First impressions are hard to break, as Grizzlies rookie forward Shane Battier knows well. As a number-six draft pick and the most polished player in this yearยs draft, Battier has had many cameras focused on his game and his adjustments from college.
However, Battier has not received the main portion of media interest. That perhaps dubious honor falls on the slim shoulders of Battierยs fellow rookie forward, Pau Gasol, who has surprised everyone in the league with stellar rookie play through the first half of the season.
That said, Battier still knows that he and Gasol have not become the American household names they might one day become. ยI know weยre a little distanced right now,ย Battier said before the All-Star rookie game last Saturday. ยWeยre not on national TV often, and people donยt know us right now.ย
Thatยs probably an overstatement. Battier stood as the most public member of Americaยs most public college team last year as his Duke team stormed through the NCAA tourney on its way to yet another title. Also, Battierยs comment does not take into account the unheralded popularity of Gasol, who has blossomed into a genuine international superstar in his short time in the NBA.
Take the All-Star weekend media availability as an example. In Philadelphiaยs Marriott hotel, approximately fifty tables set in rows held name plates for the players expected at each spot. The rookie tables stood toward the front of the room while the All-Star playersย tables set toward the back. At the front of all the rookie tables, very near the front of the door, sat Battierยs table and Gasolยs table.
As soon as the two sat in their respective spots, swarms of media engulfed the two as harried Grizzlies media staff tried to satiate the endless need of quotes and face time. Throughout the availability, around 10-15 news reporters stood near Battier, a relatively large amount for any rookie in the hotel. Relative, that is, to anyone but Gasol, who regularly drew a crowd of over 30 or more news reporters from both America and overseas.
Later, a member of the Grizzlies staff would mention reporters trying to get into Gasolยs room, and who would then become irate that the seven footer could not give them the time each needed. Another suggestion by the media was to mike the Grizzlies staff themselves, so as to get a day in the life perspective of working with Gasol.
Even before the Rookie game, Gasol decided not to be a part of the traditional locker-room media blitz in lieu of quieter digs to dress and prepare. Battier was in the locker room, and — as per his usual — answered questions from reporters from all over, including some of those that were in America to cover Gasol.
So it might not come as any surprise that Gasol looked genuinely relieved to step on the basketball court before the game, since press must keep some distance from players warming up. At least now the sensation could play his game, letting skills speak instead of voice. Battier was not so lucky. He conducted interviews up to tip-off, with the coaching staff, other nine players, three officials, and assembled fans politely waiting for Battier to finish up with yet another camera crew.
In the game, neither rookie dominated. Gasol played well with 10 points and seven rebounds, but both numbers are well below his season averages. For Shane, the night was also solid, but also unspectacular as the forward scored 15 points, and made three steals. However, Warriorsย rookie Jason Richardson blew both Rookie of the Year candidates off the floor. Richardson scored a game high 26 points, and earned Rookie game MVP status. Richardson would follow his game with a slam-dunk championship later Saturday night.
To be fair, an All-Star kind of game does not suit the style of either player. Battier excels defensively, which was anathema this past weekend. Gasol excels one-on-one, and usually takes an entire game to build a rhythm to become more proficient down the stretch. However, Rookie team coach Chuck Daly needed to rotate players frequently, in order to give everyone deserved playing time, and so Gasol never reached peak velocity.
At the same time, the two did show the goods. Gasol showed off that under and over dunk near the basket he likes so much, and he also showed that he has learned to box out so far this season. In addition, despite scoring only three points in the first half, Battier played aggressively in the second. Most notably, Battier went against convention and stifled the production of sophomore score leader Quentin Richardson, who scored 21 points in the first half, but only one point in the second half. Also, Battier called for the ball on the offensive end, hitting several key mid-range jumpers that eliminated the sophomoresย 58-51 half-time lead. ยยHe gave us a surge that put us in a position to win,ย Daly said after the game.
ยI think the other sophomores came out to play, but we played pretty good,ย Battier said. ยIt got competitive there in the last five minutes.ย
And those last few minutes showcased the skills of not only the rookie squad, but a different type of NBA rookie. ยThe last few minutes of the game, we were — the four European players on the court playing together,ย Gasol said after the game. ยI didnยt realize it at the moment, but now that Iยm thinking, itยs true.ย
Whatยs also true is that Gasol is the tip of the iceberg in terms of international phenoms gracing the floor of NBA arenas across the U.S. And while perhaps a U.S. kid in the form of Richardson dominated all rookies, Gasol and his brethren will get theirs soon enough. As for Battier, he balances his interest in impressing the nation with this corollary. ยIยd like to think my game speaks for itself, for the rest of the season,ย he said. ยI donยt think that forty minutes will change that.ย
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