Last year we jettisoned Rafer, gave AB the keys to the car, and traded for Lowry, a backup PG who's turned out to be better than Rafer. How could we trade our starting PG during a stretch run to the playoffs, go with an inexperienced shoot-first PG in AB, and bring in a backup PG from the abysmal Grizz? Well, guess what, it worked and we're much better for it! It got me thinking how certain players, and playing styles, can muddle a team into mediocrity. I think this is what's happening with Chuck Hayes. Don't get me wrong, I absolultely love his basketball IQ, effort and passing skills. But I think his weaknesses not only stifle his teammates and what they can do, but are stifling the development of our bigs. With Landry gone, we're hurting at the 4-5 big time (witness last night...uggghhh!). As I recall, Hayes is in his contract year (correct me if I'm wrong) and I would doubt that he'll be back. We're not going to make the playoffs this year...even if we did we're going nowhere. Let's let Chuck sit, serve as a mentor, and use our last 30 games to evaluate and develop our bigs, particularly Jordan Hill. Sometimes you've got to take risk to get out of the rut of mediocrity. It's time again. Just my 2 cents. DR
This team isn't going to tank and that's what "developing" these young guys would be doing. I also think our front line is going to be addressed this summer through the draft and trades/free agency. There is no point in developing guys who either won't be here next year or who will still be at the end of the bench.
He's not in a contract year, we have a team option to pick up next year if we decide to do so. Yao will be back next year, this will not be a problem next year. Chuck is not our starting center, he is our starting center now because Yao Ming is injured. He is not the equivalent of Rafer Alston. And no he won't be back next year unless we plan on restructuring or signing a new contract for the vet minimum next year, again when Yao will be back, our true starting center.
You failed to realize the difference between rafer and chuck's salary. That's the key. Rafer can't play anything else but the one. chuck is playing a lot of 5, which isnt his position. He'd be better playing just the 4 in a back up role, especially if he's making just over 2 mill.
w/o chuck, our already weak defense would get even worse, especially up front. And he only plays about 20 mins a game. I think RA does an admirable job playing his youngsters. Hill will get his, when its his time.
chuck's what battier was when w he was a handsoff during a trade guy. He has good intangibles and can be productive on D. He isnt playing bad and I'd rather playhim than hill or jeffries
Morey just needs to sign a team of allstars.....but even then fault would be found.... Not to attack the OP, just so many of these threads.....
I don't know how people are still worried about the backup C position. Hayes and Andersen are capable backup bigs.
Assuming Yao is healthy, this is true. However that's not a given and it would obviously serve us better to have backup who can start when needed.
What's good with hayes is he's good enough to play the center, and small enough to play the small forward. I like that versatility. Hayes is very useful. The only players I think we should get rid of are armstron jeffries and hill.
and give more pt to jeffries? chuck can finish at a higher percentage than him and his defense blows, all i hear from announcers is he isn't an offensive player, but he blows on defense, what is his deal. i didn't want to give up tmac and landry for 1 good player and a bunch of trash that were forced to play
Given our luxury tax situation, it's quite possible Hayes' option won't be picked up and he'll be gone next season. In that case, maybe we should be developing a different player to take on backup duties.
The fact that Hayes is starting lets you know what state the team is in. The guy has one trick (its hard o back him down) and the rest of his game has regressed to zero. He's never scored and the guy just flat doesn't rebound anymore. It would be hard for Chuck to make most teams yet he's really OVERVALUED by the Rockets. Plays hard but gets very little done & can be replaced pretty easily. They should just live with Jordan Hill's youth & inexperience for the rest of the season and see what they have in him.
Chuck needs to play next to a big man/shot blocker to be more effective. When players are down in the paint, Chuck makes it hard to control the ball if you keep it low with Chuck going for the strip. If he had someone to back him up and put their hands up for the block, then we would have a better defensive duo. Hopefully we come up with a strong defensive backup center next year.
You can develop bigs without giving them playing time. If they are too raw, throwing them in too early could even stunt their development and lead to them picking up bad habits. I trust Adelman. If he thinks Hill isn't ready, then he isn't. I mean, the dude hasn't even been able to beat out Jared for pt on 2 teams already.
Have you heard/read how Morey AND Adelman talk about Hayes? His defense and his high post passing? He will be back next year if anyone will, I believe. He won't be a starter, of course, which is obviously what the problem is now. He HAS to start because we don't have a better choice. If Morey strikes out in the Bosh/Amare/etc sweepstakes, I believe Hayes will be our backup PF behind Scola(which is a better situation for him) and the Rockets will find a true Center to back up Yao. There will be some available, probably cheap.
Since this year is a developmental year, and Les will want to trim as much salary as possible next season (meaning bye Chuck and Armstrong), why not play Hill more? Hill has the cheapest contract out of all 3 big men and has the most potential, so he has the highest chance of still being here next season, so DEVELOP HIM NOW.
