Yao is a well-rounded offensive player, and he can only play defense in the paint. T-Mac is a well-rounded offensive player, but he can't play paint defense - he'd get killed. Your statement does not make any sense.
Forgot to add: Hayes plays both perimeter and post defense quite effectively too. That entire statement was just completely bogus.
You are just exaggerating things and completely off the base, man to man defense - staying in front of your man, put a hand on a player's face when he shoots, steal the ball... it's not like Yao is paralysed in the parameter, he's just less effective there, or T-mac drops dead in the paint, HE PLAYED PF FOR GOD's SAKE against the Mavs in the playoffs. On the other hand, Hayes will be laughable if he tries to dribble drive past his man without an open lane, or shoot three pointers.
Basketball is decided by points, individual offense can be translated into points directly, a fg made is either 2 or 3 points. On the other hand, I don't think objectively individual defense can be translated into points, nobody can prove how many points a rebound is worth, so all this propaganda about how great Hayes defense is only SUBJECTIVE. Since it's hard to quantify individual defense into points, to compare individual offense with individual offense is meaningless. They are simply not on the same level in terms of commensurability. So the judgement remains that Hayes is an one dimensional undersized offensive liability with hard to quantifiy defensive prowess defensive specialist.
To ask an all offense no defense player to play more defense is not suicidal, to ask an all defense no offense player to play offense is suicidal. See, my meaning of a player putting up more effort on one end is not equal to your interpretation of a player to be paired against mismatchups. It will not be suicidal to ask Francis to play more general defense all night long, staying in front of his man...it will be suicidal to ask Hayes to shoot long jumpers all night long. Hayes' problem is not about mismatchups, it's his severe lack of offensive capabilities in general.
Scola is in an offensive slump right now so this may not be the best time to suggest this. But I really think they should run more plays for Scola and post him up more often. This way we have more options then just the predictable posting up Yao 20 times in a row. All of Scola's set offense is from the pick and fade to his jumper where it hasn't been falling, or the occasional cut to the basket and someone passes to him, or him taking off to the basket with the ball because he can't find anyone to pass to. Then the rest of his baskets are from hustle points. Post him up more often and let him be the finisher or the playmaker from that point. Sorta like Boris Diaw of the Suns. Develop a 2 man game with someone else. Rafer is a bad 2 man person because his J is so erratic. Maybe with Aaron or Tracy. I just keep watching his Argentine highlights and keep thinking to myself there's so much more this guy can do and offer then what the Rockets offense is giving him. And yeah we know he has to improve his D. Nothing new there.
