As a big Chuck Hayes fan, of course I enjoyed reading this article. I still expect Scola to take over the majority of the PF minutes eventually (it's been a slow adjustment period), but until then the coaches love what they're getting from Chuck.</p> http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/5296520.html</p> </p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></p> MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Kyle Lowry, the Memphis Grizzlies' blur of a point guard, caught Rockets rookie forward Carl Landry in a switch and immediately cleared out his teammates with designs of an unfettered flight to the rim.</p> On the opposite side of the floor, Rockets forward Chuck Hayes saw the impending trouble and moved into the lane toward Lowry. As expected, Lowry made his move and beat Landry, then saw Hayes coming over to stop him.</p> But Hayes had no intention of stopping anyone. Instead, he faked toward Lowry, and just as Lowry prepared to dish to a cutting teammate, Hayes backed off into the lane.</p> As he intercepted Lowry's pass and the Rockets headed the other way, former Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich, scouting the preseason game last month for the Lakers, said in that familiar rumble: "That's Chuck Hayes."</p> With that, Hayes had received the greatest of compliments. Not only had he made a slick and heady play, preventing what would have been a rim-bending dunk, but no less an expert than Tomjanovich considered the play typical of him.</p> ...</p> </p> His coaches, from Rick Adelman now to Jeff Van Gundy before him, rave about the things fans rarely discuss.</p> "They're missing his help defense," Adelman said. "They're missing how many times he gets his hands on the ball, steals and strips. He just is always in the right spot. He understands what our game plan is, and he's very quick.</p> "With him and Shane (Battier) on the floor, this team has two guys who do all those dirty things for you. They are always taking charges. They are always in position to help. But Chuck is really important."</p> </p> ...</p> </p> Last season, the Rockets allowed teams an average of more than nine fewer points (per 100 possessions) with Hayes on the floor than when he was off. They actually scored slightly more with Hayes playing. So far this season, they are holding teams to 4.5 fewer points with Hayes playing.</p> "He's so strong, and he's quick. You feel good about him," Adelman said. "You want him on the floor.</p> "Obviously, he's not a great offensive player, but he's a better passer than we anticipated. Defensively and on the boards and with all the little things he does, he's the real glue for this team."</p> </div></p>
