RealGM

SHOOTING GUARD
First team: Shane Battier, Houston (1.55)
Although a small forward offensively, Battier has spent most of his time defending shooting guards. Plus, putting him here gives us the strongest first team overall -- so shooting guard it is.

This probably is the one case in which the numbers most disagree with my observations, and since Battier's points-saved totals in previous seasons were spectacular, this almost certainly is a fluke.

Subjectively, I thought Battier was clearly the best defensive wing in the league this season and was the best defender on the league's second-best defensive team. I expounded on his defensive skills a few weeks ago when I was following the Rockets during their winning streak, so I won't repeat myself now, except to say that if he doesn't make All-Defense this year, there is something terribly, terribly wrong.

POWER FORWARD
Third team: Chuck Hayes, Houston (7.46)
A second-teamer a year ago, Hayes, at 6-6, is undersized for his position, but pound for pound, he's one of the league's strongest players. He knows how to use every ounce to push opponents out of prime post position.

His defensive stats have been ginormous all three seasons he's been in the league, so even though he lost his job to Luis Scola, he still gets a top-three selection here.

tmacformvp06 wrote:wow hayes was a 2nd teamer a year ago wow

Rocketsterps wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



He deserved it. Pound-for-pound Hayes is one of the best defenders in the entire NBA.

Rocketsterps wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



Not sure how anyone can dislike the chuckwagon and call him "sucky". This guy brings it every night. Chuck is one of the biggest bargins in the NBA. If he was 6-11 he'd make 10 million per year. Moreover, I can name plenty PF's who have huge contracts that he's better than as a rebounder/defender at the pf position. Glad to see Chuck get the national attention he deserves.

T-Mac United wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



I am a big Chuckwagon fan... but I still call him Sucky.

xcomputerman wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



In my shameless, unreserved opinion, anyone who calls Chuck "sucky" should be lined up and shot.

So what if he doesn't have a jumpshot? The guy does so many things so well, I'm always grateful to have him on our team. Just take your eye off the ball for a moment during a few possessions and watch Chuck do his thing. He's always in the right place at the right time, doing the right thing. He is pretty much the only guy in the league I know who can guard centers like Shaq and then switch off to a point guard within the same possession without getting outmatched (one of my favorite things about watching the Rockets is when opposing guards see Chuck guarding them and then repeatedly try in vain to drive past him).

The chuckwagon does not get enough love. Should he be starting over Scolandry? Certainly not. But he'd better be suited up in Rockets Red for a very, very long time. I wouldn't have it any other way.

T-Mac United wrote:Dude, go **** yourself. Find a post where I've bashed Chuck Hayes. You'll find none. The fact that I called Hayes, "Sucky" is satirical toward those who fail to realize how underrated Chuck Hayes really is.

jove9 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



For someone who uses satire, you sure are having a difficult job recognizing it in other posts, aren't you?

Did you see the smiley face in that guy's response?

You should be lined up and shot for missing something that obvious.