Hang in there, Spencer!

VF21

VF21

Super Moderator Emeritus
SME
Okay, here's the deal. There are a lot of threads of criticism about Spencer Hawes right now. I thought it only fair to have one that presents some positive reinforcement and encouragement...

Hang in there, Spencer! We may get frustrated with you at times, but it's because we've seen glimpses of the player we know in our hearts you're capable of becoming.

Yes, we forget that you're young and that our entire team is just now starting to come together as more than just a bunch of guys who found some matching uniforms on the side of the road and decided to see if they fit.

You're a Sacramento King and we will support you. And when things turn around - and a lot of us are sure they will - you'll see that we can be just as generous with our praise as we are with our criticisms.

Once, now and always...

GO KINGS!!!!!
 
Thumbs up!
All the guy needs is to be given time to learn and regain his confidence. He's got the talent.
It can be devastating for a young player to be slammed so hard, so quickly and by so many people.
 
I wouldn't even begin to blast this guy until after he has fulfilled his rookie contract. Before then it's just too damn early and premature. But a lot of people are not glass is half full like myself. A lot of people are what-have-you-done-for-me-lately around here, and there are some valid constructive criticisms (Brick for instance telling him to get his *** down on the block) but there is a lot of posturing and whining being down here and it's old, fast.
 
Spencer is a stud, and being so young, he has a chance to become a star in this league. This guy is all effort/hustle, and I can't wait for the next game to see him destroy the opposition. We love you Spencey!
 
Plenty of Big men matured slowly in the NBA, and this may just be another one of those cases. Its more obvious right now because there is literally no real backup option.
 
IDidntDoDat said:
Spencer is a stud, and being so young, he has a chance to become a star in this league. This guy is all effort/hustle, and I can't wait for the next game to see him destroy the opposition. We love you Spencey!
Click to expand...

That's actually not the case, and is the primary reason imo that people are criticizing him.

Continue w/the praise...
 
Dear Spencer,

You're a dashing and handsome ladies man even if it is because women seem to think you own 14 gold medals. Hang in there and stay thirsty my friend.

128719735633378794.jpg
 
Man. Even in a thread with the sole purpose of being positive, people can't help themselves. Grow up.

Spencer: hang in there, buddy. You're still one of the youngest guys on the team and you play in one of the more physically demanding positions against the world's top talent. Keep playing and learning. Most of us have your back, and won't it be fun to see the fickle ones eat crow?
 
VF21 said:
Okay, here's the deal. There are a lot of threads of criticism about Spencer Hawes right now. I thought it only fair to have one that presents some positive reinforcement and encouragement...

Hang in there, Spencer! We may get frustrated with you at times, but it's because we've seen glimpses of the player we know in our hearts you're capable of becoming.

Yes, we forget that you're young and that our entire team is just now starting to come together as more than just a bunch of guys who found some matching uniforms on the side of the road and decided to see if they fit.

You're a Sacramento King and we will support you. And when things turn around - and a lot of us are sure they will - you'll see that we can be just as generous with our praise as we are with our criticisms.

Once, now and always...

GO KINGS!!!!!
Click to expand...

I'm so glad you're not our team's general manager. You're way too nice. The good teams don't have this mentality at all. Trust me, you're going to get really tired of defending him.
 
PoundForPound said:
I'm so glad you're not our team's general manager. You're way too nice. The good teams don't have this mentality at all. Trust me, you're going to get really tired of defending him.
Click to expand...

You know, reading really is fundamental. I made it clear that this was a positive thread to balance some of the negative stuff being said, nothing more.

I find it incredibly interesting that your blatant hatred of all things even remotedly connected to Spencer Hawes obviously prevents you from even allowing one shred of encouragement to go his way.

Good teams do have a positive reinforcement mentality.

But this thread is about encouraging Spencer to hang in there and give it his all. If he does, and it works, what has it cost but a little bit of space on a message board in cyber space?
 
PoundForPound said:
I'm so glad you're not our team's general manager. You're way too nice. The good teams don't have this mentality at all. Trust me, you're going to get really tired of defending him.
Click to expand...

What's Petrie going to do in this scenario? If we trade Hawes, it's for pennies on the dollar. He's still got a ton of talent and potential. At this point, apart from acquiring another full sized center to start over Hawes (where are we going to find this mystery C? It's a bit like the mystery PF we all wanted a few years ago), all we can do is hope that everything works out with Spencer. We can ***** and complain about him playing soft all we want, but there are many other threads to do that in.

Anyways, Spencer is a finesse center. He's not a beastly athletic monster who can just jump higher or out-muscle any other player on the court. We knew that going in. He's got to learn how incorporate his vast array of offensive weapons in to the natural flow of the game. He's still got time. Have I been disappointed in his lack of progress so far this season? Absolutely, but I can't believe anybody is more frustrated than Spencer himself. He's got the talent and intelligence to put it all together. Crafty, finesse 5's take longer to develop than any other position, save perhaps pass first point guards.
 
YES. Good idea on a "encouragement" post. He's only 21. The constructive criticism has turned into destructive criticism. Enough with that. GO HAWES! YOU CAN DO IT!
 
VF21 said:
Okay, here's the deal. There are a lot of threads of criticism about Spencer Hawes right now. I thought it only fair to have one that presents some positive reinforcement and encouragement...

Hang in there, Spencer! We may get frustrated with you at times, but it's because we've seen glimpses of the player we know in our hearts you're capable of becoming.

Yes, we forget that you're young and that our entire team is just now starting to come together as more than just a bunch of guys who found some matching uniforms on the side of the road and decided to see if they fit.

You're a Sacramento King and we will support you. And when things turn around - and a lot of us are sure they will - you'll see that we can be just as generous with our praise as we are with our criticisms.

Once, now and always...

GO KINGS!!!!!
Click to expand...

Maybe this thread could come along with a theme song:

"All that we're saying.......is give Spence a chance"
 
I apologize for being negative, but...

It seems to me that Spencer is a very poor defender, and I don't see that ever improving much. Could be wrong.

His lack of athleticism and defensive ability was a big concern during draft day, and these weaknesses has certainly come to fruition.

I don't mind his offensive game or that he is prone to turnovers as of now; it is his defense that really worries me.

If we are to improve our team, we really need to improve our defense. Near last in the league for this season and last just isn't cutting it.

How many games can we really win with poor defense, for example giving up far too many uncontested layups and tip-ins in the post?
 
I think Spencer would be a fantastic backup to a Chris Bosh. I just dont think he is starter quality in the NBA. He would add great depth to our bench adding scoring and finesse with the occasional huge block. But we need a presence in the middle, Spencer may not be that presence as a starter, but he would be a great backup. That's as positive as I can be about Hawes.
 
Hawes shows glimpses of how good he can be on O and D. He is young and has an upside, I hope. The past 5 games tho' he has gotten pushed around badly on D down low. Once he shows glimpses of pushing around the other "big" when he is on D then we gladly jump on the Hawes bandwagon. He is out best hope with what we have now.

Integrating new veteran players, 3 new rookies, new coach and staff, takes time whether we like it or not. Not a few weeks but a half a season minimum.

Right now the high TO's on offense are the problem that everyone on the team shares, some less than others. The soft middle on D is not only Hawes, it is everyone. Guards and forwards switching when they could/should can go a long way to stopping the layup drills too many teams tend to run on the Kings, especially in the first half. The fact the Kings do better in the second half every game (it seems) merely points to the newness of everyone, player and staff alike, and the ability to learn from first half mistakes and do better in the second half.

Spencer's ego is taking a hit right now. That in itself may be a good thing if he realizes what he needs to do more or better. I like Hawes and his game when it is on. Let's give the kid some time and some encouragement. He has been a starter hardly more than a year while JT is now in his 5th year as a starter. Hawes will learn and will improve. With all our help, he can do it sooner than later.
 
at 21 Lebron.......at 21 Kobe.....at 21 Dwight......at 21 Hawes has less than made his mark on the NBA. If Hawes was re-entering the draft this year he would be picked behind Djuan Blair. Honestly, Taj Gibson is showing more promise, at 21. The best part about hawes and his poor play is we don't have to shove a max contract in his face next summer, like petrie was planning to do. Jon Brockman beat out Hawes in preseason. Other wise Hawes would have been starting since game 1. Someone moved hawes down on the depth chart, and it sure wasn't Sean May. The reason Spencer started playing well was because he wasn't starting and Brockman was averaging more rebounds than him in 5 minutes of PT. now that hawes sees 30+mpg he just rests on his laurels and says to himself, "maybe i am as good as i think i am", because he is starting. When in reality, he couldn't see Brockman time on the Orlando Magic. I liked Hawes until he decided he was the reincarnate of Raef Lafrenz.
 
CruzDude said:
Hawes shows glimpses of how good he can be on O and D. He is young and has an upside, I hope. The past 5 games tho' he has gotten pushed around badly on D down low. Once he shows glimpses of pushing around the other "big" when he is on D then we gladly jump on the Hawes bandwagon. He is out best hope with what we have now.

Integrating new veteran players, 3 new rookies, new coach and staff, takes time whether we like it or not. Not a few weeks but a half a season minimum.

Right now the high TO's on offense are the problem that everyone on the team shares, some less than others. The soft middle on D is not only Hawes, it is everyone. Guards and forwards switching when they could/should can go a long way to stopping the layup drills too many teams tend to run on the Kings, especially in the first half. The fact the Kings do better in the second half every game (it seems) merely points to the newness of everyone, player and staff alike, and the ability to learn from first half mistakes and do better in the second half.
Click to expand...

You make an excellent point. Sometimes we put all of our attention on the center when thinking of interior defense, but the help from the power forward and small forward is essential to have good interior D. There's a lot defensive improvement that needs to take place from 4s and the 3s, not just the center position.
 
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