.

[Locked_Up_Tonight]

dirk has trouble being guarded by in your face smaller guys like posey, battier, etc.

Yeah, about 3 years ago that was true.

[All Net]

dirk has trouble being guarded by in your face smaller guys like posey, battier, etc.
This isn't 2005-2006

[InspiredLebowski]

Posey is the DirkStopper. Submit your offers now.

[JMT]

Battier's professionalism and locker room influence will be lost on a team with James. He's never listened to anyone in his basketball life or followed anyone elses positive example, and he won't start now.

[TheJuice31]

Battier's professionalism and locker room influence will be lost on a team with James. He's never listened to anyone in his basketball life or followed anyone elses positive example, and he won't start now.

Ah yes, Longtime Revered Locker Room Cancer LeBron James. And this is based on..........? Must have missed the part where LeBron and Terrell Owens switched reputations.

[JMT]

Ah yes, Longtime Revered Locker Room Cancer LeBron James. And this is based on..........? Must have missed the part where LeBron and Terrell Owens switched reputations.

Never called him a cancer, though Mike Brown might differ.

[Theoo's Daddy]

Ah yes, Longtime Revered Locker Room Cancer LeBron James. And this is based on..........? Must have missed the part where LeBron and Terrell Owens switched reputations.

:oldlol: :oldlol:

Liking this move so far. DEFENSE AND MORE DEFENSE, the foundation of this team.

[PJR]

Battier's professionalism and locker room influence will be lost on a team with James. He's never listened to anyone in his basketball life or followed anyone elses positive example, and he won't start now.

This shit amazes me. Never meet the guy. Never been in a lockeroom, but yet you can make this inference. :hammerhead:

[chips93]

Ah yes, Longtime Revered Locker Room Cancer LeBron James. And this is based on..........? Must have missed the part where LeBron and Terrell Owens switched reputations.

coach k wanted to cut him from the redeem team because of his attitude.

[Arroyo8]

really?

[Kurosawa0]

This could end up being the end for Mike Miller.

[JMT]

This shit amazes me. Never meet the guy. Never been in a lockeroom, but yet you can make this inference. :

And every other post on ISH is based on personal, first hand knowledge and/or well qualified, informed basketball insight honed by years of experience.

He never had the experience of a college team where it's possible that a coach or veteran players could have created a situation where he actually had to defer to someone. Certainly never had to do it in high school. Folks in Cleveland were pretty blunt in their assessment that James tuned out the coaching staff and did pretty much what he wanted. And there were instances last year (the brush off/push past Spoelstra comes to mind) where there were questions about how receptive he was to coaching

Never called him a cancer. But when a guy has never had to yield to anyone, and is so convinced that his way is the right way, it's hard to for anyone...especially a role player teammate, regardless how well respected he is by the rest of the league...to break through.

[TheJuice31]

And as it turned out, LeBron was named one of the three captains on that very same Olympic team.

[chips93]

And as it turned out, LeBron was named one of the three captains on that very same Olympic team.

im not saying he's a cancer or anything like that, but personally, i dont think highly of him as a leader.

a team usually takes on the personality of its leader. and i think bron just wants to have fun a bit too much. all the dancing on the sidelines, photo gimmick before games, things like this, they might be fun, and help everybody get along, but when the going got tough for those cleveland teams, they didnt know how to respond.

in a nutshell i think those cleveland teams were front running teams, and i think lebron deserves some blame for that.

as well as the coaching, well i think its either his style of play, or his attitude, but there is something wrong, that eight years into his career, he still doesnt seem to be great at fitting into an offense. it showed in last years finals, when he could get to the hoop, he was pretty ineffective.

lebron is no cancer, but his leadership leaves a lot to be desired.

[Theoo's Daddy]

And every other post on ISH is based on personal, first hand knowledge and/or well qualified, informed basketball insight honed by years of experience.

He never had the experience of a college team where it's possible that a coach or veteran players could have created a situation where he actually had to defer to someone. Certainly never had to do it in high school. Folks in Cleveland were pretty blunt in their assessment that James tuned out the coaching staff and did pretty much what he wanted. And there were instances last year (the brush off/push past Spoelstra comes to mind) where there were questions about how receptive he was to coaching

Never called him a cancer. But when a guy has never had to yield to anyone, and is so convinced that his way is the right way, it's hard to for anyone...especially a role player teammate, regardless how well respected he is by the rest of the league...to break through.

Rasheed wallace, isiah rider,rodman,demarcus cousins,stephen jackson, all went to college but are locker room cancers. how is this, if college is supposed to groom players, it failed here.

[JMT]

Rasheed wallace, isiah rider,rodman,demarcus cousins,stephen jackson, all went to college but are locker room cancers. how is this, if college is supposed to groom players, it failed here.

He never had the experience of a college team where it's possible that a coach or veteran players could have created a situation where he actually had to defer to someone.

Why would you highlight that sentence if you don't understand the meaning of "where it's possible"?

Yes, hand picking guys who went to college and still were locker room cancers certainly proves that nobody ever benefitted from that college experence.

And in the case of Stephen Jackson, Butler Community College is well known as a developmental proving ground for young players. Five examples and one of them didn't even attend a 4 year school. :roll:

[TheJuice31]

im not saying he's a cancer or anything like that, but personally, i dont think highly of him as a leader.

a team usually takes on the personality of its leader. and i think bron just wants to have fun a bit too much. all the dancing on the sidelines, photo gimmick before games, things like this, they might be fun, and help everybody get along, but when the going got tough for those cleveland teams, they didnt know how to respond.

in a nutshell i think those cleveland teams were front running teams, and i think lebron deserves some blame for that.

as well as the coaching, well i think its either his style of play, or his attitude, but there is something wrong, that eight years into his career, he still doesnt seem to be great at fitting into an offense. it showed in last years finals, when he could get to the hoop, he was pretty ineffective.

lebron is no cancer, but his leadership leaves a lot to be desired.

I see where you're coming from, but I'm more of the school of thought that the construction of those Cavs teams was better suited for the regular season and in the playoffs, they simply lost to better teams where matchups were magnified so much more. Take 08 and 10 vs. Boston: LeBron's the best player on the floor. How many Celtics do we have to name until we get the next best Cavalier on the court? Mo Williams, who doesn't even so much as register as one of the 75 best players in the league (I know he was only around for the 10 series)? I don't think those teams were front-runners so much as a team like Boston was just deeper and had more avenues for production than a Cleveland team that had only one notable offensive threat, albeit a damn good one.

In regards to how he fits into the scheme of an offense, it's a valid question but I think it doesn't help your case when you say it was exposed in the finals. LeBron struggles to fit into an offense, yet still managed to come within two wins of a title on a team that played 3-on-5 every night with only 10 months of experience together under their belts? I dunno, I'm actually pretty impressed by that. The entire Heat experiment was still a work in progress last year as far as roles go...yet they came within two wins of a championship on a roster that possessed the best 1-3 players and the worst 4-12. For LeBron, it's more mental than anything but he's still just 26. He's got plenty of time and will have his chances.

[chips93]

I see where you're coming from, but I'm more of the school of thought that the construction of those Cavs teams was better suited for the regular season and in the playoffs, they simply lost to better teams where matchups were magnified so much more. Take 08 and 10 vs. Boston: LeBron's the best player on the floor. How many Celtics do we have to name until we get the next best Cavalier on the court? Mo Williams, who doesn't even so much as register as one of the 75 best players in the league (I know he was only around for the 10 series)? I don't think those teams were front-runners so much as a team like Boston was just deeper and had more avenues for production than a Cleveland team that had only one notable offensive threat, albeit a damn good one.

In regards to how he fits into the scheme of an offense, it's a valid question but I think it doesn't help your case when you say it was exposed in the finals. LeBron struggles to fit into an offense, yet still managed to come within two wins of a title on a team that played 3-on-5 every night with only 10 months of experience together under their belts? I dunno, I'm actually pretty impressed by that. The entire Heat experiment was still a work in progress last year as far as roles go...yet they came within two wins of a championship on a roster that possessed the best 1-3 players and the worst 4-12. For LeBron, it's more mental than anything but he's still just 26. He's got plenty of time and will have his chances.

nice post. i agree with parts. where i disagree is pretty subjective. anyway;

i think part of the reason those cavalier teams lacked a great second or third guy was because of bron's style. larry hughes was a very productive player before he came to cleveland. then he had to share hhe ball with bron and he suffered.

so i think lebron's style deserves some blame for the lack of talent he was surrounded with.

as for the finals, obviously they got close, and it wasnt a bad season by any means, but i think with the talent that they had, if lebron was a more cohesive player, they could have won. lebron's lack of off-ball play was poor regardless of the result of the season. other things negated it to an extent. his great on-ball play for one.

nice to have a discussion about bron without it turning into a stupid hate-fest

:cheers:

[Kurosawa0]

i think part of the reason those cavalier teams lacked a great second or third guy was because of bron's style. larry hughes was a very productive player before he came to cleveland. then he had to share hhe ball with bron and he suffered.

so i think lebron's style deserves some blame for the lack of talent he was surrounded with.


How did Larry Hughes do after he left Cleveland? How he played in Cleveland was basically who he was throughout his career. He had one good year in Washington, but otherwise he was just a 12-15 point, 40% guy.

I'm sorry, but this "LeBron was a ball hog and froze his teammates out in Cleveland" whitewash is utter crap. The guy was everything for that team and the most unselfish superstar in basketball, other than maybe Steve Nash.

[Meticode]

Tbh though a lineup with Lebron running point, Wade at the 2, and SB at the three is pretty sick.
:roll:

[Fatstogie]

This is the dumbest shit ive ever heard.

They dont need Shane Battier. They need a passing PG.

Why bring in a defensive minded player, to already one of the most defensive teams in the league?

If anything the heat need a PG or a C. Unless they are just trying to get whatever they can fit in.

But damn, i think this is stupid.

I dont want lebron running point, greatest player in the Nba right now.

But 1 fact many of you ignore. You have to be smart to be a good pg. Lebron is not. He can pass and he has handle. But he often, OFTEN, makes poor decisions.


The heat need someone to run their offense and make wade and lebron score off the ball more. it will be easier for them and it will increase their percentage allowing other players on the team to take some shots too.

[Meticode]

This is the dumbest shit ive ever heard.

They dont need Shane Battier. They need a passing PG.

Why bring in a defensive minded player, to already one of the most defensive teams in the league?

If anything the heat need a PG or a C. Unless they are just trying to get whatever they can fit in.

But damn, i think this is stupid.

I dont want lebron running point, greatest player in the Nba right now.

But 1 fact many of you ignore. You have to be smart to be a good pg. Lebron is not. He can pass and he has handle. But he often, OFTEN, makes poor decisions.


The heat need someone to run their offense and make wade and lebron score off the ball more. it will be easier for them and it will increase their percentage allowing other players on the team to take some shots too.

Good luck seeing that happen. I agree that's what they need to learn to do, but Wade and LeBron pound the ball way too much.

[Fatstogie]

Good luck seeing that happen. I agree that's what they need to learn to do, but Wade and LeBron pound the ball way too much.
Lebron did it more in cleveland he made cuts to the rim more often.

If those fools would take easy baskets isntead of trying to "put on a show" theyd score ALOT more.

Lets be honest. The heats offense was PITIFUL last year. Not even close to their capability.

[jrong]

nice post. i agree with parts. where i disagree is pretty subjective. anyway;

i think part of the reason those cavalier teams lacked a great second or third guy was because of bron's style. larry hughes was a very productive player before he came to cleveland. then he had to share hhe ball with bron and he suffered.

so i think lebron's style deserves some blame for the lack of talent he was surrounded with.

as for the finals, obviously they got close, and it wasnt a bad season by any means, but i think with the talent that they had, if lebron was a more cohesive player, they could have won. lebron's lack of off-ball play was poor regardless of the result of the season. other things negated it to an extent. his great on-ball play for one.

nice to have a discussion about bron without it turning into a stupid hate-fest

:cheers:

Individual possession of the basketball is a zero-sum game. If you have the ball that means your four teammates do not. And the way a team distributes its offensive possessions has consequences. If one player has the ball most of the time/ generates most of the plays, his teammates may not respond well in pressure moments when the star is struggling/ in foul trouble/ injured.

Also important are roles within the offense, offensive sets, and getting to individual spots on the floor. Players have certain comfort zones and when a player like Hughes is pushed out of his comfort zone and in fact has somebody else in James occupying it, it's not surprising that he'd struggle.

My thinking is that it takes a player the level of Wade, or perhaps any superstar, to be able to excel at his own game while playing next to James. Lower-tier stars or borderline all-star-level players may suffer, at least statistically, because LeBron (pre-2011) monopolizes so much of the offense, that they can struggle all season to establish that comfort zone and to find their rhythm.


....Topic: this move doesn't make sense to me. The holes are at C and PG. I can live with Chalmers remaining at point. I can not live with Joel Anthony starting the season at center. I don't see what Battier adds that is not already more than covered by having James/Bosh/Haslem in the rotation. Keeping Battier also means saying goodbye to Miller, which I guess may have been planned anyway, but then that leaves Jones and House as your only shooting specialists, and if there's one thing Miller/Jones/House showed last year is that it's good to have a roster of shooters because at least two of them will probably be going through a cold spell at any one time.

I understand the point about getting James more rest, but realistically, how many fewer minutes is he going to play? He's not going to reduce his minutes by ten per game. He might play a few minutes less, but that's it. And is getting LBJ a better defensive backup (than Miller) is that really more important than addressing the positions where the Heat is most deficient, particularly center?

[2swift4u]

I don't really get it either why Miami wants Battier. Imo they need to get a decent Center and resign Chalmers... But if they signed Battier then Pat Riley sure would have his reasons. it's gonna be difficult to find a Center anyway...

[305Baller]

Rasheed wallace, isiah rider,rodman,demarcus cousins,stephen jackson, all went to college but are locker room cancers. how is this, if college is supposed to groom players, it failed here.

Stereotypical BS. College schooling can instill only so much discipline.
A personality needs to work within the teams chemistry.

[InspiredLebowski]

Battier's down to Miami, Memphis, Indy, and Toronto.

http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2011/12/04/battier-narrows-it-to-handful-of-teams/

Really couldn't ask for a better guy to set an example for Paul George. And Granger.

[EnoughSaid]

Then amnesty Mike Miller please.

[305Baller]

Then amnesty Mike Miller please.

Pretty much. Fn hernia.

I think for Mike Miller's sake he should take a year off basketball just to get his body right. His body is taking a beating and needs more to fully recover, I thought the lockout would be a boon but now the hernia confirms the need for rest.

[Lebron23]

Goodbye Miller. Hello Battier

[InspiredLebowski]

Even if they amnesty Miller and decline all their options I still don't think Miami'd have any more money to spend (under the rules) than they do now.

[MeLO MvP 15]

I still think Tayshaun Prince would be the better option if they were coming at the same price. Battier may be the better defender and possibly better shooter, but Prince can score in different ways, play some point forward and cover 4 positions. Tayshaun is also younger.

Riley is obviously thinking that Dalembert for the MLE would be regretted instantly and a guy like JJ Barea could turn out to be too big of a risk. He also probably noticed that Spo was playing LeBron way too much and wants a solid back up for his 2 best players (who can also play with them).

[ballsohard247]

Battier would be a good addition. A tough defender to put on Durant/Melo types and he can spot up and shoot threes. Also has good work ethic and shows up every night to play. A true professional.

[pmj]

Even if they amnesty Miller and decline all their options I still don't think Miami'd have any more money to spend (under the rules) than they do now.

If they amnesty Miller, they get full $5 million MLE and Bi-annual exception at $1.9 million.

If they don't, they'll most likely end up more than $4 million over the luxury tax, which means they can only get a mini MLE at $3 million.

[InspiredLebowski]

If they amnesty Miller, they get full $5 million MLE and Bi-annual exception at $1.9 million.

If they don't, they'll most likely end up more than $4 million over the luxury tax, which means they can only get a mini MLE at $3 million.That's true, had forgotten about the MLE differences between tax/non-tax payers. Thanks.

[305Baller]

I still think Tayshaun Prince would be the better option if they were coming at the same price. Battier may be the better defender and possibly better shooter, but Prince can score in different ways, play some point forward and cover 4 positions. Tayshaun is also younger.

Riley is obviously thinking that Dalembert for the MLE would be regretted instantly and a guy like JJ Barea could turn out to be too big of a risk. He also probably noticed that Spo was playing LeBron way too much and wants a solid back up for his 2 best players (who can also play with them).

Tay Prince is a champion. That I like. Battier, Prince, Butler, Hill, all good moves for Miami. They want those guys to come in and shoot consistently well.

[stallionaire]

Pg - lbj
Sg - wade
Sf - battier
Pf - bosh
C - dalembert
:applause:

GOAT

[All Net]

Even if they amnesty Miller and decline all their options I still don't think Miami'd have any more money to spend (under the rules) than they do now.

They have the 5 million MLE wether they keep Miller or not.

[HurricaneKid]

They have the 5 million MLE wether they keep Miller or not.

What I have read was in line with PMJ is saying. But I think its insane to amnesty a guy paying him 20M to possibly save 2M on the cap this year. Even for a chronically injured Miller, 2M is a steal. And Mia needs a bench this year. Way too many games packed way too tight.

[LakersReign]

Battier had one good game against Kobe a few years back, and has been SEVERELY overrated since then. This signing will work as well as Mike Bibby's did. But it's really the best the Heat can do until they trade away Bosh to free up some cap room.