Re: details on the Battier vs Richardson dunkfest

["David Darlington" <davied99@netzero.net>]

I, for one, would love to see Battier drop to 10 to the C's could snag him.
The remarks about him remind me a bit of what they said about Paul Pierce,
ie, a "complete game" already developed right out of college.
-d



----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Piotrowski" <markp@edu15.coe.ufl.edu>
To: <Celtics@igtc.com>
Sent: Friday, June 22, 2001 1:52 PM
Subject: Re: details on the Battier vs Richardson dunkfest


> >  But the one thing that stood out was his experience and his
> >intelligence on the court. Plus the guy rooted for everyone else to do
> >well throughout the workout - especially rooting for the JUCO kid.
> >
> >The one thing I really noticed between Richardson and Battier is
> >projectability. I see Richardson getting MUCH better than he already
> >is, and he is a great player NOW. I just don't know how much better
> >Shane can get. I might be wrong as hell on him, but this is just my
> >gut. When you looked out there on the court with the 6 guys, you saw
> >Battier stand out mainly due to his poise and even his leadership
> >abilities in a 3on3 drill.
>
> Everything i have read has pointed to the fact that Battier has maxed
> out his BBall potential (which isn't bad considering he -- not
> Richardson, Griffin, Johnson, et al -- was the player of the year.
> This is followed with "player X" (richardson, griffin, johnson, et
> al) haven't and have unlimited upside/potential/whatever.
>
> But every article also says that Battier has the leadership skills,
> basketball smarts, poise, etc.
>
> my question is:  isn't this something that leaders exhibit early in
> their careers and get better at, whereas players who don't display it
> yet don't really ever develop it?
>
> what i mean is -- as this Hawks fan points out -- Battier is a
> LEADER.  Its something you could see in Bird, Magic, Isaiah, (no i'm
> not comparing their basketball skills, but their ability to LEAD,
> RALLY teamates) when they were coming out of college.  but are there
> examples of a player coming out of college w/o those skills that
> develop them in their NBA career?  (I'm asking b/c i really don't
> know, maybe i'm missing someone)
>
> I mean you can learn through repititon to hit a 15 foot jump shot but
> can you LEARN to become a leader to your teamates? it seems you have
> that or you don't.
>
> i look at someone like Bryant Stith.  He had that coming out of
> Virginia where his teams overacheived b/c like Battier he was a
> leader, made his teamates better.  I think that Stith's influence on
> this team this year is often overlooked.  i think players like
> Pierce, Walker and Palacio benefitted by having his leadership -- i
> wonder if he didn't have something to do with Walker taking the
> offseason seriously this year?
>
> I think especially if we lose Stith that leadership is our 2nd
> biggest void -- after muscle in the paint.  I mean Walker and Pierce
> are budding stars, but i don't know that either have that desire or
> ability to lead.  Sometimes it seems, leadership and talent are not
> one in the same.  I think that is where people are missing what
> Battier may bring to a team.
>
> This is not to take anything away from Richardson -- who sounds like
> a phenomenal talent.
>
> mark
>
>


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