One of the biggest dilemmas facing Rockets coach Rick Adelman heading into his team's Western Conference quarterfinal series against the Portland Trail Blazers is how to guard 6-11 forward LaMarcus Aldridge.
It's not that the Rockets don't have a proven commodity for slowing the former University of Texas star in Chuck Hayes, but the more minutes Hayes gets, the fewer minutes there are for Luis Scola. And the fewer minutes Scola plays, the fewer scoring options the Rockets have.
"A lot of that is going to be decided on if you're in the game, if you have a nice flow going, are you playing well offensively, and if you are you can play Chuck," Adelman said. "But if we're really struggling and they're taking things away from us and we need another scorer on the floor, we'll have a decision to make there.
Landry in the mix
"We know Chuck is the best one on Aldridge, but I'm hoping that we're going to be able to work that out. It's like you've gone the whole season doing things a certain way and now if you start playing Chuck right away what happens to Carl (Landry) and his production? It's a tough decision."
Aldridge is second to Brandon Roy on the Blazers in scoring at 18.1 points per game. He's averaged 23.3 points in three games against the Rockets, but the 6-6 Hayes has given him fits off the bench defensively.
"It's about staying active and keeping a body on him and using my strength to my advantage," Hayes said. "Obviously, his advantage is the height, but if he can use his height at 15 feet (away from the basket) instead of 10 feet, then I'm doing my job. I'm going to keep him away from the basket and make it tough for him."
In the Rockets' first meeting of the season against Portland on Nov. 6, Aldridge made 11 of 14 shots and scored 22 points before Hayes came into the game in the third quarter.
Aldridge made just one shot in the next 20 minutes, when Hayes had to leave him to try to defend Roy on a drive to the basket. Hayes wound up fouling out with 2:46 left in overtime on a play in which he injured his shoulder.
Hayes has averaged 23.7 minutes in three games against Portland, nearly double his season average of 12.1 minutes. He scored a season-high nine points in the team's previous meeting April 5.
"If coach needs me out there to stop him or give Luis or Yao (Ming) a blow I will be ready," Hayes said. "I have to be ready because if he got Luis in foul trouble or Carl, I'm the next one down the line. If I can contain him and help my team win, then that's what I'll do."
Mutombo an option
Adelman said if Hayes sees more time on the floor against the Blazers, Dikembe Mutombo could play a more vital role, too. It's something the coaching staff has discussed.
"Again, it's a decision I have to make," Adelman said. "The problem is (Portland coach) Nate's (McMillan) not going to cooperate with me. He's going to play Aldridge 42 minutes, so there's gong to be brief stretches there (when he's not on the floor). You have to give your guys a chance and see if Luis can compete and see if Carl can complete and be a factor for us."
brian.mctaggart@chron.com
