Chuck Hayes

[jayk009]

He's one of my favorite non Celtic players just because he has overcome so many limitations to be an effective player in the NBA. Since when has their been an undersized bigman that has been a *defensive* specialist? That's completely unheard of, and did you guys know that he's only 6'6? Did you know that he's the starting center for the Houston Rockets? He's not even particularly athletic, I'm amazed that he has made it this far, I want to give props to him. Anyone else a fan of him?

[cordialb]

I'm a kentucky fan, and he's one of my favorite, if not all time favorite wildcats.  The heart he played with was amazing and he literally willed his team to win more than once in his years at kentucky. 

I even bought a custom kentucky jersey, and had them put the no. 44 on it.  haha

In short, I love me some Chuck Hayes!

[cordialb]

Just found this article.  He's getting some much deserved love.


http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/justice/6706326.html

[jdpapa3]

He's the most underrated player in the league. I remember a game early last year where KG tried to back him down low 3 times in a row and got terrible shots off each time. Hayes is built like a rock and is impossible to move. He could've been a heck of a Guard in football. Or a 6'6" center that inexplicably holds his own.

What Morey is doing down in Houston is one of the best stories to me. Loses TMac and Yao and the team is somehow still tough to beat. Just incredible.

[Vermont Green]

What Morey is doing down in Houston is one of the best stories to me. Loses TMac and Yao and the team is somehow still tough to beat. Just incredible.

Don't forget Artest is gone too.

[Who]

Chuck Hayes is tremendous defensively. The post defense, the pick and roll defense, the all-round help defense. Plus the rebounding. Very nice package.

One through five ... he can switch onto any position and do a good job defending it. That level of versatility combined with the high effectiveness against the 4/5s is extremely rare.

Hayes is one heck of a defender.

[Brickowski]

I like Carl Landry almost as much as I like Hayes.

Why is Houston's performance surprising?  The guys who are left are smart, unselfish basketball players: Battier, Scola, Hayes, Landry and Brooks, just to name 5.  And Budinger is pretty smart for a rookie.  They defend.  They share the ball.

[kozlodoev]

Why is Houston's performance surprising?

Because all of their inside players are 6'9 or shorter.

Remember last year when we had Perk and Garnett, and were concerned about lack of length?

There you go.

[Rondo_is_better]

Aaron Brooks is a star.

I saw him at Oregon all the tme--he was fit to blow up from his junior year on.

[nickagneta]

While he's doing great I think the job that Scola and landry are doing is even more impressive. Houston sans TMac and Yao is definitely one of my favorite non-celtic teams to watch.

[Brickowski]

Height is overrated.  Cowens was 6-8.  Wes Unseld was 6-7.
Talent is also overrated.  What matters is production: making plays.

[bello_man09]

the chuck star has come a long way..he's a player everybody team needs to have...doing the dirty work...hard defense.