Taking Yao out for defensive purpose at the end of the games

Yao isn't a good defender, at least he is not as good in defense as he is in offense. I would rather to see him using up his energy in offense like amar'e does.

 

Face up player w/ great mid range jumper like Boozer kills Yao, Duncan not
so much. Yao defended Duncan's face up game pretty well.

 

I wouldn't. From my 1st post, I've already said it was a right call to put in Hayes for Yao on that last play against the Spurs. You and several others keep arguing with me on the same point that I agreed with from the start.

The point that I don't agree with is when people said Chuck is better or as good a post defender as Yao. There is no way Chuck can guard Duncan or Shaq as well. People who said that have not seen the few plays when Chuck did play those guys in the last few years. Chuck was completely overwhelmed. In general, against teams without a Tony Parker, Adelman did not pull Yao either, nor did Van Gundy before him.

 

Why do you think this thread existed before the San Antonio game, then? Here's the thing. Most good WCF teams have "a Tony Parker" that they can run a pick and roll with at the end of games. When the score is very close, and its the end of the game where getting a defensive stop is critical, what percentage of the time would you guess the Rockets have kept Yao on the floor?

BTW, I don't disagree with your point about Yao being more effective defending the post against players the really big players compared to Chuck. I've said the same thing in the past, in fact. But when you say that Chuck was "completely overwhelmed" the past couple years guarding Duncan and Shaq -- you need to start mentioning specific games/plays. Because I don't recall that, but if there's a way to go back and take a look then that allows this conversation to go somewhere. I'm sure there are a number of people on the board who have videos of the games in question. It may not be too difficult to verify your claims.

 

No one would ever confuse me with a fan of Chuck Hayes's game. By and large a huge offensive liabilitiy and an overrated defender.

But I fail to see why substituting Hayes for Yao for defensive purposes creates this much clamor. I love Yao. But he's a defensive liability any time there is a need to move your feet. He's just too slow and the last game against the Spurs wasn't one of his best.

Hayes has nearly a strong a base as Yao and has quicker feet. If an end of the game threat is perceived to be a low post player rising up for a 10' J...advantage Yao. If it's PnR...advantage Hayes. If it's banging for position...it's about even.

Hayes probably has quicker hands and him fouling Duncan on a strip attempt isn't necessarily a bad thing.

 

I think somebody looked it up. I think Yao was subbed at the end of only 3-4 games this season out of 72 games. How many of those games were close, u have to check it out yourself but when he was only subbed out those few games, you can't deny that Adelman had not felt the need for it.

I'd like to see those videos again myself. I'd looked quickly at boxscore and found 2:
11/23/07 vs Miami - Chuck, 11 mins, 4 fouls
2/21/07 vs Miami - Chuck, 13 mins, 4 fouls (this was mostly vs Mourning)
If u have those games, pls post.

After O'Neal joined Phoenix, they did not feature him down low as much so Chuck did not go against him. Before Miami, Chuck wasn't around or played much.

 

I agree with your larger point, but I see this a little different. Defending against a post player's 10' J is, at best, a slight advantage for Yao (and I might give Yao a slight edge on the banging for position, though Chuck has bulked up quite a bit this season). Yao often plays off of such players (e.g. Boozer) because they could drive around him. Watch the Rockets play against the Jazz, and compare how Yao defends against that Boozer jumper and Hayes defends it. Being able to crowd the shooter and get a hand in his face is far more important than being tall. That's why the Rockets prefer to put Hayes on Nowitzki instead of Scola or Landry when they're on the floor together.

 

It depends on the situation. As others have posted, if there's a lot of time on the game clock (more than 24 seconds, for instance), then subbing in Chuck for Yao may not be as good an idea because (1) it could hurt your defensive rebounding when you downsize, (2) if Chuck does get the rebound, the other team will foul him.

So we need to define, first of all, when it would really make sense to sub Chuck in for Yao. Then check for those situations the last couple seasons and see how often it happened. I'm not sure if that situation comes up as often as you may think.

 

Last time Adelman did this, it worked against San Antonio. The situation arose again today, and Chuck made a big play at the basket.

The Blazers had not been exploiting Yao on pick and roll at all during the game, but the Blazers went small on that possession and the last thing you want is allowing a 3-pointer. Fortunately, Chuck made up for his lack of size inside by moving his feet and getting that charge. Another thing he's been known to do well.

 

Wow, searched the hard way. Agreed, dont give them the option. Hayes with a big play for the Rockets.

 

Shroopy provided the link for me in the other thread.

 

Given the score, down 2, do you think the substitution made sense? We do become more vulnerable inside perhaps, but a 2-pointer in that situation doesn't hurt you nearly as much as a 3 would.

 

Rockets subbed Yao out again for Chuck Hayes to end the 1st half of game 5. Chuck switches on the pick and roll, but Roy blows by him and there's no help at the basket.

You win some, you lose some.

 

Anyone want to sell me on why Chuck funneled him to the baseline instead of to the middle?

 

Was it? I don't remember. I still prefer Chuck in the game on those plays. I trust his pick and roll defense more, and I've seen him successfully switch and force a bad shot many times.

I guess the difference between us is you see it at best a 50/50 sub, while I see it at worst a 50/50 sub.

 

Chuck wanted to force him left because his help defender was in the corner and should have been watching to come down. And there is no shot blocker in the middle to help.

Only after the switch everyone stuck to their man and no one helped.