Also Gasol played like he has been paid the big contract! Even Chuck would have been helpless against both Randolph and Gasol.
If it's a question of Chuck vs Dalembert tho... Dalembert at his contract every day of the week and twice on Sundays. Sure, he probably would've helped against Memphis because Scola wasn't really effective at all and Hayes probably would've taken up Hill's and some of Scola's minutes. But none of this him starting at C... Dalembert averaging like 5 blocks per 40 minutes these first 3 games should be enough evidence that we made the right decision there.
Shane was not playing defense at an elite level unlike Chuck. He was good,but not great. Chuck was unappreciated while Shane was here last year. Chuck was the biggest leader in Yao's absence. Getting Sammy at a cheap price,was not as important as resigning Hayes.
To clarify: Chuck doesn't always "shut down" elite offensive players-- nobody does that, that's why those guys are elite players. However, Chuck allows you to play these guys largely straight up, with limited double-team help, while keeping these guys mostly in check (i.e. shooting a reasonable % rather than the ridiculous % that Z-Bo got last night). The thing about many of the elite players isn't so much that they get their 20+ ppg, but that they contort you D. Chuck allowed the team's d to be less contorted in response to an elite post player.
Maybe if we would of activated our 7.3ft scrub to clog the paint,the game could of been closer. I guess coach knows best though ....??
The main focus of the training camp was defense, being generous is saying only two of the starters are one way offensive players (Scola, Martin. Hill and Budinger are neither, and lowry is a complete player. I think McHale underestimated how good their offense was last year, and he put together some basic offensive sets that undermine what they are capable of.
