We're the team that gave him the opportunity to enter the league, stay in the league, and earn millions. I wouldn't call that being used. If anything, he's probably glad because he gets to be on a great team, with a great organiztion, he doesn't have to worry about making a roster every year and he's been able to settle down. And i'm not sure chuck would be appreciated elsewhere like he is here, both by the team and by fans because the relationship he's built has been a process over years. If he went elsewhere, he may end up getting cut or underappreciated because no one knows how to use him or play around him.
Would Chuck Hayes even be with this team if not for the injuries that plagued that 2005-06 team plus Stromile Swift's disappointing play that season? Just think, he, along with injured T-Mac and Yao are the only players still left with the Rockets from that squad.
I think Chuck is just fine with where he is and his role with the team. Thankfully no other teams appreciate him as much as the Rockets do.
Hayes is actually playing pretty good. He surely went above my expectations, for an undersized center, he does good, at all aspects of the game. It's good to have him on this team while Yao is away. GO HAYES & GO ROCKETS!
Lol Maybe back in the 90s Dikembe was a better offensive player, but once he came to the Rockets, Mutombo was useless on offense. Neither one of them are weapons on offense, but at least Chuck can find the open spots on offense and take advantage of them. When Deke was wide open and somebody threw him a pass, I was praying he would catch the ball, much less make the shot.
The great thing about chuck is that he knows his role. hes down to do whatever it takes for the team to win
the great thing about chuck because 1.) he's shane's favorite player 2.) shane + bat = masters of charges taker 3.) the whole team have learnt how to take charges! Haha.. i donno if u realize but we do take a lot of charges Chuckwagon brings a lot more than that obv (ask KG, he knows :grin: )
Consider the team's needs. Last year we were one of the top three defensive teams in the League with Chuck riding the pine. Offense has been our big problem the last several seasons. Both Scola and Landry offered more offense last season than Chuck so typically Landry was the sub at PF and Chuck was more of a situational sub. Now with Yao and Deke both out we have no interior defense to speak of except Chuck. Add that to the fact that Chuck is the strongest of our front court players and he is the logical choice to start at Center this year. Scola and Landry both continue to get just as many minutes or more as Chuck but imagine Shaq being guarded by Landry.... not good. And to answer your question about why Deke instead of Chuck last year.... Deke is a former Defensive Player of the Year who can still block shots and rebound, not two of Chucks strengths. Both Chuck and Deke are offensive liabilities so don't try to make one better than the other. Deke is certainly the better free throw shooter and more likely to throw down a dunk but Chuck seems to be pretty good at garbage points and lay-ups. Both are fine defensive players too but Deke could just give some things that Chuck can not.
Chuck's a great team defense specialist much like Shane. You don't eva see a guard driving toward the basket without hitting the floor when them two on the floor
