It's only been 3 games, but Hayes seems to have an overall positive effect on the court (before he fouls out, that is). In game 1, the Jazz had a 20 point lead at one point and it narrowed when Hayes was inserted. In game 2, Hayes started and the Rockets began the game on a run. Small sample size, the effect could just be coincidence, but I do think Hayes impacts the Rockets positively, in whatever amount of minutes he's able to give to the team: http://www.82games.com/0607/06HOU9D.HTM
When you argue that our PF solutions can be solved by inserting Chuck Hayes and backing it up with statistics, it reduced the credibility of your statistics. Anybody that watches basketball realizes that Chuck Hayes isn't the solution. MAYBE he is a slight upgrade to Juwan Howard, but in reality we need to acquire a starting PF. Chuck and Juwan aren't the final answer.
he needs to start two things he needs to work on is his shooting, especially free throws, and his foul problems he's a warrior, thats what we need more
Okay, I, of course, have to respond to this thread. I have been a Chuck fan since his freshman year of college. In the first exhibition game he out hustled and out played everyone else on the court... in an exhibition game. When he went into the draft, I knew he wasn't likely to get picked... even though some of the polls had him going in the second round. His 6th place draft in the NBDL seemed to say he was never going to make it up into the "big" league. But as usual he showed that he was a hard worker and a scrapper. So last year he gets the call to come up to the Rockets...posts a double double in his second game and I thought.. yes! He proves that he actually can play with these "stars". Not once, did I ever think he would be a starter. In fact, when he started the preseason game I was beside myself with surprise. Starting at Center no less! In this league there is always someone trying to take your place, be it on the roster, or in the line up and I am sure that Chuck knows that. Is he a starter? In this moment, on this team, he's the best option JVG has. Should he be a starter? Probably not, I have said in the past that Chuck has the chance to be the best 6th man in the league, not because of his jump shot, but because he creates energy in those around him. Which is what the so called "fan boy stats" tell us. When he plays, he makes everyone around him better, even if he himself is having a bad game. The close shots that he's missing, are an anamoly, it may be due to the ball, or it may be due to the fact that he feels pressure to make them. He will calm down and make them. I would say within the week, because if people continue to completely ignore him on offense like they did last night, he will be getting more touches on the ball. The fouls, there is clearly a line in the NBA that says, if you are a "star" they don't call as many fouls on you (though Yao seems to be the exception to that stat) and Chuck is definately not a star. It seems to me that every foul that he commits, can be compared to two or three good defensive plays. Sorry this was such a long post, but I just wanted to share my thoughts. Thanks!
Hayes completely sucked last night. IMO hayes is our new RYBO, better rebounder, but a COMPLETE liability on offense. I just don't see the fascination. I thought JHO had a steadier game. Atleast JHo can draw fouls on offense, can catch the ball, can make a layup and jumper and rebound. He may be lacking overall energy but atleast he can guard someone. I don't care what Hayes rebound totals are he is a liability out there, at least last night (NOK) he was. RTI on the way again, just a matter of time.
The "solution", in any practical sense, is putting the best lineup on the floor with the players that are available (i.e. the lineup that gives us the best chance to win). That's the thing I've been concerned with. You seem to be framing the issue differently. There's some minimal set of skills that our starting PF needs to have for us to be a serious contender, and we don't have such a PF yet on the team. If that's what you think, fine. I can't say I agree or disagree with it, because frankly I don't know what that minimal set of skills has to be for us to be a very successful team. There's no law written anywhere that we can't be a very good team with Chuck Hayes or Juwan Howard as the starter. So I don't think of it that way. I just look at the combination I feel gives us the best chance to win.
I don't like Hayes starting because he is still essentially a rookie and he seems to make mistakes because he's frazzled. Snyder or Howard could provide a steadier hand.
For you JHo fans - it was nice watching Jho's first 8 foot jumper get stuffed back into his face - ie he can't jump anymore at 34. He was a stud, he is not anymore. And he was too slow getting it off. Happened too many times last year as well. Hayes has a strong on/off court because of the energy and the Battier like contributions he makes and the rebounds. He is learning to cut to basket, catch the little dump pass and lay in the ball. He scores on ORB's and putbacks - which no-one else on this team does consistently. He did about the best job possible disrupting and frustrating Dirk the other night. He is a project and has a ways to go. But he makes the team on the floor better. He does some dumb stuff, some dumb fouls, and he very easily is a ref target for the Dirk puts his shoulder down and Hayes gets called for nothing but good defensive work by a rookie - Watched it in disbelief at TC. There is the potential for him to have a Dennis Rodman/Ben Wallace role on this team, maybe starting and playing 15-25 min to get the team in gear, maybe as a 6/7th man. But Moneyball Morey says Chuckie is money and I agree. By January he will be a lot smarter - he is already reaching in less - more and more of his fouls are due to playing against the Dirk/stars of the league.
I would personally prefer hayes over howard and snyder. From the first three games, it seems that hayes' man is not sagging on Yao. Of course this could change, but by no means is he as big a liability as ryan bowen. If he is such a liability on offense, then why is Yao doing so well? Yes he's missing layups but because he is so close to the basket, the percentages are higher for him to make it than ryan bowen's jumpshot; hence the defense is not adjusting to hayes being on the floor as much as bowen. You guys have seen Howard play. When he's on the court, our starting line-up loses to the opposition. Now why are we making a big deal out of hayes starting when our first unit is doing better with him on the field? Yes, Snyder could start, but it seems as if he lost his confidence on his jumpshot. From preseason till now, i've wanted him to come off the bench, only because he does better off the bench. If he was so good with the starting line-up, wouldn't you think JVG would put him in first unit? Durvusa good job with the stats. Keep it up. I would personally prefer having evidence to back up an argument rather than making bold statements. Hayes will learn to deal with foul trouble. Once he does, we will see the rebounding monster we saw last year. He is a very good defender. I felt him and battier did a good job on Jerk Flopitski the other night.
They want him to be Ben Wallace. All he needs to do is rebound and finish. No post presence, no outside presence. Just a banger. He needs to beef up some more to be what we want him to be, and maybe grow another 2". He hounded Nowitzki nicely, and I like him at the 4. I trust him a lot better than Juwan at the 4.
Hey Dynasty: If T-Mac is T-Mac, this team has plenty to win with Chuck Hayes at PF. He is the best rebounder on the team by far, plays solid defense, and is in the right place at the right time on offense. He's missed a few chippies so far - but that seems unlikely to continue. Is he going to start raining 20-footers consistently? No - that's what Battier, Novak, Padgett et al bring to the table. Chuck Hayes is an asset for this team, and the "geek boy stats" just confirm what anyone with an understanding of the team sport of basketball can see with their own eyes.
Hayes is playing well, why not. JVG is just trying something different out to maybe give the team a spark and get off to a great start to the season.
first of all he has only started 2 games. The first one he was matched up against Dirk most the night and anyone has issues guarding him except T-mac, but that is reserved for playoffs and key possessions. start number 2 came against David West who is the leading scorer in New Orleans both last year and this year and is a very good player who would easily start with us. Yes Hayes has foul trouble, but he will never get starter minutes. That position will be platooned with Battier sliding over when a guard (head,wells,snyder) comes in.
