Well i as laker fan was looking back and wondering who is the best defender on kobe. Also a article about rafael nadal and roger federer. Shane battiers finals peak battier 7 lite sole collector. What current nba player would do the best job guarding. The heat went to the nba finals in all three seasons that battier played in miami. Laker fans, what is your opinion on the way shane battier contests kobe s jump shots. Battier s approach to guarding bryant became a hot topic for discussion after michael lewis wrote about this in the new york times in february 2009, and i wrote several articles about this subject as well. Shane battier remembers life on kobe island only a game. Ben cohens february 10, 2020 wall street journal article titled he didnt know kobe.
I am glad hes found peace, i dont know if we ll see another like him. But what you can do, is to slow them down and make them work hard for every shot, every little point. Well, the brave souls assignedto guard kobe bryant dont have that option. Feb 14, 2009 even as battier was being introduced in the arena, ahmad rashad was wrapping up his pregame report on nba tv and saying, shane battier will try to stop kobe bryant. He was a rookie with the grizzlies during the 200102 season when it happened, and he didnt stand a chance. Is there something weaker than battier covering kobes.
Kobe is impossible to stop but who can slow him down the most. Shane battier discusses how analytics helped him guard kobe bryant. Sports illustrated may 18, 2009 manny ramirez dodgers kobe. Shane battier on trying to guard kobe bryant i like to think he was my ultimate foil, and i was his. I like to think he was my ultimate foil, and i was his, shane battier on his rivalry with kobe.
Nigeria are in the process of trying to bag brooklyn nets point guard. Clicking on an indivdiual season will display the teams roster for that season. Shane battiers newest signature shoe gets dressed up in gold for the nba finals. Feb 16, 2017 shane is an outofthebox thinker and will bring a fresh expertise that can help us evolve as a franchise. Battier was acquired by the miami heat after their big 3 lost in the world championship to the dallas mavericks. Shane battier calls kobe bryant toughest to guard lakers. Hes a more experienced and cerebral defenderhe created a book on how to guard kobe.
Shane battier helped propel the rockets past the lakers, scoring 11. Apr 26, 2019 here are the timestamps for haberstrohs interview with battier. Jun 21, 20 miami heat forward shane battier had best game in long time in game 7 of nba finals. Shane courtney battier born september 9, 1978 is an american former professional basketball player who played for various teams of the national basketball association nba. The cover features manny ramirez and the topic of supplements in sports. Jeff grossgetty images this article is more than 4 years old. What current nba player would do the best job guarding kobe andor lebron james. Battier posted 18 points on 6for8 from three as heat beat san antonio spurs to repeat as champions.
The entire playing career for shane battier is displayed below. But he did subscription required details shane battier s experiences playing against kobe bryant. Shane battier jokes about the time kobe bryant torched him. On april 29, 2003, kobe bryant goes baseline and dunks over.
He just tries to make him a jumpshooter and put a hand in his face so. The battier take charge foundation, 2829 bird avenue, suite 5, miami, fl 333. In the book he published before his death, he wrote about michael jordan. Shane battiers defense on kobe bryant 2009 playoffs youtube. Jan 05, 2012 shane battier does to kobe bryant what he did to danny granger on wednesday. May 17, 2009 you sure cannot shut down great players like kobe bryant. Even as battier was being introduced in the arena, ahmad rashad was wrapping up his pregame report on nba tv and saying, shane battier will try to stop kobe bryant. San antonios bruce bowen and houstons shane battier are more in tune with bryants sequence and. Apr 07, 2020 in his book, mamba mentality, bryant wrote, when someone like shane battier faceguarded me, it didnt really impact my game. Throughout his 20year nba career, kobe bryant has gone headtohead with some of the top perimeter defenders in nba history.
I confidently volunteered to guard jackson, the opposing teams best player, just as shane battier volunteers to guard kobe bryant in lewis article. He plays tough defense without being dirty he is one. Shane battier says basketball gods owed him in game 7. Do you consider that a good defensive tactic, or do you think its dirty and should be disallowed. Join facebook to connect with shane battier and others you may know. Shane battier jokes about the time kobe bryant torched him for 56 points in three quarters. Then, in game 4, kobe went off, scoring 38 points on16for24 shooting as the lakers went up 31 in that series.
Lebron works out during nba hiatus with the nba on a hiatus, lebron james still gets a workout in at home. A numerical value for each of a players accomplishments perminute and is paceadjusted for the team they play on. See, thats my pet peeve, a very animated battier said after the game. So much of my career was tied to me being his foil and him being my foil. Shane battier defense on kobe bryant october 30, 2007 youtube. Shane battiers wife heidi battier has been in the picture since the two got together in high school.
While scouts remain more impressed with high school kids who dont work up a sweat in games, battier says its brains, not brawn that gets the job done in the nba. All columns may be sorted by clicking the column name. In the book he published before his death, he wrote about michael jordan and lebron james, jerry west and magic johnson, the players who helped define his two decades in the nba and, of course, himself. This caused the cohost gary payton to laugh and reply, aint gonna happen, and the other cohost, chris webber, to add, i think kobe will score 50, and theyll. Shane battier was surprised with an absurd amount of bud light, courtesy of bud light. Kobe bryant and shane battier only spoke on the basketball court.
Shane battier returns to heat, to lead analytics department. By these measures, the unsung and undervalued shane battier is a true allstar. Oct 03, 2016 galaxy opal kobe bryant historic spotlight games live. Shane battier believes analytics helped him stop kobe. Battier faced kobe in the playoffs numerous times, and while im sure kobe would say otherwise, battier.
Inside, there is a story on shane battier guarding kobe bryant with several great pictures. Tom haberstrohs nba podcast, ep shane battier on trying to guard kobe bryant apr 7, 2020. Shane battier discusses why analytics helped him guard kobe. On march 22, 2007, kobe bryant scored at least 50 points for the third game in a row by dropping 60 on the grizzlies.
In sports forums all over the internet, there is debate about the legality of face guarding in basketball. According to him, kobe could have easily gone for 70. There was nobody shane battier respected more than his basketball adversary. This is a lengthy story, but one well worth reading by the author of. Kobe bryants struggles in game 1 of the lakers secondround nba playoff series against the houston rockets might have been caused by the lingering effects of illness but after reading this piece by michael lewis that ran in february in the new york times magazine, you might strongly consider the shane battier effect.
Is there something weaker than battier covering kobe s eyes. Shane battier believes analytics helped him stop kobe shane battier discusses why analytics helped him guard kobe. Clicking on a tab heading will display the specified set of statistics. Battier goes on to say that while kobe was the toughest to guard throughout his career, it probably wouldnt be the case now, most likely now being lebron james or kevin durant. Picking winners in the starstudded east semifinals nbc. Ray allen, shane battier, ron artest, bruce bowen, ruben patterson the selfproclaimed kobe stopper and raja bell, to name. He is a player i can respectfully watch because he plays the game the way it should be played.
He under no circumstances fouls human beings and he could reason turnovers extremely elementary. Autoplay when autoplay is enabled, a suggested video. It was laughable on one occasion, where he didnt even jumpinstead just reaching over and sticking his hand a co. Here are the timestamps for haberstrohs interview with battier. Though shane battier may not be as athletic as tony allen, he excels in every other area.
Oct 17, 20 battier had made a careerbest 43 percent of his threepoint attempts during the regular season, all while providing so many of the useful little things that have defined his nba existence. Shane battier recalls lakers legend kobe bryant being the. The percentage of a teams possessions that ends in an assist. Shane battiers defense on kobe bryant 2009 playoffs. You sure cannot shut down great players like kobe bryant. Shane battier was one of the better defenders in the nba during his seasons as a pro, and much of his success was a result of research and preparation. Shane battier discusses trying to guard kobe bryant. Take the case of utah guard ronniebrewer, who is a respectable defender, though not in battier s league. I never spoke to kobe outside the arenaever, battier said this week. Jun 18, 2008 shane battier to me is the terrific defender interior the league. Shane battier nba player profile page from whatifsports. Please dont say stuff like only god can defend kobe. Battier who obsessively studied kobe bryant prior to each of their mostly onesided battles throughout a stellar year career says he owes much of his success to the careful scrutiny.
Everything is legal until you make physical contact. Shane courtney battier born september 9, 1978 is an american retired professional basketball player who played for various teams of the national basketball association nba. If you ever watch him in games, its usually him with the star defending. Look at the impressive effort being put forth by shane battier in the matchup at the heart of the contentious secondround.
Nyt the no stats allstar shane battier thoughts and. Can michael lewis shane battier article make me a better. Battier was born and raised in birmingham, michigan, and attended detroit country day school in nearby. Lakers guard kobe bryant gets stopped by a host of rockets while on his way to the basket during the first half.
Get complete gamebygame stats for small forward shane battier on espn. He must have had every opportunity he ever wanted while at duke, but unfortunately, he was long since spoken for. Retired nba champion shane battier says that kobe bryant was unlike any other player he ever had to guard. In college, purposely obstructing an opponents vision by placing your hand near their face is a technical foul. Jun 09, 2009 the key to guarding kobe is not quickness, because he is so quick. Battier artest kirilenko shawn marion tayshaun prince. And that national championship trophy he won two months ago doesnt have upside printed on it. Nbc sports national nba insider tom haberstroh sits down with some of the biggest names in the nba to share the stories and the numbers behind the biggest games and biggest moments in the league. The last dance offers a glimpse into the michael jordan. Shane battiers biggest pet peeve miami heat index espn. These things do not show in his stats, but his team improved while he was on the court. Duringthe first round of the playoffs, brewer had to stick bryant. Hes so skilled with the ball, your only real hope is to body him like artest and battier did, and keep a hand in his face on.