Which player will benefit the most from Yao's return?

Hayes will not move back into the starting lineup when Yao gets back. Dont fool yourselves people-Hayes just isn't that good. He will be a perennial backup on any team.

 

I think Luther would benefit the most from Yao's presence because he would have more open three point looks.

 

Yao will make all of our jobs easier
But the playerwho will benefit most is No.12,No longer will we see him jack up 16 shots a night!

 

Dude that is just not true and you know it. You're still confusing Alston with Sura. Sura was the one that wouldn't pass to Yao in the post. Alston sets up Yao just fine.

 

Gotta be Hayes, he went from a starter to a rotational player. With yao back i expect to see hayes starting again. Thats a bigger impact on a player than just getting more open shots. When you take the starting spot you play better cause you have more confidence than coming off the bench. Look what it did for howard. I just hope the Howard/Deke combo continues to shine the way they have lately.

 

If you did not say Chuck Hayes you do not watch Rockets basketball.

Let's see, Chuck is most effective with Yao and T-Mac on the floor together with him because he can find space for either easy buckets (since he can't create himself) or for offensive rebounds.

Let's also not forget the reason he is not starting is because we can't have Deke and Hayes (two players who can't create) on the floor for extended min together.

When Yao gets back Hayes will see his time increse back to the pre Yao injury with Howard being a very effective player off the bench.

 

I agree with those who said Purple for the reasons given. He's going to see increased playing time, will have better chances at grabbing offensive rebounds and, while he's not the greatest finisher, he is able to get open going towards the basket for passes from Yao.

That being said, I think Luther's 3-pt % will start an upward climb back to the level it was before the injury to Yao. Battier's shot has been great the last couple months as well and will only get better with more wide-open attempts. I think his recent play of him successfully trying to create his own shot will also show improvement with Yao back in the lineup.

Bottom line, and your understatement of the day, this team is going to improve very much with Yao back. I'm not of the opinion that Howard or Deke will suffer from anything other than decreased playing time, and that may really only apply dramatically to Deke. Both of those guys will give you quality minutes when Yao returns regardless of the quality.

The one I'm most interested in seeing is Bonzi. I have absolutely no idea how he's going to play night in and night out without Yao, much less with him.

 

I voted Chuck for a number of reasons.

1. He will be able to play the 4 position again, which will allow him to:

A. increase his rebounds because he can go after those long rebounds more... won't have to be the 'paint protector' and get jumped over by people with longer arms underneath.
B. be able to set screens more than he does now, allowing for easier buckets for everyone else. If you remember, when Yao was in, Chuck would set picks for everyone getting them open looks. Right now he is only setting screens on one offensive set... and I don't know about you all, but in my opinion Chuck sets the best screens on the team.

2. He will be more open under the basket when Yao is double teamed... then yall won't be complaining he misses layups, because there won't be a guy 6 inches plus taller than him whacking at his head as he shoots.

3. He won't have to defend the other teams tallest players, hopefully keeping him from continually having foul problems (I ain't going to hold my breath, but it could happen)

Okay I think that's it for now. Though I do think that Shane and Luther will also benefit from Yao's return for those wide open 3's. Chuck's plus total far surpasses anyone elses. IMHO.

 

If you did not say Chuck Hayes you do not watch Rockets basketball

NOO if you dont say luther then you dont watch rockets basketball

 

Please tell

 

it's chuck hayes all the way.

every single player will benefit but chuck will go from back-up super tiny center to starting power forward.

when yao was playing chuck was a whole lot more consistent then he is now.

 

Lutherbecause Yao can kick it out to him on the 3 point line.

 

my reasoning

well obviously chuck and luther will both benefit but chuck is what he is...a hustle player. with or without yao, chuck can still hustle and get those loose balls. But he will still miss layups and foul like a madman. ( although i suppose you could argue that chuck will grab more rebounds with yao in the lineup ). regardless it was obvious that chuck/yao mix did very well early in the year.

luther is a spot up shooter. thats what he does best. In order for him to get those open spot up looks on a regular basis, you need a big man to suck the defense in the paint.

 

I think Luther has been already getting plenty of looks, and frankly he wont get more playing time.

Hayes will get a bump in minutes which is more than can be said about anyone else on the roster. Thus Hayes will technically have the greatest benefit, heck he might even get back into the starting rotation.

The truth is Juwan Howard and Yao Ming do not mesh on the court at the same time, especially for long stretches. Juwan sweet spot at the top of the key doesn't help yao shed his man etc.

I dont think Hayes will be in at crunch time. I see a group of Head, Tmac, Wells, Battier and Yao all in at the same time when the game comes down to the wire. But i see Hayes getting minutes in the first half with Yao, he is a much better compliment to Yao than Howard.