Battier's Last Trip To The Garden?

There's no question that former Blue Devil Shane Battier is nearing the end of his unique NBA career. He's said as much and in basketball terms, he is getting up there. So maybe it's not a big surprise that the Miami Herald is sort of kicking off a farewell tour, though it seems a bit early. But Battier is still an effective player. Check out what LeBron James said after he helped lead Miami past New York: "I shook his hand last and told him he was the reason we performed this way. He came out with an aggressive mindset not only defensively, which we have become accustomed to seeing, but offensively as well."

Battier's post-game comments were vintage: "I thank Mr. Wilson, my sixth-grade wrestling teacher. It’s a true story. I didn’t play basketball for Derby Middle School. I wrestled and I was Birmingham city champion, 135-pound weight class. So, Mr. Wilson, thank you. It paid off tonight — arm bars, half Nelsons, it was MMA-ish."

The NBA is going to have a serious void when Battier departs.

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