I wouldn't say the least, but the interesting thing is that by taking him OUT of the starting 5, you actually solve a lot more problems that otherwise couldn't be resolved without making a huge trade. I just don't see how it makes a difference to Scola's game whether he scores 12ppg as a starter or 12ppg coming off the bench. He is a good scorer, but it's not as if he is first option and the vast majority of his field goals are assisted on when plays break down. He is not a post player. He is not a slasher. But it makes little sense to me that you would have arguably your best defender coming off the bench to stop guys like Jason Maxiell instead of guys like Kevin Garnett...
And our bench consisted of Luther Head, Juwan Howard, and Dikembe Mutombo. In 06/07, that starting lineup had the best per-minute +/- of any starting lineup in the league, as I recall. It worked well. In the first half of last year, the results were more mixed. Maybe that was because of the new coach. I'm as big a Chuck Hayes fan as anyone on this board (well, except maybe Hayesfan), but I don't think he should be starting right now. Scola is doing just fine.
but his efficiency in scoring and rebounding makes his suspect defense a little easier to overlook. Luckily most times we aren't playing the Amare's and Dirks of the league. Chuck Hayes gives us the opposite in the scoring dept but his contributions are equally important. We need scoring to start the game so I think Luis is a better fit to start. Rox just need to quit playing musical chairs with IR and play some god damned basketball as a team.
I never said Luis role would diminish. Infact, I would expect him to play about the same minutes, just off the bench. Chuck Hayes with his defensive style is probably incapable of playing more than 25mpg. He is going to get tired and he is going to get into foul trouble. If I was coaching, I would start him and play him for the first 8 minutes, then sub in Scola. Pull Yao about a minute before the end of the first. Chuck would play the first 8 minutes of the 1rst and 3rd, and the last 5 minutes of the 2nd and 4th. That is pretty close to the 25mpg mark which is what he played when Van Gundy was here. Scola would play the same amount of minutes.
Considering Boozer had his way with Yao in 06-07, YES... And in 06-07, Chuck Hayes kept Okur in check. In 07-08, Scola let Okur dominate. The guy had two games where he had 16 and 18 rebounds! He averaged over 15 a game. The difference in the game can be traced to that matchup my friend.
No. Chuck isn't a starter. Teams would just leave Chuck open and double Yao all day long. And most importantly, Louis Scola is too good a player to come off the bench.
Obviously if you NEED scoring to start the game, Luis should start over Chuck, but where is the proof that you NEED all offense to start the game? The Rockets did fine in the regular season under Van Gundy starting Yao/Hayes and later Mutombo/Howard when Yao broke his leg. It's funny even then that Chuck was replaced in the starting lineup for Juwon Howard who is an almost identical copy of Luis Scola, sans the athletism. Neither play defense, but at least Scola just doesn't have the talent to play defense, Howard just didn't want to get into foul trouble and have to come out of the game, what a turd. You flip over to Adelman who refuses to play anybody that isn't a scoring threat.
Luis Scola is so under valued by so many people on here. All you have to do is watch him while he's playing on offense, he's always looking for the open spot or a lane to cut towards. His effeciency has been great and while his D is questionable, he likes to wander a bit too much, his positives far outweigh his faults. Chuck is a great 1 on 1 defender but lets be honest he's a guy to play in spots.
I think the problem with Hayes starting is about spacing in relation to Yao. It seems like people have been wanting us to get a 4 with range for years to help with spacing and open the paint. While Scola isn't raining threes, he does hit the 15 footer enough to keep the defense honest. It's not just about Hayes's lack of offense though. It's the fact that he is a 4 with no offense. The double on Yao can be really quick and it won't free up our shooters on the perimeter. Additionally, it leaves some of the better weakside shot blockers free to roam the lane. That being said, given the match-up, I am open to the concept that Hayes's defense could merit some starts.
JonesDaddy Contributing Member Since: Jun 2001 Posts: 1 Member: #2614 damn ... welcome. Very good post.
If this were true, then how did Yao Ming average 25ppg in 06-07 with Chuck Hayes starting and only averaged 22ppg in 07-08 and 19.8 this year with Scola starting? Yao's assists per game have remained the same whether Chuck Hayes or Luis Scola start. He took about the same number of shots in 07-08 vs 06-07 (819 to 852) and he is taking less shots this year. This is proof that Scola does not help Yao Ming score easier. If Luis helped Yao, then Yao would have more shot attempts and more ppg OR more assists per game. He has NEITHER.
You bring up Boozer not being 100%. Did you forget T-mac was not 100%? Did you forget Rafer wasn't 100% and missed some games that series? Did you forget that Shane wasn't 100%?
The same could be said for Yao Ming in 06-07. We just got him back at the end after the leg injury. Can we agree to just forget about the comparison of those 2 playoff series? It's really a waste of time. Plus, the game is on... PS (be sure and watch Chuck setting those screens, and watch Scola run away from his man on defense)
Actually during preseason I said if they tried to start Ron over Shane, then they should start Hayes and let scola off bench. Scola off bench will kill other team's big men of second union. He can creat his own shot in low post. It is big.
2nd unit even. I wouldn't say kill, but he would have a much easier time scoring on the 2nd unit with all his fancy shots that usually get stuffed by athletic shot blockers like we saw in New York and Philadelphia.
