This a new artcle from chron.com regarding the Rockets present situation at center. Hill and Thabeet have a lot to show this next game on Saturday. It was refreshing to read quotes from both bigs regarding how confident they are in their abilities though, "I knew I had it in me," said Hill, who was selected eighth overall in the 2009 draft by the Knicks. "I just have to go out there and listen to what the coach has to say and follow what my teammates are doing, do the simple things. Just play my game and do what I have to do to succeed. "I don't go back and forth with people," Thabeet said. "I try to give the answer on the court. The team knows what my value is. "Just wait for the season and you'll see." http://www.chron.com/sports/rockets/article/Rockets-centers-Hill-Thabeet-don-t-mind-team-2404151.php
From the article, it sounds like Hill is going to be our starting center: Plenty to work with For now, the Rockets seem more determined to make do with the center portion of their 2009 draft lottery collection. Patience might be easier with both making strides. "Probably the guy who has been ... the biggest surprise to me is Jordan Hill," McHale said. "He's been really running. He's been playing really well. He's been really attentive. "He has a great opportunity. What he does with that opportunity is up to Jordan. We've talked to him quite a bit about having that opportunity." More than an opportunity for him, Hill said he can fill the void in the middle left after the retirement of Yao Ming and the failed trade and free-agent pursuits. "I knew I had it in me," said Hill, who was selected eighth overall in the 2009 draft by the Knicks. "I just have to go out there and listen to what the coach has to say and follow what my teammates are doing, do the simple things. Just play my game and do what I have to do to succeed. "I definitely feel I can play. Me being a center, I have to go out there concentrating on what a center can do - rebounding, defending in the post and helping my guards out in any way. The Rockets are definitely OK."
The idea of starting Thabeet is a horrible idea if we want to win. Spoiler That's why I am in favor of it right now .
Absolutely! Another thing that comes to mind is that fact that the aquisition of all these 2009 lottery draftees might have some unintended positive effects for all of these guys for the following reasons: 1. They are all peers/contemparies in terms of age and draft/college experience. 2. They were all traded away for peanuts. 3. They are all in a situation where they can compete for at least a rotation spot. From personal experience I know that if I see someone that is around my age and experience level accomplishing something, it motivates me and makes it seem more feasible to achieve similar success. At this point, these players can feed off each other and compete with each other to get the best out of themselves. As they do, the team can only stand to win from this situation. Its kind of crazy to think that the Rockets have 3 high lottery picks, all with big time upside, and from what has been reported -- all trying to redeem themselves. Lets roll with these guys and see what they got! Worst case scenario they are all as bad as their reputation dictates. Best case, at least one of them starts to realize their potential and becomes either a building block or a valued trade candidate.
You can start Thabeet but if you think you can get more than 15 minutes a night out of him you are dreaming. He'd be in foul trouble midway through the first quarter every game.
Good positioning and preventing your man from backing you down does very little when your opponent can simply shoot over you. Chuck was not the defensive stopper everyone makes him out to be. Everyone is saying that Thabeet should not be handed the keys to the starting spot and has to earn it in practice, which is fine. It's also the reason that it is good that Chuck is gone, because no one was going to beat him out of a spot in practice. Coaches rewarded him for that and it was the weakest position on the team. He just wasn't physically built for center. Chuck is basically like another coach on the floor and in practice. That is where he will be missed. Not on the court.
That´s it! Thanks god Chuck is gone. After the others didn`t get his spot by training effort they´re finally getting it for nothing. Seriously, how can you watch a single (Rockets) game and say that about (him and his) defense?
I don't see how you could watch games and not be frustrated as he'll. If he was the solution at center, wouldn't he be worth $5m a year? Why would you want to keep him in the weakest position on a team that missed the playoffs when Thaneet and Hill are already on the team?
Last year was Chucks best year by far. It took him six years to get there. In Thabeet's limited time as a starter his rookie year, I would say he was just as effective. As an undrafted player making $2m a year Chuck was wildly successful. As a 2nd overall pick Thabeet was an underachiever. Draft position and salary are skewing people's perceptions of these guys value, in my opinion. My only point in all of this is that I believe Thabeet has more upside at center than Chuck. And that is setting the bar pretty low.
On-going legal issues. It's affecting his ability to get a visa. http://www.terezowens.com/iranian-born-nba-player-busted-with-girlfriend/
My God, it's like you never watched Chuck Hayes play and are just theorymonning. How often did that "shooting over Chuck" actually happen? The problem with Chuck as a post defender was that as strong he was, his size meant that he lacked the strength to tangle with the real big men, like Dwight. I mean, from your logic, Amare or Hibbert should have just shot over Chuck all game long. Doesn't happen for some reasons. You think Thabeet, someone who's not as strong as Chuck is going to defend Dwight? Get serious, people. You are claiming Thabeet is just as effective a defender as Chuck Hayes. You honestly believe that. And sure, Thabeet has more upside. Eddy Curry and Stromile Swift also had more upside than Chuck. But there were fat lazy idiots who never did anything, and as a result had shorter careers than Chuck. And I'd take both of them over Thabeet.
