Posts Tagged ‘Shane Battier’

NBA Style: Classic Uniforms #TBT



By the NBA.com Style Crew –

While the NBA is a League that has always had its share of individuals, the one unifying feature of all players is that everyone wears uniforms. But that doesn’t make them uniform. Some franchises have opted for simple jerseys with their team name in a stylized font, such as the Knicks or the Minneapolis Lakers, other teams have gone for more interesting expressions. Check out, for instance, the New Jersey Nets, with a red/white/blue stars and stripes motif; All-Star Game jerseys, with stars literally all over them; a Toronto Raptor jersey featuring an enormous cartoon raptor. Sometimes it’s in the details, like with the trim on the throwback Syracuse Nationals jersey. And then sometimes we’re drawn to the colors, like with the gorgeous baby blue and red of the old Sacramento Kings jerseys.

Whatever you like, for many of us uniforms can be much more than just a statement of which team we’re cheering for. We picked some pics in the gallery below of uniforms that caught our eye.

What is your favorite uniform of all-time? Let us know in the comments section, and don’t forget to continue the conversation on Twitter with the hashtag #NBAStyle…
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Shane Battier Gets Free Beer Thanks To NBA.com

ALL BALL NERVE CENTER – One of the ironic perks of fame and fortune is that after years of hard work, once you finally achieve the fortune part of the equation, the fame often renders it unnecessary. Companies want to be associated with you, the famous person, and all those things that you previously paid for are suddenly given to you for free. (At least, this is what I’ve been told. I have only worked for NBA.com for two days, so I’m still waiting for the fame and fortune parts of my contract to kick in.)

Consider Miami Heat F Shane Battier. The ten-year NBA veteran had a storied college career at Duke, and since then has had a long, workman-like pro career, spending stretches toiling in Memphis and Houston. Even if the stat nerds loved him all along, Battier has been mostly underappreciated by the casual NBA fan, who may not have noticed as he carved out a career as a designated defender and three-point shooter. But upon arriving in Miami two seasons ago, suddenly Battier was playing on the NBA’s biggest stage, alongside the brightest stars. And with one title already in his pocket, now it’s time for Battier to reap the benefits.

And one of the main benefits? Apparently it’s free beer. And we here at NBA.com are somehow complicit in this whole thing.

Apparently it traces back to a story Steve Aschburner wrote on the Hang Time Blog during Miami’s 27-game winning streak earlier this season. While talking about superstitions, Battier came clean…

As forward Shane Battier said late Wednesday night in Cleveland, “Athletes are all superstitious and even if they don’t admit it, there’s a routine and just a cadence to our days. Especially when things go well, you can see us try to replicate it.”

Exactly. Just what we suspected. And yours are …

“Nope,” Battier said. “Well, I try to drink the same beer – Bud Light – but that’s about it. You never know. I don’t want to chance luck and switch up brands, so I’m staying loyal to Bud Light.”

And then a couple of weeks later, this happened:

Now obviously Battier could afford to buy that much Bud Light, but the important thing is he didn’t have to. He made it big, and the rewards came rolling in. For free. Thanks to NBA.com.

You’re welcome, Shane.

Heat Couldn’t Care Less About The First Possession

by Zettler Clay IV

Either that or they have faith in Shane Battier’s considerable leaping ability:



With Chris Bosh sitting with the flu against the Clippers, the Heat decided to anoint the former Blue Devil to out-leap one of the best dunkers in the league in DeAndre Jordan.

Got to pick and choose your battles, right?

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LeBron, Wade & Heat ‘Sing’ The Hits

By Jeff Case

.

Two weeks ago, videos like the one above touting Battioke began circulating the NBA blogosphere. What exactly is Battioke? It’s a Jan. 21 event at Miami’s Eden Roc Hotel on Miami Beach, hosted by none other than Heat forward Shane Battier as part of his Take Charge Foundation, which helps furthering education for at-risk students.

Nothing quite like watching your favorite Miami Heat stars belt out the hits, especially after last season’s event which saw LeBron James sing (and we use that term loosely) Rick James‘ “Superfreak” as well as a truly eardrum-shattering version of The Temptations’ hit, “My Girl,” by Heat boss Pat Riley.

Welp, this year’s Battioke has come and gone and the videos are starting to pop up. James gets into the act this year by trying his hand at Michael Jackson‘s “Rock With You”. As a bonus treat, a fan gets serenaded by both he and fellow Heat star Dwyane Wade (replete with shades and fake sideburns a la Elvis) as they try their hand at Shai‘s “If I Ever Fall In Love”.

If that’s not enough for you, we’ve also got newly signed center Chris Andersen and 3-point shooter Mike Miller giving it the old Battioke try on Vanilla Ice‘s 1990s classic, “Ice, Ice Baby”:

These vids likely won’t sway your opinion of the Heat one way or the other, but one thing is certain: these guys are awful singers.

Charles and Shaq Clown Shane Battier For His Purple Pants

by Micah Hart

If there has been an unsung star for the Heat in these playoffs (if anyone on the Heat can be called unsung), it would have to be Shane Battier, who has been absolutely lights-out from 3-point range the past few weeks and provided exactly the kind of offensive support so crucial to Miami’s Big Three at this late stage.

He joined the GameTime crew of Matt Winer, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O’Neal after Sunday’s big Game 3 win for the Heat, and after getting the particulars out of the way early on Shaq and Chuck only wanted to know one thing (around the 4:20 mark). What’s up with the purple pants, Shane?



Gotta give the guy credit for having the confidence required to wear those pants, but shooting 73% from distance in The Finals probably goes a long way in providing it.

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Pat Riley, Karaoke Champion?

by Micah Hart

Here is Heat President Pat Riley singing “My Girl” at Shane Battier‘s recent “South Beach Battioke” charity event. Brace yourselves:

Actually, I didn’t think he was doing too bad until the high notes at the end. But let he who is able to sing falsetto cast the first stone, so I will refrain from commenting further.

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Ladies…?

by Micah Hart

Shane Battier, offering up one of the sweetest NBA ‘staches in recent memory.

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Bragging Rights Bracket: No. 1 Duke vs. No. 4 LSU



by Micah Hart

For the complete Bragging Rights rules and to vote for other matchups, click here. We now move to the fourth and final region, the South, with No. 1 seed Duke taking on play-in winner and 4-seed LSU, which won the battle of the bigs against Stanford to reach the Sweet 16.

VS

Duke Blue Devils

Starters (all stats per 48 minutes):

Carlos Boozer, Bulls: 27.1 points, 14.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 0.5 blocks, 1.0 steals
Corey Maggette, Bucks: 27.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.2 blocks, 0.7 steals
Elton Brand, Sixers: 20.8 points, 11.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.6 blocks, 1.6 steals
Grant Hill, Suns: 20.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 0.7 blocks, 1.3 steals
Luol Deng, Bulls: 21.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 0.7 blocks, 1.2 steals

Missed the cut: Shane Battier, Grizzlies; Chris Duhon, Magic; Mike Dunleavy, Pacers; Gerald Henderson, Bobcats; Dahntay Jones, Pacers; Josh McRoberts, Pacers; JJ Redick, Magic; Shelden Williams, Knicks

Team synopsis: People have a tendency to think that Duke players don’t do so well in the pros, but man, look at this lineup. Big and burly, and good luck keeping Brand, Boozer, and Maggette off the offensive glass. The only thing that could pose a problem for the Dookies is a lack of a top-notch outside shooter or true distributor, but Hill and Deng are good enough. Each guy on this team can put the ball in the basket.

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The Rockets get in the holiday spirit

by Micah Hart

There are many staples of the holiday season – decorations, Christmas carols rewritten to move product, and players recording versions of holiday songs to be played in-arena at NBA games. Won’t you please enjoy the Rockets trying to nail down that timeless Chanukah classic, “Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel”? Roll it!

Why am I not surprised that Shane Battier seems to know the song the best? I may have to make him an honorary Member of the Tribe.

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Never gets old…Dikembe Mutombo impressions

This is a couple of years old, but it never fails to get a laugh from me. A lot of competition for the best Deke impression, but I’m tempted to give it to Aaron Brooks.

I don’t know if I can think of another player over the past two decades that people delight in imitating more than Mutombo. Avery Johnson? This guy? Am I forgetting someone?

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