Photo: Joe MurphyNBAE/Getty Images |
Last Season
After being a starter for his entire rookie season in 2001-02, Battier took
on the role of sixth man last season. The reduced minutes caused his offensive
numbers to dip to 9.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg, and 1.3 apg. However, Battier's most important
contributions can not be shown in a boxscore. Like Posey, Battier plays with
a defense-first mentality. His 1.31 steals per game was tops on the Grizzlies,
and he posted an amazing 1.50 steals-per-turnover ratio, second in the NBA only
to New Jersey's Kerry Kittles. Battier is willing to guard the opponent's best
offensive player, and he sacrifices his body to take a charge or dive for loose
balls, making him a favorite among teammates, coaches and fans. He also provides
efficient shooting, averaging 48.3% from the field, 39.8% from three-point range
and 82.8% from the free throw line last season.
2003-04 Outlook
Battier should see his role continue as the sixth man with most of his minutes
coming at small forward with starter Mike Miller. However, Battier has proven
his ability to play almost anywhere, and he could see significant minutes at
shooting guard if veterans Posey or Person are unable to perform. Look for Battier
to continue to do the things that he does best: play great defense, sacrifice
his body for the team, and average 10 to 12 points on offense and 4 to 5 rebounds
per game.
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