The Rockets are 16th in offensive efficiency, 7th in defensive efficiency. Subbing in Hayes (see DD's stats) would further this imbalance. http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/teamstats?sort=defeff&seasonType=2&league=nba The Rockets biggest problem is 3 of their 4 biggest volume shooters are hitting less than 39%. Either they need to improve on their own, or other people on the team or currently on other teams need to take one or more of their jobs away from them. I think the Rockets can work as a team to improve their defense to top 3 or so (without changing Hayes PT or anything else major). Getting Artest and Battier and Deke healthy and in the major rotation at the same time should help (and spot play by Chuck), but even without that the Rockets team D has been good, just not great yet. But something has to give where we get more consistent and efficient shot taking outside of the big men (other than Hayes). Right now only Barry and Wafer have above average offensive efficiency in shot taking among our smalls, and they have their own limitations. More PT to Hayes just isn't part of the solution to the biggest under-performing part of the team.
Chuck is a great player to bring off the bench when the opposing team has a low post scoring threat that has it going. He is not starter material. He would not be able to provide any spacing on offense. The opposing team would sag off him and clog up the lane.
What part of quicker players did you miss, Okur and Dirk are hardly QUICK. Starting Hayes would be a disaster. LOL - I have to think this thread is a joke, I mean you can not seriously suggest starting a player whose FT% is .375% Surpassed only by his WORSE FG % of .319% Chuck Hayes is a great situational player as a defender against teams with post players. DD
Oh, the page 2 where you implied Rafer is a "legit scoring threat" and that we're a better team without Yao? Yeah, you're off to a good start here. Anyway, to imply that this team's mediocrity is Scola or Landry's fault is ridiculous. Both are doing their job, pulling their weight -- the difference is T-Mac (and others) aren't. We had solid wing play last year, we don't this year. That is the difference. Along with the injuries and continuity, that is what's really holding us back. Statistically, our PF's are outperforming the competition. Why gamble with that? It's not like the odds are in your favor here. The spacing is NOT the same. He does what he's supposed to do: lurk around the basket, box out and stay ready for the (very) occasional scoring opportunity. Scola does that too only he poses the mid-range threat which means whenever he receives the ball at the high post, it makes whoever is playing Scola less inclined to double Yao. If you swapped Hayes for Scola in that scenario the defender doesn't even need to defend Chuck closely -- he doesn't have a mid-range jumper and even if he did he wouldn't shoot it. In Adelman's system he often uses the PF to come to the high post to receive the ball. When this happens with Chuck the defenders sag off of him EVERY time. Simply stated: Chuck touching the ball on offense outside of five feet of the basket pretty means an automatic double for Yao. Why are Yao's numbers down? That could have something to do with the fact that his shots are down. Just a hunch on that one. Yao can get 20 points on 13 shots -- that gives you the flexibility to get others involved. Might I add: your refusal to acknowledge the difference between coaching strategies/styles regarding how Yao is coached is humorous. JVG's "Feed the big man til he can't eat anymore, wait for kick outs" approach is the obvious explanation behind Yao's career year in scoring. It had nothing to do with who was starting at PF next to him. Furthermore, your use of this as "evidence" helps prove how weak this argument is. Why start the guy if he can't stay on the floor? And the point was more so that he's just not a player suited for heavy minutes. Even in his best year he only averaged 22 MPG. Sure, plenty of teams start certain players that only see 15-20 minutes of actual game time. Not that there's anything wrong with that, I just see the 'starter' as the guy who plays heavy minutes and has the ability to stay on the floor for extended periods of time if they're hot or if there's an advantageous match up. Chuck provides neither that ability to get hot, stay on the floor or exploit match ups. That, along with the statistical evidence is usually how I judge starters. None of this plays out in Chuck's favor. Chuck has played enough minutes with the first unit for the numbers to fairly judge his ability to successful as a starter. It's not like he only plays in garbage time. Given his abysmal PER, team worst Roland Rating and how not one of our top five units includes him the evidence is pretty overwhelming. You're obviously a JVG disciple. Your entire argument reeks of his rationale and thinking. Hayes is undoubtedly a 'JVG player' which means he's not a player suited for a motion offense. Your biggest flaw throughout all this is you seem to be either unfamiliar with or too stubborn to acknowledge the difference between Adelman and JVG's coaching style. Half of what you're saying is "2006 this, 2006 that" -- it really doesn't apply to this team and the direction they have moved in. I don't want you to get the wrong idea. I like Chuck as a player. He's won plenty of games for us with his ability to neutralize stars. His selflessness embodies team basketball and best of all, he has a great attitude. All the same, starting Chuck is only going to work if T-Mac is playing like a star or somebody besides else besides Yao can score big points on a consistent basis. Scola and Landry have picked up that slack and have performed admirably.
In the past Hayes was considered a zero offensively though at times he would sprinkle in 1-ratings and make around 55% of his buckets (could argue it should be 65% how open his looks were but whatever) Now Hayes actually is the complete zero we thought he was. Maybe even a -2. The in-depth intangibles stats arent even working in his favor anymore The only way I see him starting again is one of those coaching decisions plays the first 5 minutes of the game "starters" then doesnt ever come back in the game, like Kwame Brown in Detroit or Royal Ivey years back in Atlanta.
Watching Hayes get torched by Golden State right now in the first half trying to guard quicker players is EXACTLY why he should be relegated to situational minutes. He is B A R E L Y an NBA player. DD
You do realize that the Rockets organization completely disagrees with you, right? They have said a number of times that they like Chuck Hayes because of his versatility as a defensive player -- meaning, his ability to defend in the post as well as switch on to quicker, face up players. They used Chuck to defend Artest. They've used Chuck to switch on to players like Durant and Rashard Lewis, successfully. They use him against Amare Stoudamire. They like his ability to play face up defense at the PF/C spot.
thanks but i don't need your admiration of me... if your are constantly going to ask for proof, then you can continuously decline any statements or stats that disprove your "hypothesis" at your pleasure. also, ever heard of assist to assist passes? or swinging the ball? Its never yaos inital pass out of the double team, but the swing that creates the wide open shot.
I said he is a situational player, the same thing as Morey has said....they actually agree with me, great minds think alike you know. DD
