Let's see Length: Jefferies Hands: Hayes Basketball IQ: Hayes Taking charges: Same Low post defender: Hayes On ball defender: Hayes Feet movement: Hayes Verdict: Hayes
I'm afraid that's the way it will play out to start the year. You hear Miller quoting Adelman that Hayes probably gets the system best? But a backup front line of Miller/Hayes/Battier...wow that's pretty sluggish. I hope Hill shows enough to win the job...I can't see 2Pat getting there yet.
Chuck will get minutes at the 5 and 4. He might be inserted to cover anyone, like Paul Pierce, on a last possession. He's still valuable. That our last-year-starter 5 is now our 3rd-string 5 is cause for hope. There's one position we've clearly upgraded. We're log-jammed at the 4: Luis, Hill, PP, JJ, Andersen, Johnson, Harris. It'll be interesting to see what DM does with these seven players. I bet he puts some of 'em in a package deal to upgrade our 1-3 positions. But Chuck-- I doubt he's going anywhere. We might come up with a hustle unit that's subbed in altogether, like Gentry's 2nd unit in the playoffs, with Lowry, JT, Chase, Hill/PP, and Chuck going into games to wear down opponents.
w/ 2 old 5'swho have both seen their share of the I.R. I'll go W/ YES chuck is a great heart guy i wish we could give him more height & reach then he is deke
He'll still get a lot of minutes. I think he'll have the 3rd or 4th most minutes of big men on the team, after Yao, Scola, and maybe Miller. Although, with the depth the Rockets have at the 4, he'll probably get some DNP's to go around. If the opposing team is weak offensively on the front line, I wouldn't expect him to leave the bench.
Adelman will give him minutes, he's a proven defender who knows the system. If the power forwards are getting dominated one on one and lit up for baskets by someone like Dirk or LaMarcus Aldridge, I don't think Rick will hesitate to put him in the game to stop the bleeding.
He'll get minutes because he can play D on both Pierce in the crunch while banging with Garnett <object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wbRZZLD48B4&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wbRZZLD48B4&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>
Beyond good passing and decent shooting range, I don't have a clue what to expect from Brad Miller. And I don't have any idea how much focus and ambition the newer, younger additions have. But I do know this. Beyond the BS of "intangibles", an NBA defensive coaching legend combined with a younger and less mileaged Yao and a younger T-Mac who was was arguably better than the current version of Kevin Martin...couldn't get out of the first round with Hayes and Battier starting. The fewer minutes from this tandem, the better.
Chuck obviously deserves the backup PF spot before Hill or Patterson. I can't understand how you could put them before Chuck unless he is facing a major mismatch but he is used to guarding anybody.
He's probably the best passer on the team (especially passing to players cutting to the basket). He'll find minutes for sure. Not to mention his fantastic D.
He may not get more minutes, but they will definitely be valuable. When it comes down to crunch time ... and by that I mean time to play some shut down defense and lock up the game ... Hayes will be one of the guys that RA goes to. It's his lack of height & offense that keep him from getting more minutes.
I REALLY hope chuck gets some valuable minutes. He has been so great to this team for many years. In my opinion if you have a guy that works as hard and disciplined as Chuck then you got to play him. You dont find guys like him anymore. i think he for sure deserves a spot in the rotation but unfortunatley i imagine Patterson/Hill have the backup PF spot locked up. Also, our defense wasn't too great last season. So taking Chuck out of the rotation would hurt our defense even more. Hopefully Rick can find a way to get him so valuable minutes but its looking unlikely.
