<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">There are some things that just fit together naturally. Like a hand inside a glove. Like Beyonc? inside one of those slinky dresses at the Oscars. Like Chuck Hayes standing in the shadow of Yao Ming. When the big man returned from his 10-week stay on the injured list, Hayes returned to the Rockets' starting lineup. Simply because it made sense. Hayes is an active, aggressive player who gives the Rockets an energy boost like a can of Red Bull. But at 6-6, he also gives up considerable size at power forward. And with his limited offensive skills, he had to go to the bench when Yao was injured and low-scoring Dikembe Mutombo took over as the starting center. But when you bring back Yao, you bring back Hayes. In three games, he's averaged 11 points and nine rebounds, and the Rockets are 2-1. On the season, the Rockets are 16-8 with Yao and Hayes starting side. It's a match that just fits.</div> link As I've said countless times, I think its the correct decision to put Hayes back in the starting lineup. Looking at per-minute point differential for certain combinations of players on the season illustrates this (off48 is point scored per 48 minutes, def48 is points allowed per 48 minutes, net48 is point differential per 48 minutes). Starters w/ and w/o Chuck <div class='codetop'>CODE</div><div class='codemain'><br/> player combination min off48def48 net48<br/>Alston-McGrady-Battier-Yao w/ Chuck 220 99.6 76.0+23.6<br/>Alston-McGrady-Battier-Yao w/o Chuck204 104.394.6 +9.7<br/></div> McGrady, Yao w/ and w/o Chuck <div class='codetop'>CODE</div><div class='codemain'><br/> player combination min off48def48 net48<br/>McGrady-Yao w/ Chuck248 98.6 80.0+18.6<br/>McGrady-Yao w/o Chuck 293 99.2 98.3 +0.8<br/></div> Like JVG says, it's not about which players are the best but rather which players work the best together. It seems pretty clear that Chuck just works well with the starters.
/Rock4life: "See? I told you he was a offensive liability. Ive been saying this from the beginning. This scrub has no place on our team. We need proven veterans like Juwan to start."
<div class="quote_poster">foo82 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">/Rock4life: "See? I told you he was a offensive liability. Ive been saying this from the beginning. This scrub has no place on our team. We need proven veterans like Juwan to start."</div> This reminds me of early in the season when you guys were overrreacting on Hayes. He has played well lately, but I don't think he'll do it for the rest of the season. The better teams like Dallas, San Antonio & Phoenix are gonna really take advantage of Chuck's liabilities. The problem is it might cost us a playoff series.
<div class="quote_poster">Rock4life Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">This reminds me of early in the season when you guys were overrreacting on Hayes. He has played well lately, but I don't think he'll do it for the rest of the season. The better teams like Dallas, San Antonio & Phoenix are gonna really take advantage of Chuck's liabilities. The problem is it might cost us a playoff series.</div> The better teams will take advantage of all our liabilities. Not just Chuck's. That's why they are better.
<div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">The better teams will take advantage of all our liabilities. Not just Chuck's. That's why they are better.</div> Yea but when you have one glaring weakness the better teams are gonna expose that. We'll have to see..............
<div class="quote_poster">Rock4life Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Yea but when you have one glaring weakness the better teams are gonna expose that. We'll have to see..............</div> Usually weakness is exposed on the defensive end (see luther head or rafer alston defensive mismatch). Juwan is definately not a better defender than Hayes. Hayes has proven he can indeed guard the best of them (throw in a few fouls). Offensively, now that we have Yao back, a scoring 4 doesnt exactly become too important.
Hayes is more agressive than Howard. Hayes will contest everything. Thats whyt he fouls so much. I would rather have him foul out in 15-20 mins than have him be cautious on the floor. I think he fits well with Yao, given that Yao can pretty much score at will. We dont need another PF scorer, like Howard, on the floor. Hayes is a good fit here.
<div class="quote_poster">foo82 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Usually weakness is exposed on the defensive end (see luther head or rafer alston defensive mismatch). Juwan is definately not a better defender than Hayes. Hayes has proven he can indeed guard the best of them (throw in a few fouls). Offensively, now that we have Yao back, a scoring 4 doesnt exactly become too important.</div> Like I said, we'll have to see. Teams like Phoenix, San Antonio & Dallas are gonna front Yao and shade him with Haye's man. That's gonna really put Hayes's offensive skill to the test. I'm pretty sure what the outcome will be.
<div class="quote_poster">Skiptomylue11 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Won't every team do that if it is effective?</div> No...not if they don't have the personel to be effective with it. Phoenix has long quicker players that recover fast. That enables them to get back and block Hayes's shot, or effect it. Starting Hayes could give them an early cushion.
<div class="quote_poster">Rock4life Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Like I said, we'll have to see. Teams like Phoenix, San Antonio & Dallas are gonna front Yao and shade him with Haye's man. That's gonna really put Hayes's offensive skill to the test. I'm pretty sure what the outcome will be.</div> It's ironic you brought up those three teams, because we're 2-0 against them when Hayes has started (blowouts against Dallas and San Antonio), and 0-5 when he hasn't started. But I don't want to overexaggerate the importance of that stat. We'd probably lose to them most of the time regardless.
Man Hayes is magic when both Yao and mainly Tmac play with him. Tmac really got him better with the laser passes. The guy plays awesome with both Yao and Tmac. He deserved to start over Howard. I dont care how good Howard has been playing. Hayes basically plays better than Howard with Yao and McGrady. And plus, Howard can bring us the energy off the bench.
<div class="quote_poster">Umair Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Man Hayes is magic when both Yao and mainly Tmac play with him. Tmac really got him better with the laser passes. The guy plays awesome with both Yao and Tmac. He deserved to start over Howard. I dont care how good Howard has been playing. Hayes basically plays better than Howard with Yao and McGrady. And plus, Howard can bring us the energy off the bench. </div> Dude, you're such a flip-flopper.
I never said I liked Howard. After seeing Hayes play with Tmac and Yao, I have came to a decision that Hayes is a better starter than Howard w/ Yao and Mac.
<div class="quote_poster">Umair Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Man Hayes is magic when both Yao and mainly Tmac play with him. Tmac really got him better with the laser passes. The guy plays awesome with both Yao and Tmac. He deserved to start over Howard. I dont care how good Howard has been playing. Hayes basically plays better than Howard with Yao and McGrady. And plus, Howard can bring us the energy off the bench. </div> I'm tellin you, Hayes will get exposed. It's just a matter of time. His play is gonna eventually take a turn for the worse. Howard should be starting
Nah man. I know that you feel Howard is a better and a more complete player, but the fact is that Hayes plays better w/ McGrady and Yao. He plays really good and helps a lot when he starts. On the other hand, Howard can bring us the firepower off the bench. Hayes simply doesnt play his best without McGrady and Yao on the floor. Hayes produces much more with McGrady and Yao and I think JVG made the correct move by putting Hayes in the starting lineup. With this, we get a better starting lineup and a better bench.
They both play a different game; I didn't think at first .. but they do. Beginning of the year, I loved Hayes' play. Then when Yao got injured, Hayes played sorry and Juwan came in and made the difference. Now that Yao is back, Hayes is doing it again... Hayes has good movement without the ball and knows how to get open and on the other hand, Howard has a nice jumpshot and can create space for himself. It just depends who's in the game at the time they're playing.
