how about a 6'4" center. if you were there at tracy's softball tournament and saw hayes up close, you would know that he is really 6'4" not his listed 6'6".
Did you people watch the games AT ALL last year? Chuck played center in spot minutes a lot of games. Especially when Yao was out. I swear I wish people would pay attention instead of getting all up in their hate.
No, go back and watch the games... when Chuck and Juwan were in at the same time Chuck was guarding the five player... and Juwan was guarding the four. That in my opinion puts Chuck as the center.
Man, he is right. I even remember that JVG said Hayes was not so big but could use his footstep and toughness to guard 5. Meanwhile, due to his limited attack range, he did stay in the paint longer than Howard. But I don't think this is an ideal choice. Let Mutombo go and trade rafer, that would solve two problems: 1, a longterm backup center alongside Yao especially when he is down. 2: too many players on the roster.
http://blogs.chron.com/franblinebury/2007/08/has_dikembe_mutombo_been_hangi.html August 30, 2007 Has Dikembe Mutombo been hanging out with Roger Clemens? The next thing you know, we'll be hearing that Dikembe Mutombo is working on his fastball and is ready to throw a little chin music at Carlos Boozer next spring in the playoffs. Can you imagine Deke as Roger Clemens? Well, consider that one of the possibilities that the 41-year-old center is rolling around inside his venerable head is sitting out the first couple of months of the season and maybe joining the Rockets in January when he gets a gauge on how they're playing and where he might fit into Rick Adelman's new scheme. It is just a possibility, but it is an interesting twist as Mutombo continues to weigh the pros and cons of playing another season in the NBA. The pros of such a scenario for the Rockets is that it could keep Mutombo fresher for the playoffs, when Adelman feels he truly needs another veteran defensive presence behind Yao in the middle. The con is that it usually take Mutombo several months to play his way into game shape and develop a rhythm and, with a completely revamped look to the team, he might still be lost when the post-season arrives. Mutombo and Rockets general manager Daryl Morey met about 10 days ago in Atlanta and had a pleasant discussion. The Rockets had earlier made an offer of roughly $1.2 million, but would likely be willing to go as high as $1.9 million (the maximum they can pay) to have Mutombo back. There is believed to be maybe one other team out there showing interest. But the general feeling is that if Mutombo plays in 2007-08, it will be with the Rockets. The whole season or half of it? Seems the Rocket Effect could spill over to the Rockets. Either way, I'll try to pry a decision out of Deke next week when I see him in Johannesburg, South Africa. I'll be in the neighborhood, enroute to a safari at Kruger National Park. He'll be making his annual pilgrimmage to the motherland for take part in the NBA Basketball Without Borders program. • • • Much rush to judgment on the Rafer Alston situation. Hold onto your horses. There's a whole lot of the legal system to play out before the Rockets could even dream of voiding the three years, $15 million left on his contract. Unless somebody comes forward with evidence — or at least a witness — on behalf of the guy who says he was slashed/stabbed by Alston, it could end up as just another bad decision by a guy who should know better than to put himself into that type of situation. Is it fair that an NBA player can't go out on the town in any town without fear of being a possible target? No. Life isn't fair. It's a tradeoff that celebrities make for their fame and fortune. What Alston has likely done is sealed his fate in Houston, though he's made it difficult for the Rockets to deal him. Charlotte, in need of a point guard, re-upped Jeff McInnis. Miami is still looking around, but not in this or any other lifetime are they going to give up Udonis Haslem for Alston. Cleveland could still use another point guard to slide in alongside Daniel Gibson, but the Cavs aren't just going to hand over draft picks. Boston could use somebody to drive that brand new Eastern Conference limo. But would you give the keys to Rafer? • • • The more you see of Luis Scola in the FIBA Americas tournament, the more you see just what a solid player he is. He scored 23 and had 12 rebounds in the win over Brazil on Wednesday. He continued to show his mid-range shot. He made a strong move for dunk early. He hit a big jumper in overtime. And most impressively, he found a way to get to the line 18 times. As SportsIllustrated.com said, he's the best player in the tournament who has never played a minute in the NBA. It will be fun to watch him against Team USA. • • • Yes, you read that earlier item right. You're back on your own for the next couple of weeks. I'm bound for South Africa, in search of lions, leopards, elephants, rhino and cape buffalo — the big five. But I'm gonna stop in at Basketball Without Borders, where the top 100 African prospects gather each year, and might drop you an update if I spot an 8-foot power forward that Rick Adelman can use next spring. Be good and talk among yourselves. Posted by Fran Blinebury at August 30, 2007 04:57 PM
We now have another competition for Deke..the Cavs.. There were also reports that he might sit out he first part of the season..whatever happens we really need to address our backup C position asap..
We have Butler already, and Scola should be able to log minutes at C, esp in an Adelman system. It's hardly a pressing need ...
agree, and i do see scola playing as a center even with deke resigning. Maybe in a small second unit like, scola, battier, bonzi, tmac, francis.
Is Calvin Booth around in the States? I vaguely recall him leaving for Europe. He is a UFA and if the Wizards don't want him,I think he could be a backup C if Deke doesn't come back. Booth is tall, blocks shots, rebounds pretty well and isn't a slow mover on the court.I'm not implying that he is better than Deke but he might be useful if healthy IMO.
that's putting him in a bad situation to start in the nba. he will have his hands full defending duncan and amare, especially if yao were to get hurt and miss some games.
