I think Hayes is completely incapable of playing the small forward in basically all aspects. I'm a guy that has mancrush on Hayes, but there's a reason he's an undersized 4 and not a 3 -- or about 8 of them. 1.) He can't beat anyone off the dribble. Okay, neither can Shane really, but Hayes is even worse in this area. 2.) He can't shoot. This isn't a he can't shoot 3's like Shane, he can't shoot period. He's worthless beyond 5 feet. Hayes range as a 4 is well below average - as a 3 it's laughable. Maybe that's ok if you get a 4 who's a lights out shooter (like an Okur), but it's easier to find a 3 who can do that. 3.) He can't guard wings on a regular basis. Hayes is an OUTSTANDING defender of big men: he's the reason Okur went from all-star to nobody this series. But I don't want to see him guarding LeBron James or any other wing full time. Hayes defends by being physically strong with good defense technique, and being quicker than his opponent- and he still picks up fouls in droves. He's played the post all his life - he's not as good defending in space, and his quickness advantage against 3's is completely negated. The result: even more fouls, and even more penetration allowed. Even worse, putting Hayes on the 3 is likely to limit his biggest attribute - rebounding. My confusion is how you think Hayes can play the 3. He played only the 4 and 5 in college, just like he's done in the NBA. The best example of a guy like him that moved to the 3 was Kenny Thomas -- and that was due to a PF glut and a complement of forwards who could roam the perimeter offensively (himself included). Kenny was a much better ball handler than Chucky with much better range on his shot, and that experiment failed. The new NBA has players slide up a position (a la Marion to the 4, Amare to the 5), not down. Besides, if we moved Shane, I'd rather move TMac back to the 3 and go after a 2 guard. In general, smalls are easier to come by than bigs.
Are you familiar with Travis Outlaw in Portland? I think that he and Rudy Gay are carbon copies of each other. Similar frame/size, similar skill sets, similar tendencies....only real discernable difference I can spot is Gay's superior three point shooting.
Like I care whether he came from HS or College. What matter is NBA experience. That's year ONE in the NBA.
You know, I've actually watched the games. I didn't run to ESPN.com to make my arguments for me. I watched Rudy Gay destroy the Pacers and the Hornets. I watched him get shut down by that great defensive team the New Jersey Nets. Rudy Gay doesn't have the superstar's ability to create, he disappears for weeks at a time, he doesn't understand defensive positioning, he doesn't know his role in the offense and just keeps jacking up shots. I didn't expect anyone to agree with me now when I said Battier was better now than Gay would ever be. In 3 years, you all will.
Deciding who is tradable is a worthy pursuit, but it is all meaningless until the Rockets select a new coach. The new system will determine in large part how we re-tool.
Clearly. That Kobe Bryant, 2nd team All-Rookie. The Lakers should have traded him for Ron Mercer when they had the chance. After all, Mercer was 1st team in the same year! As for Rudy Gay, I don't what to think of him. If he had performed like he was capable of in his second year in college, he would've been drafted 1st overall. He showed the same stuff as usual during his rookie year - tantalizing potential, rampant inconsistency. If he gets it together, he'll be good - but we said the same thing about Eddie Griffin. (PS weslinder- I got you confused in the other thread for wnes re: JVG. Mea Culpa.)
I don't understand why we would ship away battier. We need players like that, and at 4.5 MM, he's an absolute bargain. He is one of the pieces to a championship team. I think regardless of who comes as coach, Battier, Yao, and Tracy will become the untouchables. Others are expendable. I just hope this gives Vspan the opportunity to play.
Look it depends on a new coach. with Adelman, guys like hayes and moutombo are as good as gone. if we get larry brown, moutombo is certianly a keeper. hayes i think is gone no matter who comes. he's value is at an extraordinarly high. time to sell high.
Yes and that rookie Kobe certainly destroyed every team right? Look I'm not even positing that Gay will be like Kobe. I'm just pointing out how ridiculous your statement was.
Rudy Gay does not have to be a superstar to be better than Battier. Not even close. Rudy Gay was pretty consistent after the All Star break and was not just jacking up shots like you contend. Rudy was bounced around from SG to SF to PF which is why his defense was inconsistent. Once they settled him into a position, he was fine. Your last statement is just insane and by the end of next season, you will be clawing to "intangibles" to make your case.
I think you made your case wrt to Hayes as a good SF. Can't disagree too much. Still don't think Battier is that indispensable. I agree that he is a bargain at his salary,which makes him valuable trade bait. His perceived value will never be higher. Keep in mind that I was basically talking about if we get a decent pf and pg. Play Snyder at SF or T Mac as you suggest.
I think Battier would be an even greater asset if he could bulk and play the 4. That way we could squeeze another shooter/penetrator into the lineup and really spread the floor for Yao and T-Mac.
CriscoKidd and RIET, How good do you think we could be if our guards this year were the Alston, Head, Sura, Wesley and Jon Barry (the later being the 2005 version), and if Novak was as good as mature Bullard? My thoughts are is that it is not that hard to get a guard corp like that, anymore that it was hard for Utah to get Fischer...you don't necessarily need to trade Battier in some belief that you'll get a real 3rd scorer out of him. Yao couldn't play his best against Utah for whatever reason. Trading Battier isn't going to turn us into a championship team if Yao plays like that. RIET, You are turning this thread into: Keeping Battier = no championship Trading Batter = our only chance. that's not true. We don't win; we have no chance, if this is the best Yao can do in the playoffs. And please don't respond with some notion that a 3rd scorer will make Yao better; Yao should be able to show dominance regardless. It is so sad. I am so sad.
That's not the way it works. Players coming straight from HS generally take longer to develop. Using your method of evaluation, Joe Smith projects to be a much better player than Kevin Garnett. Joe Smith (rookie) 15 ppg 8.7 rpg 1.0 apg 1.6 bpg .458 FG% .357 3pt% .773 FT% Kevin Garnett (rookie) 10.4 ppg 6.3 rpg 1.8 apg 1.6 bpg .491 FG% .286 3pt% .705 FT% In reality, Joe Smith turned into a bust that destroyed the TWolves when they signed that stupid under the table deal. Garnett is one of the best PFs in the game.
I don't think it's that easy to get those guards. Esp with how many we need. Really imo, McGrady should be playing sf and we could use a whole new backcourt. I don't like anyone in that backcourt. We kind of struck gold that year in a way that we hadn't before since the championships in regards to role players, and we definitely haven't had that luck since. Even though Yao wasn't as good as he is now, that was a better team when healthy imo. I love Battier's d, but the rockets NEED a more dynamic threat on offense. Battier's role on offense is really what is easily replaceable.
freakin crazy man battier is awesome, he did alot for us this year we are keepin him and tmac for sure
Battier is the glue that held this team together. Whoever started this thread is CRAZY. Obviously, they don't watch the games.
