Aug 18th 2008 1:05PM by Tom Ziller (author feed)
Filed under: Rockets, NBA Media WatchSkeets at Ball Don’t Lie took FOXSports to task for its absolutely absurd “Top 5 Overrated NBA Players” slideshow, which is attributed to no writer but is mentioned as being supplied by Yardbarker. Dwyane Wade checks in at #5 and Yao Ming places #3. Those are ridiculous enough to not warrant dispute. Anyone who watches basketball will know to ignore those assertions.

But Shane Battier at #1, with the following justification, that really chafes my soul:Battier is as consistent as winter rain in the Northwest - if by consistent you mean consistently mediocre. Despite playing nearly 37 minutes per game, he averaged only nine points and five rebounds last season.You can tell a of research was involved here. I mean, citing both points per game minutes per game? Heavy, heady stuff. Battier’s role is not as a scorer or rebounder, of course. He’s a defender, and a role-playing shooter. Houston happened to be the second best defensive team in the NBA, as it was in Battier’s first year with the Rockets. Memphis, when Battier played there, also regularly ranked high on defense consistently. Battier has been his team’s predominant “stopper” since he entered the league.

FOX also mentions his shooting percentages, which on first glance look poor. This is why we take more than one glance! Battier is #99 in career True Shooting percentage, a figure that accounts for threes and free throws in adjusting raw field goal percentage. Only 98 players in the history of the NBA and ABA have shot more efficiently than Battier. As for consistency: Battier has missed 14 of a potential 572 regular season games in his NBA career. He’s among the most durable wings in the game.

He has never made so much as an All-Star team, and has been voted onto the All-Defense second team once despite a reputation among those who know as an elite stopper. Who exactly is overrating him? Back to the drawing board, fellas.