Does Yao in place of Chuck make us better defensively?

Yes he does. There isn't as many easy lay-ups and teams are relegated to shoot more jump shots which is why the past few years we been near the top of opponent FG%. Yao is much better at protecting the paint which is what we need right now. With Chuck, we don't have anyone protecting the paint. There is no doubt in my mind that he is a much better post defender, pick and roll defender, one on one defender than Yao, but the lack of paint protection is what has really killed us in many games this season.

 

Chuck hayes is short and small, yao is big and tall.He changes way more shots than hayes.

 

Chuck is a better defensive player, Yao has more of a defensive impact, if that makes sense. Height and length are two things Morey undervalues imo.

 

Did Grizzly Adams have a beard?

 

It all depend on the team we are playing, if they are more a fast pace team, hayes would help us more, but if the team we are playing is tall and big, Yao would help us more.

It all depend on the team we are playing, and there are no clear answer to it.

 

Do you have any statistical data for our reference?

 

I went with "about the same". Assuming the same # of minutes as you have stipulated..


With Yao on the court, we are suspectible against certain C's to the pick-and-roll, as Yao isn't terribly mobile when he "shows" (on the ball-handler). He is also more vulnerable to the face-up type C's on occasion when they try to go around him. Yes, he has gotten better, but these weaknesses are still exploited at times.

In terms of rebounding, I'd say no change--Chuck's nose for the ball and quickness get as many (more likely more) rebounds than Yao, even if they never played together. (Can't just look at the stats since some of that was accumulated when they've been on the court together)

Chuck's defensive shortcoming are purely on his height. He is susceptible to being shot on over the top. But he doesn't get bullied or pushed under the hoop due to his strength.

So really, it's all about interior presence. On this team, Shane and Luis do a solid job of help defense, the team is good at rotating, and everyone takes charges. Yao would help, but Chuck's presence taking more charges than anyone else on drives is being overlooked.


Summary: Yao helps at blocking shots and defending taller C's, but Chuck's anticipation and ability to take charges on drives somewhat mitigates the lack of blocked shots. Chuck's ability to play the pick and roll better and his ability to play face-up/quicker C's negates the rest of that advantage Yao brought (defending taller C's and "the rest" of the blocked shot advantage). Edge: EVEN

 

On the whole, better. I was wrong at the beginning of the season when I claimed the defense would not suffer.

 

Chuck defends post players better. That's it, though.

On the whole, Yao's sheer length protects the paint better by far. I don't see how it's even a question, really.

 

We went from a pretty good defense the last several years to a pretty porous defense this year. I don't think it was the loss of McGrady that is responsible for the change.

 

Of course ...hayes is 6"6 but really Deke in place of Yao makes us better defensively we should bring him out of retirement.

 

Our lack of height has been pretty apparent lately, specifically last night. Nene was just shooting right over our guys.

Chuck is a fantastic stop gap, but he just isnt a starter in the NBA.

 

Can't teach height.

 

depends who were playing...Yao is good for clogging up the middle and playing the more stagnent centers but Chuck is better for playing the more finesse centers...I remember Yao used to get torched by players who had an outside jumper...So on the whole, its about EVEN

 

Is that a question? Horrible poll!

 

In general, a true shotblocker ie.(Mutombo or a Dalembert) would make even more of a difference than even Yao. Chuck is one of the best on the ball defenders in the league, but he's not a rim protector.