I say a combination of Chris Kattan and Fry from Futurama. Putting it all together... + + + + + = Spoiler * Chris Kattan and douchebag may be redundant
Even though he's only 6-5, Chuck Hayes is an ELITE defensive center. He holds his defensive position on the low block as well as any player in the league. He forces tough shots. He can push players out of their comfort zones. I'm not worried about defense from that position. SHOT-BLOCKING, however, is lacking (unless you think Dorsey will get on the floor much), but that is only one component of defense, one that the Rockets can live without, at least for next year while they tread water. The Rockets' have a greater need for OFFENSE from the center position. A big guy to stretch defenses by drawing the opposing center out towards the 3-point line. Basically, a Mehmet Okur-type player. That is what Andersen is. Need filled. Not with an All-Star. But filled, nonetheless.
Hayesfan, I saw an ESPN classic game of Chuck in his senior year a couple of months ago. I made sure to watch his offense a bit. He posted up a couple of times and had a nice spin move and I think he hit a jump shot. It didn't look as ugly neither did his free throws. I know he has bulked up a bit but it seems like those skills are still there. I think his actual skills are underrated like dribbling and passing but he doesn't show them much in the NBA. It seems his mechanics in every facet of the game has changed from college. Why do you think this is? It can't only be from bulking up can it?
Agreed, Hayes' defense is amazing. I think he is the best defender of the pick and roll in the league. I think that is why we had success containing Kobe when Yao went out and Hayes got steady minutes. Andersen and Hayes should be a pretty solid center rotation if Andersen can provide some offense when he is playing. Also, if he can learn to be serviceable at defending the pick and roll, which all indications are that he is at least decent at this already then that will help him stay on the floor. He needs to take note of Hayes defense on the pick and roll even though he won't have his quickness. Dorsey needs to do the same because he could provide the shot blocking and physical play that we may be lacking some nights from the Aussie.
I would guess it's mostly mental. The hitch has always been there, but he was more confident about taking a few of those outside shots at UK so they didn't look as bad. Now he hesitates and it emphasizes the hitch. He's always been good around the basket both passing wise and post moves against guys slightly bigger than him. I am wondering which game you were watching... likely an SEC or NCAA game. I have most of his games from UK on video (on a set of discs somewhere in my computer room) and there are times when his hitch was very noticeable in his last two seasons here after he started bulking up to play against centers in the SEC. By his senior season he was much bigger than his freshman. Then there were also games in that same time period when there was practically no hesitation or hitch at all. Which is why I figure it's mental.
If he had signed, it'd show up on this page: http://www.nba.com/transactions/current_month_transactions.html I think they're still waiting for the FIBA paperwork to go through.
Oh well that makes sense. I do remember someone saying (his agent maybe) that they had to get some sort of copy of the contract from the Rockets before his team would release him. So maybe he will get a presser.
Hayes is a great 1v1 defender, but my complaint about Andersen is that if he isn't going to be a big presence on defense he's redundant with Scola and Landry. What I don't understand is Gersson Rosas talking about using Hayes to balance things out defensively. I'm assuming he meant putting them out on the court together, but if you're going to do that, we've already got 2 attacking PFs in Scola and Landry you can do that with. If anything, we should be bringing in a defensive big man to balance out Scola and Landry. I also remember Hayes losing some of his effectiveness when he has had to play starter minutes over a long stretch of games (I'm guessing he has to use so much strength every game to make up for his size he gets fatigued). If we aren't making a trade for another C, Dorsey will have to really step up.
how come Jason Kapono is conducting this interview with Andersen? Is he out of contract with the Raptors? boy, the economy must have been pretty tough on NBA players eh? kakakakakak!!!
I think Rosas meant pairing Andersen and Hayes together. Andersen's strengths offset Hayes's weaknesses, and vice versa.
i think Hayes will be Rockets starting centre averaging 8.5781pts and 10.1879boards. oh and 57.9236% Free Throw shooting
Probably at the start of the season but by December Andersen would start. Hayes would likely be in to end games. Let us hope that Dorsey can produce as to add to the mix of Hayes and Andersen at the center position.
You know, I learned a lot from this thread... I realize that a player's fashion sense is a harbinger of his success or failure in the league. /FACEPALM
The obvious irony is that he was being interviewed... Friedman: Can you compare your game to someone in the the NBA? Andersen (keeping his mouth shut) : RwlRwlRwlRwl!
