Chuck Hayes Injury (UPDATE: Hayes out atleast 2 weeks)

Feigen blog on Chuck Hayes

hope this has not been posted yet.

http://blogs.chron.com/nba/2006/11/two_weeks_with_chuck_hayes_sta.html

November 13, 2006

Two weeks with Chuck Hayes starting, and now, two weeks without
A few summers ago, when Chuck Hayes was trying to catch the eye of a NBA team somewhere, he played for the Rockets' summer league team in Minneapolis. Late in each game, Hayes would get on the court and he and Dion Glover would do all the things that win.

The Rockets went 5-0 and it was easy to dismiss that as a summer thing, and Hayes as a 6-6 (maybe) power forward that could not shoot.

Last summer, Hayes played for the Rockets' summer league team in Las Vegas and was a veteran presence, having played a half season with the Rockets. The Rockets went 5-0 and though Hayes had been signed to a NBA contract, he again could have seemed to be a 6-6 power forward that could not shoot.

The Rockets spent the off-season extolling the virtues of a range shooting power forward and the space on the floor he could provide for Yao Ming. Then the Rockets were out-toughed in Utah, Hayes became a starter and the Rockets have gone 5-1 with him (we're not sure how that one loss got in there.)

Hayes is still very much a role player, bringing energy and quickness to his cuts to the basket, defensively and on the boards. But it is interesting how all that tenacity has worked in a frontcourt with Yao Ming and Shane Battier. The matchup with Tim Duncan tonight would have been a nice test of all that.

Instead, Hayes will be out for about two weeks with a hyper-extended left knee. (I told him I felt responsible for jinxing him by scheduling an off-day feature about him for Tuesday.)

It's pretty remarkable that an injury to Hayes could be considered a significant loss, but if you watch the Rockets closely, you know that it is. In his own way, he kept teams from cheating off him with rapid cuts to the basket and the hands to catch Tracy McGrady's passes and finish.

Hayes leads the NBA in plus-minus ratio. He is not as great a loss as the many players to have gone to injuries last season and won't be out as long. Juwan Howard should be able to step in reasonably well, especially if he knocks down enough midrange shots to keep bodies off Yao.

But it says something about how well Hayes does the things he does that it hasn't matter that there are things he does not. He has been one of the keys to the Rockets early-season success, making his injury a big deal for the player that does the little things.

 

Hopefully it will force ROK to find another way to win...

 

it is a big loss. I am concerned. without him, I don't feel very well against spurs.

 

the chronicle sayts hayes leads the nba in plus-minus ratio, but says juwan can do well, when his plus-minus is one of the worst ones in the nba.

 

I started a thread about Chuck, saying that he's a difference maker on our team. Most people dismissed it. I know most people find it hard to believe this, but we can't win without him against the better teams. We need rebounding at the 4.

 

I'd rather see novak get the minutes over howard, but we know hell will freeze over before that happens.

 

i agree with that. he's a very smart player. if he's not getting the rebound himself, he's not just standing around. he'll be blocking out. he helps the team in so many ways.
juwan just stands there looking to see who will get the ball unless it comes right at him. at the least i hope someone goes over his deficiencies with him so he can be more productive.

 

And here I thought I was the one that jinxed him since I paid for my tickets to the 11/18 Detroit game on Sunday afternoon!! (Would have been the first time I had seen him play live since his Senior night at UK.)

Glad to know someone else was to blame.

 

those most people really haven't seen the games, or rather WHERE IS NOVAK

 

can't teach an old dog new tricks. he is what he is

 

just went back on your post

kikimama and a3po disagreed slightly, for the most part, there really isn't much dissent

jopatmc wrote a pretty good thread.
you're doing good bro

 

i feel uneasy about him being out too, cause his contributions are so huge to us. but man...if we win these next games even without him because of a dominating yao, or tmac gets his shot, we're definetly a team that finally holds the title of being "deep".

ive always envied deep teams because their depth always seems to find their way out of trouble. and i definetly would like to see the rockets dig their way out if in a rout by looking to ALL (even novak/jl3) role players.

goodluck rox!

 

i can dream, can't i?

 

I wonder if Van Gundy started Hayes based on Morey's statistical analysis. It just seems that Van Gundy would [edit] (not) start Hayes, when it seemed like he wanted a PF that could shoot. I would think he would have given Battier a 2nd game to man the PF spot again.

[edit]

 

sigh, i know where this is leading

 

Perhaps it is not so bad.Novak have some chances prove himself.i hope Novak's 3P will help rockets beat super.Of course,also wish Hayes return as soon as possible.

 

Yes, I agree. No depth, no champion!

 

Perhaps it is not so bad.Novak have some chances prove himself.i hope Novak's 3P will help rockets beat Spurs.Of course,also wish Hayes return as soon as possible.

 

Good teams can remain in stride during injuries like this. Jho can step up and hold down the fort until chuck wagon comes back...He will be back b4 we know it. Wins will be more significant in his absence. Roxs roll on tue....go roxs

 

Please let this mean we get MORE Novak, with only a mere sprinkling of Juwan in only slightly more significant minutes.

of course this won't be the case, but one can always hope.