Hornets.com’s 1-on-1
November 5, 2006
Hornets.com caught up with Houston forward Shane Battier and Houston television analyst Matt Bullard at the New Orleans Arena on Sunday.
One of the NBA’s most well-respected players, Battier played with Chris Paul on the USA Basketball team that competed at the World Championships. Bullard played 11 seasons in the NBA, including spending one season with the Hornets.
Houston forward Shane Battier
Q: You played five seasons in Memphis and were one of the Grizzlies’ biggest fan favorites before being traded to the Rockets in June. What was your first reaction to the trade?
A: It seemed like every summer there was a rumor that I was going to be traded from there, but the fact that it actually happened was a shock at first. Being in a place for five years, obviously I was going to miss my friends and the relationships I developed in Memphis, but Houston is a great opportunity for me professionally to grow. A new place is going to get my competitive juices flowing.
Q: Did you see Houston as a very good fit for you because they have two stars in Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming that you can complement?
A: You hope when you get traded that you’re going to go to a situation that is great for you professionally. This is a great spot for me. Coach (Jeff) Van Gundy appreciates what I bring, and the guys on the team appreciate what I bring. I’m just going to play my hardest every night, try to knock down open shots and play smart basketball.
Q: How did you feel personally about being selected to the USA Basketball team? Many times in basketball the players who receive the most acclaim are the guys who are big scorers and have impressive statistics. Was it gratifying for you to be recognized for some of the subtle things you do the court?
A: It was tremendous. It was an honor to represent my country, the greatest country in the entire world. I try to represent it the best way I could, with class and dignity. To be amongst so many great players and so many great coaches, it was an honor for me. I look forward to building on what we accomplished this summer and bringing back the gold medal in 2008.
Q: Speaking of subtle aspects of the game, do you take pride in probably being the league’s leader in drawing charges from opposing players?
A: [laughs] Well, I try to make winning basketball plays. This is a simple game. You have to try to make simple, fundamental plays. A lot of times those plays don’t show up on ESPN SportsCenter, or the front page (of a newspaper), but any good team in this league makes the smart, easy play. I’ve made a nice career out of doing that. It’s been a nice little formula for me.
Q: What’s the worst collision you’ve ever been in as a result of trying to draw an offensive foul?
A: I’ve been in two. I’ve taken charges from two of the largest guys in the world. I’ve taken a charge from Shaq, and I took one from Yao Ming. But I’m still here alive to tell you about both. [laughs] I didn’t get any broken bones from either of them, but at the same time, I don’t think I’ll be doing that again. [grins]
Q: Duke University products have had a reputation in the past for being disappointments in the NBA, but with the recent success of players like Elton Brand and yourself, that may be starting to change. What is your opinion on that subject?
A: Well, we (Duke alums playing in the NBA) laugh about it. I think that goes in cycles. Now we have a lot of guys in the league, so people are saying that we make good pros now. We really have a lot of pride in our alma mater, and there have been a lot of great players who came through that program. It’s great to see my former teammates perform well and carry on that tradition.
Q: Is it also partly a case perhaps where it’s not easy to come into the NBA and succeed no matter what your background is, so if you have a school like that Duke that produces so many first-round picks, the chances are pretty good that there will some guys who don’t do well?
A: Yeah, there will always be some failures. But I always tell people that it’s not easy to keep track of where all the Duke players are, because there are a lot of them out there. Some of the other schools, there may only be one or two guys (playing in the NBA).
Houston broadcaster Matt Bullard
Q: Although Houston is coming off a 34-48 season, the vast majority of basketball analysts are predicting the Rockets will make the playoffs, partly because they were 21-10 when Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming were both healthy and in the lineup. How many wins do you see them getting if those players don’t miss significant time with injuries? In a best-case scenario, is this a conference-title contender?
A: Best-case scenario, with a healthy Rockets team, I think they can be near the top of the Western Conference. But realistically, the Southwest Division has got Dallas and San Antonio – two great teams, obviously. And if you look at the standings right now, the Hornets are leading the division. You can’t look at them like you’re going to beat them every time either. We had injuries and a down year last season, but in the offseason we added Shane Battier and Bonzi Wells. To add those two guys to T-Mac and Yao was great. Given some of the additions that were made, if we can stay healthy, this team has pretty high aspirations.
The players expect to be in the Western Conference finals, but realistically, there are so many good teams in the West that it’s going to be difficult.
Q: What was your impression of the Shane Battier and Bonzi Wells acquisitions? Both of those moves seemed to receive pretty positive reviews around the league.
A: I look at the Shane Battier move like this: Last summer, we signed Stromile Swift to a free-agent contract, and he came to us from Memphis. But he was really up and down for us, and more down than up. I was on vacation (during the June draft) and when I read in the USA Today that the Rockets had traded Stromile Swift and their first-round pick to Memphis for Shane Battier, I was thinking ‘How did that happen?’
We got a player in Battier who was on the U.S. Olympic team, and we gave Memphis BACK a player (Swift) that they didn’t even really want. So I was so excited when I heard about that trade. Then with Bonzi, he passed on something like a $30 million to $40 million contract (offered by Sacramento), and we signed him for about $2 million. That was a great deal. The offseason moves have been spectacular.
Q: What was your opinion of the Hornets’ moves to acquire Peja Stojakovic, Tyson Chandler and Bobby Jackson?
A: I think Jeff Bower did an excellent job of realizing the Hornets’ weaknesses, and shooting the basketball was one of those. Peja hasn’t been shooting the ball very well yet this season, but he’s the best shooter in the league, in my opinion. It’s funny, because I played in Greece in 1995, and Peja was on my team. He was just an 18-year-old kid at the time. We played one-on-one a lot, and I knew even then that he would be in the league.
And then you added Tyson Chandler, who shores up your defense inside. Jeff Bower did an excellent job of filling needs on this team.
Q: What is your impression of the Hornets from what you’ve seen so far? One of the things that seems to stand out already is how much deeper this team is than last season, when there may have been some players who were logging too many minutes based on their ability.
A: I think that’s a characteristic of teams that are at the bottom of the league. They have players playing significant minutes who aren’t really NBA players (talent-wise). That probably was the case with both the Rockets and Hornets last season. But after the roster improvements, now they probably have some quality NBA players who are sitting on the bench not getting to play a lot.
You need to have that kind of depth to survive injuries and get through a long season. It’s almost a headache for a coach, because he’s got to figure out how to get everyone minutes, but it’s definitely a good problem to have.
Q: You competed against six former NBA players in the ESPN reality TV show Dream Job, losing in the finals to Dee Brown. Do you have anything to say to the judges about their decision?
A: [laughs] I think the judges made the right pick. Because I talked to Dee Brown and he told me, ‘I wish I hadn’t won. Because now I have to spend four days a week in Bristol, Connecticut, it’s cold, and I’m away from my family.’
I got the Rockets job right after that – which was the job I always wanted – and I got to stay home [Bullard lives near Houston] to cover my own team. It actually worked out really well for me [grins] that I didn’t win.
Q: Over the past few years, people have talked a lot about the decline in shooting skills in basketball. Given that shooting was your biggest strength during your 11-year career, do you ever think about making a comeback? Don’t they say that shooters never lose their ability to shoot?
A: [laughs] You know, I’ve been out of the league for four years now, but I can still shoot. The other day I went out on the court before a game, took my suitcoat off and made nine out of 10 on 3-pointers. The problem is I can’t run up and down the court anymore! But if they ever start a halfcourt NBA, I’d definitely be interested. [laughs]
Hornets.com caught up with Houston forward Shane Battier and Houston television analyst Matt Bullard at the New Orleans Arena on Sunday.
One of the NBA’s most well-respected players, Battier played with Chris Paul on the USA Basketball team that competed at the World Championships. Bullard played 11 seasons in the NBA, including spending one season with the Hornets.
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Q: You played five seasons in Memphis and were one of the Grizzlies’ biggest fan favorites before being traded to the Rockets in June. What was your first reaction to the trade?
A: It seemed like every summer there was a rumor that I was going to be traded from there, but the fact that it actually happened was a shock at first. Being in a place for five years, obviously I was going to miss my friends and the relationships I developed in Memphis, but Houston is a great opportunity for me professionally to grow. A new place is going to get my competitive juices flowing.
Q: Did you see Houston as a very good fit for you because they have two stars in Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming that you can complement?
A: You hope when you get traded that you’re going to go to a situation that is great for you professionally. This is a great spot for me. Coach (Jeff) Van Gundy appreciates what I bring, and the guys on the team appreciate what I bring. I’m just going to play my hardest every night, try to knock down open shots and play smart basketball.
Q: How did you feel personally about being selected to the USA Basketball team? Many times in basketball the players who receive the most acclaim are the guys who are big scorers and have impressive statistics. Was it gratifying for you to be recognized for some of the subtle things you do the court?
A: It was tremendous. It was an honor to represent my country, the greatest country in the entire world. I try to represent it the best way I could, with class and dignity. To be amongst so many great players and so many great coaches, it was an honor for me. I look forward to building on what we accomplished this summer and bringing back the gold medal in 2008.
Q: Speaking of subtle aspects of the game, do you take pride in probably being the league’s leader in drawing charges from opposing players?
A: [laughs] Well, I try to make winning basketball plays. This is a simple game. You have to try to make simple, fundamental plays. A lot of times those plays don’t show up on ESPN SportsCenter, or the front page (of a newspaper), but any good team in this league makes the smart, easy play. I’ve made a nice career out of doing that. It’s been a nice little formula for me.
Q: What’s the worst collision you’ve ever been in as a result of trying to draw an offensive foul?
A: I’ve been in two. I’ve taken charges from two of the largest guys in the world. I’ve taken a charge from Shaq, and I took one from Yao Ming. But I’m still here alive to tell you about both. [laughs] I didn’t get any broken bones from either of them, but at the same time, I don’t think I’ll be doing that again. [grins]
Q: Duke University products have had a reputation in the past for being disappointments in the NBA, but with the recent success of players like Elton Brand and yourself, that may be starting to change. What is your opinion on that subject?
A: Well, we (Duke alums playing in the NBA) laugh about it. I think that goes in cycles. Now we have a lot of guys in the league, so people are saying that we make good pros now. We really have a lot of pride in our alma mater, and there have been a lot of great players who came through that program. It’s great to see my former teammates perform well and carry on that tradition.
Q: Is it also partly a case perhaps where it’s not easy to come into the NBA and succeed no matter what your background is, so if you have a school like that Duke that produces so many first-round picks, the chances are pretty good that there will some guys who don’t do well?
A: Yeah, there will always be some failures. But I always tell people that it’s not easy to keep track of where all the Duke players are, because there are a lot of them out there. Some of the other schools, there may only be one or two guys (playing in the NBA).
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Q: Although Houston is coming off a 34-48 season, the vast majority of basketball analysts are predicting the Rockets will make the playoffs, partly because they were 21-10 when Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming were both healthy and in the lineup. How many wins do you see them getting if those players don’t miss significant time with injuries? In a best-case scenario, is this a conference-title contender?
A: Best-case scenario, with a healthy Rockets team, I think they can be near the top of the Western Conference. But realistically, the Southwest Division has got Dallas and San Antonio – two great teams, obviously. And if you look at the standings right now, the Hornets are leading the division. You can’t look at them like you’re going to beat them every time either. We had injuries and a down year last season, but in the offseason we added Shane Battier and Bonzi Wells. To add those two guys to T-Mac and Yao was great. Given some of the additions that were made, if we can stay healthy, this team has pretty high aspirations.
The players expect to be in the Western Conference finals, but realistically, there are so many good teams in the West that it’s going to be difficult.
Q: What was your impression of the Shane Battier and Bonzi Wells acquisitions? Both of those moves seemed to receive pretty positive reviews around the league.
A: I look at the Shane Battier move like this: Last summer, we signed Stromile Swift to a free-agent contract, and he came to us from Memphis. But he was really up and down for us, and more down than up. I was on vacation (during the June draft) and when I read in the USA Today that the Rockets had traded Stromile Swift and their first-round pick to Memphis for Shane Battier, I was thinking ‘How did that happen?’
We got a player in Battier who was on the U.S. Olympic team, and we gave Memphis BACK a player (Swift) that they didn’t even really want. So I was so excited when I heard about that trade. Then with Bonzi, he passed on something like a $30 million to $40 million contract (offered by Sacramento), and we signed him for about $2 million. That was a great deal. The offseason moves have been spectacular.
Q: What was your opinion of the Hornets’ moves to acquire Peja Stojakovic, Tyson Chandler and Bobby Jackson?
A: I think Jeff Bower did an excellent job of realizing the Hornets’ weaknesses, and shooting the basketball was one of those. Peja hasn’t been shooting the ball very well yet this season, but he’s the best shooter in the league, in my opinion. It’s funny, because I played in Greece in 1995, and Peja was on my team. He was just an 18-year-old kid at the time. We played one-on-one a lot, and I knew even then that he would be in the league.
And then you added Tyson Chandler, who shores up your defense inside. Jeff Bower did an excellent job of filling needs on this team.
Q: What is your impression of the Hornets from what you’ve seen so far? One of the things that seems to stand out already is how much deeper this team is than last season, when there may have been some players who were logging too many minutes based on their ability.
A: I think that’s a characteristic of teams that are at the bottom of the league. They have players playing significant minutes who aren’t really NBA players (talent-wise). That probably was the case with both the Rockets and Hornets last season. But after the roster improvements, now they probably have some quality NBA players who are sitting on the bench not getting to play a lot.
You need to have that kind of depth to survive injuries and get through a long season. It’s almost a headache for a coach, because he’s got to figure out how to get everyone minutes, but it’s definitely a good problem to have.
Q: You competed against six former NBA players in the ESPN reality TV show Dream Job, losing in the finals to Dee Brown. Do you have anything to say to the judges about their decision?
A: [laughs] I think the judges made the right pick. Because I talked to Dee Brown and he told me, ‘I wish I hadn’t won. Because now I have to spend four days a week in Bristol, Connecticut, it’s cold, and I’m away from my family.’
I got the Rockets job right after that – which was the job I always wanted – and I got to stay home [Bullard lives near Houston] to cover my own team. It actually worked out really well for me [grins] that I didn’t win.
Q: Over the past few years, people have talked a lot about the decline in shooting skills in basketball. Given that shooting was your biggest strength during your 11-year career, do you ever think about making a comeback? Don’t they say that shooters never lose their ability to shoot?
A: [laughs] You know, I’ve been out of the league for four years now, but I can still shoot. The other day I went out on the court before a game, took my suitcoat off and made nine out of 10 on 3-pointers. The problem is I can’t run up and down the court anymore! But if they ever start a halfcourt NBA, I’d definitely be interested. [laughs]
