The most important player in the Rockets/Blazers series: Chuck Hayes

by grungedave on Apr 18, 2009 11:35 AM CDT in Player Analysis Comment 18 comments

We already know the stars of this series. Yao Ming, Brandon Roy, ~~Tracy McGrady~~ Ron Artest, LaMarcus Aldridge, Luis Scola, etc. etc. These guys have been studied and analyzed all season long. There will be no surprises among them. Sure, Brandon Roy and Yao might exchange big "game-winning" shots. We already expect this though...

However, when the Rockets finish off the Blazers in Game 6, everyone will look back and say "I had no idea Chuck Hayes would be such a huge factor." Okay, not everyone, because I'm saying it now... and I fully expect Chuck Hayes to be a central player in this series.

Yes, Chuck. Chuck Hayes. The same guy with this free throw stroke.

Yes, Mr. Hayes will be the unsung MVP of this series for the Rockets.

Look, I love Luis Scola, and he's going to give us 15/10 on average every game. But he doesn't play 48 minutes a night. Carl Landry still isn't 100% after that @$$hole shot him in the leg at 4am near his own house. Joey Dorsey is busy learning how to spell "plantar fasciitis." Chuck is going to be needed. And he will deliver.

The Blazers go 10 deep. They have lots of depth in the frontcourt. From Aldridge to Frye to Rudy to Outlaw, the Blazers can run at the Rockets with waves of athletic swingmen. The first time the teams played (yes, the "Brandon Roy shot" game), LMA was having a field day early against the Rockets' shorter power forwards. Coach Sleepy finally woke up and put in Chuck Hayes to guard LMA. Next thing you know... Aldridge became a complete non-factor in that game. This was repeated in games 2 and 3 between the teams, most recently a couple weeks ago (nice -14 in the +/- for LaMarcus, while Chuck posted a +8).

Hayes may be all of 6'6" and have the worst offensive game in the NBA, but when it comes to defense, you do not want him guarding you.

The NBA pundits all over the TV this week raved about the Blazers' ability to create offense whenever they want. They tossed out words like "efficient" and "athletic" and "deep"... and while they paid lip service to the Rockets' team defense, they tended to ignore how the Rockets can totally control a team if they are in the proper defensive mindset. Just ask LeBron what it's like when the team really cares about defense. Chuck Hayes isn't going to make any NBA "All Defensive" teams (basically because the voting for this is a joke, but I digress...)

Yes, I know these are Chuck Hayes' stats for the regular season:

	Pts	Reb	Ast
2008 - Chuck Hayes	1.3	3.5	0.6

Then again, if Shane Battier can be a "no stats all star" - why not Chuck?

Don't be surprised when you see Chuck Hayes on the floor for extended minutes while frustrating the Blazers to no end when Portland (temporarily) has possession. Chuck Hayes' game may be ugly, but it is beautifully effective. Yet another reason why Daryl Morey is a freakin' genius.

Chuck Hayes will be a huge factor. Don't say I didn't warn you, Portland.

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You might be right...

… but two things happen when Hayes is in the game. 1) LMA goes deep post and basically forces a double team leaving Rudy/Blake/Roy open for perimeter threes (these are three of the highest percentage long ball guys in the NBA). 2) The Rockets already shaky offense loses their best offensive rebounder to the bench thus putting more pressure on the 40% twins Artest and Brooks to compliment Yao. Tough formula.

"Greed is Good."
So is Rudy.

by Gekko Mojo on Apr 18, 2009 11:42 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

and yet

When Chuck Hayes is in the game against Portland, the Rockets either (a) make a big comeback, or (b) extend their lead. I’ll take that trade-off.

by grungedave on Apr 18, 2009 11:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

not a big enough sample size

I know less than half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.

by haildablazer on Apr 18, 2009 5:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

true, but

3 of 3 does indicate at least a trend.

by grungedave on Apr 18, 2009 5:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

and a trend

that relates directly to this series. Its not a big sample size, but it is as big as can be done when looking at the season series b/t these teams

Waiting for the day Houston gets some sports respect.

by TexasHoosier on Apr 18, 2009 5:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i get you're a portland fan, so you haven't seen much of hayes...

but, hes actually a great offensive rebounder. and he also plays very efficiently when hes on the court with Yao. In fact, I believe a couple of years (when he started), the trio of Yao-Hayes-Tmac was the most efficient in the league (note: It wasn’t Yao/Tmac/Battier or Yao/Tmac/Alston).
Amen grungedave. Hayes is a warrior. He waits his turn, goes in the game, does his job, helps us fight our way back into it, and does it without any mention by the national commentators (even though Worrell knows exactly whats going on).

by flipasta on Apr 18, 2009 4:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know Hayes is a "warrior"

…but by your own analysis, he’s a 6’6" guy battling two of the most efficient rebounders in the NBA (Pryz/Oden) and being guarded by LMA. He is not as much of an o-reb threat as Scola.

"Greed is Good."
So is Rudy.

by Gekko Mojo on Apr 18, 2009 4:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

portland has one of those guys

but the blazers one is a 7’ rookie

"show me a good loser and i'll show you a loser" - coach

by chikndnnr on Apr 18, 2009 12:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Difference is

Oden hasn’t learned what it means to not foul yet.

"I'm just looking forward to something great happening in the city of Houston" - Tracy McGrady

Still waiting...

by DreKeem on Apr 18, 2009 12:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

True

Early on, he never met a foul he just didn’t HAVE to have. But he’s been playing MUCH better lately.

It’s Yao and Brooks for me as my keys to the series. If they both play well (and it will take both) the Blazers will probably lose. If Blake can match production with Brooks, the Blazers will win.

I know less than half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.

by haildablazer on Apr 18, 2009 1:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

true...but he is starting to learn

slowly, slower than we expected but he is coming around. thank goodness for the vanilla guerrilla.

"show me a good loser and i'll show you a loser" - coach

by chikndnnr on Apr 18, 2009 12:20 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

the chuck-wagon

will roll all over your oregon trail

by fiddycent on Apr 18, 2009 1:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

hey

and have the worst offensive game in the NBA

What are you talking about? He has that sick turn around hook shot! Sure, it never goes in, but Lowry is always quick to let him try.

by Only_A_Lad on Apr 18, 2009 1:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

and

my roommate informs me that Chuck, like so many Rockets role-players has a shoe deal in China. I think it looks pretty sweet.

by Only_A_Lad on Apr 18, 2009 1:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Who's Chuck Hayes?

Sounds like acowboys tight end from a few years back?

I try to help with everything," Fernandez said. "If the coach says go rebound, I go rebound. I work for the team.

""If I'm playing this game to get media and attention, I shouldn't be here," Aldridge said. "I'm here to play basketball, and do what I can do to help this team win."

by Dragonage on Apr 18, 2009 4:19 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Chuck Hayes

is a bulkier, less athletic, worse shooting, shane battier. He’s the guy the rockets count on to do the dirty work on the boards. he grabs offensive rebounds with his keen sense of reading the flight of the ball. he grabs loose balls with huffort (hustle and effort). and he can make the occasional layup. Plus hes an energy guy for the rockets that provides a spark for the whole team when he plays.

Portland better be scared of the Lowry, Wafer, Artest, Hayes, Landry line up, i predict great things from them tonight. It might be the best defensive team that still has offense but is also the running team for the rockets. PORTLAND BEWARE!!

Waiting for the day Houston gets some sports respect.

by TexasHoosier on Apr 18, 2009 5:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs