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TSN Raptors Reporter

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TORONTO - When Dwane Casey opted to stick with veteran bruiser Chuck Hayes down the stretch of Wednesday's showdown with the league-leading Memphis Grizzlies, he knew it wouldn't be a popular decision, but it was the one that ultimately turned the game.

Hayes had not played a second before he entered the game with 10 minutes remaining - in fact, he hadn't seen the floor in exactly 10 days - a healthy scratch in Toronto's previous three contests.

Up until that point, Memphis was out-rebounding the Raptors 44-25. Marc Gasol (16 points, 10 rebounds) and Zach Randolph (16 points, 16 rebounds) had already recorded double-doubles. The visitors were holding onto a four-point lead.

"He knew exactly what needed to be done last night," said Dwane Casey, who called Hayes their "MVP" following a 96-92 comeback victory over the Grizzlies. "He accepts his role. Chuck hadn't played in three games, but he was ready, mentally and physically, to go in and do his job and that's why he's been in the league as long as he's been. We're very lucky to have a guy like Chuck as one of our vets coming off our bench."

Without attempting a shot and despite grabbing only one board himself, Hayes evened the playing field, becoming the first Raptor big to successfully match Memphis's physicality on the night.

He was tested moments after subbing in. Gasol immediately went to work, looking to post up the Raptors' bulky, undersized centre. Using what Casey called his "low centre of gravity," Hayes stood his ground and forced Gasol to take a tough turnaround jumper from 11-feet out. He hit it. On the next trip, Hayes pushed Gasol out even further. The result: an improbable 18-foot fadeaway.

Hayes, in the game for one specific reason, was not amused.

"I was kind of irritated by that," the 31-year-old said. "I was about to kick the scorer's table when he made that shot. I'm happy I kept my cool."

From that point on, Gasol would not hit another shot from the field. As a team, the Grizzlies converted just two of their six attempts the rest of the way, with Toronto holding a 10-6 advantage on the boards. Hayes closed out the game.

A match-up with the Grizzlies' intimidating frontcourt is one Hayes generally has circled. In today's changing NBA, forcing most interior players to adapt their game and step out to the three-point line, there aren't many teams that feature a physical, throw-back style big man who makes hay in the post. Memphis has two of them in Gasol and Randolph.

In his 10th NBA season, Hayes says he doesn't have to watch much tape or do much research to prepare for an opponent like this.

"It's all up here," he said pointing to his head. "They don't do nothing different than they did the last four, five years. I learn from experience. I knew there was a high possibility that I would go in last night, so I was ready, but I've been ready the whole season and I'll be ready tomorrow."

"He knows who he is and what match-ups that he's needed [in]," Casey said. "There's certain match-ups that he's good [in] and he knows that before we know it because he's been in the league so long. That's why you have veterans. That's why veterans are so important in this league, in those positions. He has a good idea of what he's supposed to do."

After going undrafted in 2005, Hayes - an undersized low-post defender at 6-foot-6 - signed on with the Houston Rockets, only to be cut after training camp and relegated to the D-League. A few months later, as the Rockets were hit with a rash of mid-season injuries, Hayes was brought back on a 10-day contract. They would keep him on for the rest of the campaign.

As a rookie in Houston, he learned from Dikembe Mutombo and Juwan Howard, a pair of big men who know what it takes to have sustainable success in this league - they enjoyed 18 and 19-year careers, respectively. The first thing they taught him: "Do what you do best".

"I came into this game with a very particular skill set and I'mma craft it," said Hayes. "Everything else, you work on your weaknesses just to touch up on them, but you craft your strengths."

Now, a decade later, that's been his message as a mentor to Jonas Valanciunas, the Raptors' 22-year-old centre.

After logging a season-high 34 minutes in Saturday's win over Utah, Valanciunas was held to just 22 against the Grizzlies, including five in the second half. In the fourth quarter, he remained on the bench, as Casey went with Hayes instead.

Eventually, these are the match-ups where they'll need Valanciunas to thrive, or at least hold his own, in order for them to reach the next level. In fact, some would argue that even on Wednesday, over-matched through the first two-and-a-half quarters, Casey should have stuck with his young centre. They may have lost the battle, but in getting him some much-needed experience against elite competition, they could end up winning the war.

But, as we know, the goal has changed. Gone are the days where development and patience top Casey's list of priorities. This is a team, at 9-2 to begin the season, that expects to win now. At least on Wednesday, the experience and defensive expertise of Hayes gave them a better chance to win.

"The best thing I could tell JV, man, is his preparation - learn from it," Hayes said. "You know, I didn't become a good defender just by luck, man, I had to work for this. His third year in the league, he shouldn't be a lock-down defender, because he's still learning. So it'll come, it'll come from experience. Next time we go to Memphis, he'll know. Next time we go to Chicago, he'll know."

Wednesday's outing, as impressive as it was, won't necessarily earn Hayes more court time. At this stage of his career, on this team, he's a situational player. For most NBAers that would be frustrating and understandably so.

However, Hayes has a unique and refreshing perspective on his role, having worked hard to carve out a niche in the league. Self-awareness is a rare quality to find in professional athletes. Hayes has it in spades

"We're all competitors," he said, with a big smile on his face. "Everybody wants to get in there, into the battle and play. I mean, it's been our human nature since we started playing sports. But I'm 10 years in, man. I'm undrafted, I'm undersized. I have nothing to complain about."