Was JVGs courage to put in Hayes and take out Yao, if it wouldnt have worked out in the rockets favor, JVG would have been burned at the stake. I mean this is the best center in the league and you are forced to take him out of the game, good thing Yao isnt selfish or pouted. He stood there watching the rest of the game unfold. Good call Jeff and of course good play Hayes.
That block on Boozer. It was the first time, since Game 1, where Boozer wasn't allowed to do exactly what he wanted. Not a shot on Yao, he's worked his tail off, but Hayes is just sooo freakin' good defensively.
After I quit screaming my lungs out, I looked at my buddy when that happened and said, "Chuck just took the charge of his life." It was beautiful basketball in every imaginable way.
You were only screaming? I was jumping up and down like a loon, shouting "YES!YES!YES!YES!" like a banshee! The thing is, it isn't like this is the first time JVG has done the offense/defense switch with Yao and Chuck at the end of a close game. Chuck knows his role... and like JVG says, he gets paid to do it. But MAN it felt good to scream in excitement over that play! Biggest stage he's had a chance to play on so far... I have faith he can do the same as the pressure increases!!
Yao has done his best to contest that shot, but Boozer is no fool, have you seen the arch in that shot? Its like he modified it to go easily over Yao (is this how boozer normally shoots). He has that shot measured. Its ok we can have one guy kill us on points, it evens out on the other end anyway with yao. But in such an important play, even though they didnt go to boozer on that one, Hayes still stepped up.
His shots are high arcs. Almost Purvis Short-esque. Just watch his free throws...he shoots them the same way.
Its no secret that Yao is a defensive liability. We have to make due with it because we have to have his offense (and the attention the defense gives him) to create open shots for everybody. When we have the lead late, expect JVG to take Yao out on defensive possessions. Its something he's done all year in close games that Yao's played in, and he did it to close out game 1 in this series. The key is that he always gets Yao back in for the ensuing offensive possesions because of his great FT shooting, or their ability to execute the offense with him.
Scream, hell me and my wife were totally quiet until we saw the charge signal from the ref! Then we went crazy!
Yep, turned my wife into a hardcore rockets fan over the first couple of years of our marriage. Even got her to hate the mavs as much as I do and she's from dallas!
You must have awsome powers of brainwashing.... Is that how you got her to marry you? HEHEHEHE....J/K props to you brotha.
GRENDAL's wife is quite the Rockets' fan. And she knows her basketball. They are a pleasure to watch a game with.
That's awesome! Man, can't imagine being from/living in Dallas, all you'd hear about is the Mavs and Cowboys all day! A Jerry Jones/Cuban lovechild would destroy the world!!!
That was classic JVG. He basically said, "yeah, it was a great play but let's not get carried away or anything. He was just doing what he gets paid to do." I think that's as close to a compliment as Chuck will ever get from JVG.
Same here! Whenever a foul is called and Chuck is in the area (hell, on the floor), I assume that it's on him. I was holding my breath until the call.
Hayes has no offensive talent except putbacks around the basket. But he is ALL HEART!!!!! He is NOT soft!!!! That's why I love this guy. He will never ever disappoint me when it comes to laying it all on the court. Oh and it doesn't hurt that he is a smart defensive player, moves his feet well, and covers a lot for Yao on the defensive end. Definition of a role player.
Major props to JVG for the substitution, but Boozer getting the easy back door on Yao on the prior possession made the decision easier.
