sounds about right to me. He's all about layups and putbacks he's a great energy guy who has a knack for grabbing boards, but he is undersized, foul prone and has zero offensive skills (but great hands) i'm all for resigning him and having him play 20 minutes a night, but that's all
Has anyone noticed that T-Mac really seems to rag on Hayes? I mean he never calls out Hayes specifically, but after the playoffs he said we need a big, athletic power forward. During the interview after the Rockets got SF he talked a little about Scola and then said we still need a power forward that can rebound and defend well. I'm not saying Hayes is awesome or anything, but I always find it curious that T-Mac doesn't at least preface these statements with "although Chuck is doing a good job..." I don't know...I just wonder if they dislike each other or something.
I thought about that during the SF3 interview, but then again, McGrady and Hayes have arguably the best on-court chemistry of any two players on the team.
Hayes, doesn't even lead the league in fewest jumpshots taken...I think that goes to the self proclaimed 2nd best center in the league. Also, Wallace took more jumpshots than I gave him credit for, even though he sucks at them.
Hayes was an offensive liability last year because of the way JVG structured the offense which was basically dump the ball to yao and have yao pass it out to the shooter when he's double teamed. However, when Yao was out of the game and TMAC was in, Hayes was a lot more effectively offensively because of his picks and rolls with TMAC. I think with Adelman's motion offense, Hayes strengths would really be displayed because he is great at cutting to the basket, pick and roll, finishing around the rim, and rebounding. He won't be shooting outside jumpers so I don't understand why people keep saying he's an offensive liability. He's only a liability if he shoots those outside jumpers but he doesn't and won't in Adelman's system.
One of his strong points is his rebounding especially for his size. But I think he's a little overrated in this department. He really doesn't box out very well and clean up the boards on misses consistently. He's more of a hustle to the ball type of rebounder where he uses his quickness on most 4's to get to the loose balls & rebounds. He's a great off the bench kind of a guy though.
Basketball is played on two ends. Hayes is an undersized PF and he is not Barkley, that alone put us in a lot of disadvantages if he starts. His shooting is awful, and his FT I think this year other teams will learn to wait on him. Hayes is a backup, not starter at star laddened PF position in this league.
Chuck is good at what he does, energy and hustle guy off the bench. Not who you want as a starter on a playoff team, no offensive game including being a poor/fair FT shooter. He's too short to defend against the upper echelon PF's, Boozer owned him in the playoffs (I know Boozer owned Yao and JH also). Love the guy but we need a more complete player at the position.
Style over substance is not a good reason to throw a guy away. Hayes is very good at what he does. He is not an overrated rebounder and complements Yao's lack of speed very well. This is all you have to know about Hayes' contribution to the team on both ends of the floor. Offensive pts per 100 possessions On court: 108.1 Off court: 107.0 Diff: + 1.1 Defensive pts per 100 possessions On court: 96.5 Off court: 105.6 Diff: -9.1 He is a very efficient backup PF. Hollinger rated him as one of the best defenders in the entire NBA. His low center of gravity helps him keep bigger PFs farther away from the basket, making them take lower percentage shots. Also did anyone else notice how much his hook shot and touch around the basket improved at the end of the season (especially in the Utah series). He is a very smart player who plays to his strengths and was one of the only players that didn't shrink in the playoffs (see Head, Luther and Howard, Juwan).
