The Battier Factor

[alpo]

 

[iPod Raheem 2.0]

1. Who has been the most outstanding player of the Finals?

Israel Gutierrez, ESPN.com: The proper answer is LeBron James, who has been the attacking, fearless player we all expect. But compared to expectations, it has to be Shane Battier. I mean, 73 percent 3-point shooting? And 40 minutes a game? And playing out of position? That's outstanding.

3. Who has been the surprise of the Finals?

Harper: It can't be anything other than Shane Battier, right? He's shooting 73.3 percent from 3-point range in this series and has a true shooting percentage of 101.4 percent. He's also not shying away from shots at all. He almost has that Eddie House thing going, of releasing the shot before the pass even gets to him. He's trying to put the dagger in OKC at all times.

Peterson: Shane Battier. All of a sudden a guy who was signed to take some of the defensive pressure from LeBron and Dwyane Wade has turned into Ray Allen. Battier has missed only four of his 15 3-point attempts and needs to be accounted for on offense. I don't think if he fades, the Heat fade with him, but even if he returns to being an average shooter, he's been the biggest surprise so far in the Finals.

Stein: Even a longtime Shane Battier fan like me can't sit here and try to claim that I ever envisioned him shooting nearly 75 percent from the 3-point line through three games. Nor can you sit here and echo the claims about how "this is exactly what Miami signed him for" ... because no one shoots like this.

Even Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles could see () that the Wrinkled Skull is during this Finals series.

NBA Finals -- Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder Game 4 preview - ESPN

 

[Lucky_Lefty]

it can't last forever...btw, is there a breakdown that shows how many of those attempts have been contested vs uncontested??

 

[Angel On The Rag]

i just wanna smack that fool whenever i see him

 

[T.he I.nformant]

6 3s in a Game 7 on the grandest stage and a Grand Slam later

#Winning

 

[CrimsonTider]

But,people want to say they need a true 5 and Bosh to play the 4.

No....

They need Battier at the 4 playing to his averages.