Hawes: Rookie Watch-ESPN

[sactownfan]

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=thorpe_david&page=Rookies-071128

• In a clear "sign of the times," the best shooter in this class might be 7-foot center Spencer Hawes, the Kings' slow but deadly 10th overall pick. He has a quick release and lots of confidence. Although he's far from NBA-ready from an athletic perspective, he's just 19 years old, so I expect he'll be a much better athlete by the time he's 22, unless he pulls a Robert Swift and gets too big.


Although i have only been able to see hawes during the summer league and maybe once during the highlights on nba tv. It sounds like this 19yr old center could be a ultra solid player down the line... He clearly has a natural basketball IQ and skill level that enables him so score in so many ways. As for his defense i know hes not 100% yet and figure it could be a couple of months till hes up to full NBA speed.

as far as his asking for playing time i like that reggie is making him "earn" his playing time even though he could just give him a starting spot with the front line we have. But i think reggie is doing this for 2 reasons... one... Hawes is not 100% yet and needs to start off slow.. and two.. Hawes will be hungry to play and also humble about having the ability to play big time mins... Reggie is preventing this guy from pulling a Brad Miller and not challenging himself... although this might actually not be an issue for Hawes (he sounds like a down to earth nice guy) you never know how some people will react to just being giving a starting spot by default cause our front line is weak...

I look for Hawes to be a stud center down the line... he will get in better shape as time goes on. I look for him to be playing big mins by All-star break or right after. It will be interesting to see if our team isnt alot younger all around after the trade deadline.

i really hope Hawes has been lifting, not power lifting but just being in good shape would be nice vs Millers fishing workout.

 

[thatguy]

"Stud center down the line" is pretty high praise for someone who hasn't seen Hawes play much.

And you obviously haven't seen Miller this year.

 

[Gary]

Because of Hawes high BBall IQ, and great post moves (which we have yet to see) I believe he can be a "team changer" like a Divac type player who while not averaging monster type numbers makes the players around him better. I can see him averaging 15ppg 8rpg 3apg 1bpg as a starter on this team ni a couple years. Not all-star type numbers, but I bet he makes players around him better.

 

[Jechtsphere]

If he can really strengthen up we can could see his low post moves, he's not strong enough to push anyone down low on either offense or defense.

 

[NoBonus]

I have seen most of the games in which Spencer has played and he has some great potential and seems skilled and very confident for a rookie center. Should he start? Probably not... but he should get increased minutes as the season progresses provided he keeps playing smart and hitting his shots.

 

[Fresno King]

I can see it now...

Hawes continues his development and improvement, Miller keeps up his resurgeance, we trade Miller at the deadline, and Hawes starts after the all-star break.

Brad is playing very well right now. His trade stock is rising. If he continues to play like this, he's gone.

 

[Jechtsphere]

^
Well one can only hope that's what goes down with him and others.

 

[rhythmless]

im not impressed.

we were all swooning at his "advanced low post skills" after the draft, which had seen a score of athletic big men go before us.

the rationale was that wed have a large body, a low post beast and someone who would improve his rebounding from a paltry 6 a game (in college, no less).

and now all i see him do is throw up 20-23 footers, and were happy with that? i actually think reggie needs to reign this shooter happy 7 footer and stick his butt on the block. we already have a spot up 7 foot shooter in miller, AND moore. we definitely do not need another center whos GOALS are to avg 15ppg, 6-7 reb, 4 assists, half a block, and 35 percent from the 3 pt line. no thanks.

 

[creAtivetfh]

i don't think the problem is that he's just camping out looking for 20 footers. The problem is that when he's posting up the wings aren't getting him the ball in a place that he can make a move. I've seen numerous times when cisco has missed him posting up and so has beno and martin.

I think a lot of our wing players are just used to our bigs coming up and setting screens and rolling out for jumpshots. I would like to see reggie call a play for him on the block so we can see some post moves.

I know thats the only play i call in NBA 2k8

 

[Gary]

^^^ Whoa..

I was one of the people that wanted him out of town on draft day, but it didn't happen.

Looking at him play I have almost 180'd on my thoughts about Hawes. I like his game, I think he is a smart player who will probably put up average numbers... Big deal.. If he gives us Divac smarts, and Divac numbers I will be happy with him. He does not need to be the savior of the team, but it's always nice to have the guy on the floor who has a high BBall IQ, and that can pass and shoot the ball. Every team needs this type of player.. Like the glue that holds the team together...

Sorry.. Having a rough time trynig to explain. I would rather have Hawes on the floor than a player who is out there to pad his stats (like Garcia, and Artest)

 

[kennadog]

I've seen a couple of post moves in games. Generally, tho, when he's posting, he isn't getting the ball. I like what I see. He's only 19 and shows enough to make me patient about his development. And it seems like Theus very much does want to develop him.

 

[Arby's Roast Beef]

He looks very good so far. When we first drafted him we knew that he already had the fundamentally sound inside-outside game locked up, but it's nice to see that already as a rookie, and for a big man no less, he's capable of hitting the three pointer. Spreads out the defense and brings another dimension for our team.

 

[sactownfan]

"Stud center down the line" is pretty high praise for someone who hasn't seen Hawes play much.

And you obviously haven't seen Miller this year.

by stud i meant its not hard to be a stud center... most centers are big guys that cant do much other than take up space, man up other bigs, and dunk when right next to the hoop. Hawes will most likely not be a ultra mega superstart center... but hes only a baby at 19 and if he applys himself to adding more muscle for strength and the ability to handle himself in the paint. he could surprise many buy the time hes 22-23... if he works at it he could be a good defender and a serious force on offense...

 

[kupman]

I think most people like what they see from this 19 year-old.

Since it seems we all have to make comparisons to previous NBA centers I will say that his game reminds me most of Robert Parrish. Very basketball savvy and smart, has the ability to make good moves with his back to the basket, but also has a very nice jump shot, good FT shooter, pretty decent passer and can get up and down the floor better than one would expect.

......only time will tell for any 19 year-old.

 

[Jerichoholic]

Hawes does have an amazing post up game, a lot of us have seen it in college and/or summer league. Even Jerry said during last game that while of course he needs to get stronger his teammates need to be more patient and give him the ball in the post and let him work.

Right now he rushes whenever he gets the ball there because of the impatience of some of the veterans. Not a put down to the other players, it's just the truth.

When he gets more minutes and the other players get more confidence in him you will see his array of post moves, great passing ability, and high BBall IQ. I've actually been surprised by other facets of his game this year, I always knew he had a nice shot, but not that nice. His rebounding and shot blocking have also been surprising...hopefully he can keep learning to become a complete player.

 

[kupman]

... most centers are big guys that cant do much other than take up space, man up other bigs, and dunk when right next to the hoop.

Some of the greatest centers had very different games than this. That was Shaq's game - the most recent great center. However, other great centers such a Kareem and Hakeem, were not brute forces, but rather lean centers who had great basketball skills.

 

[Henkel]

I'm a huge fan of Hawes and his offensive game but he really needs to get better on the defensive end if he wants to be a solid starter. Watching him try to defend the pick and roll is painful at this point in his young career.

 

[sactownfan]

well i dont think hes 100% and Reggie's made it clear he doesnt think hes 100%... Hawes missed training camp and was mostly off his legs so it will be a couple months till hes fully ready for big mins or be adjusted to the NBA speed of things.

 

[Kingster]

In one game I saw him do a hook shot when he was at least 12 feet from the basket. He looked like Kareem. The thing drop down the bucket like you would drop it from a 12 foot ladder - swish. That's a big WHOHA! Chill people. He has a post up game. He's 19 years of age. One of these days - or years - we're going to have players who actually know how to pass the ball in the post. That will help, and of course he's going to get stronger. His basketball IQ is 140. He's out there with all the confidence in the world, has a variety of shots, has a FANTASTIC release on the ball, and yes - HE CAN SHOOT AND MAKE A THREE POINT SHOT! Wow, what a negative. If this guy isn't averaging 20 points a game in 3 years time he's either injured, or they're not using him properly.

One other thing, that kid that Chicago drafted -- yeah, what's his name? -- he better be one heck of a player on the boards and on D because the guy that they passed up on is going to be a BIG offensive threat night in, night out.

 

[Bricklayer]

Some of the greatest centers had very different games than this. That was Shaq's game - the most recent great center. However, other great centers such a Kareem and Hakeem, were not brute forces, but rather lean centers who had great basketball skills.

Those centers however still played in the post, dominated the glass (when young -- old Kareem was soft there) and blocked shots like mad. The requirements for great centerhood have never changed, regardless of how they accomplished them. There have been ZERO great centers, as in ever, that were face up jumpshooters, weak on the glass, and indifferent at best defenders. It is anathema to the entire advantage of the positon.

 

[kupman]

Those centers however still played in the post, dominated the glass (when young -- old Kareem was soft there) and blocked shots like mad. The requirements for great centerhood have never changed, regardless of how they accomplished them. There have been ZERO great centers, as in ever, that were face up jumpshooters, weak on the glass, and indifferent at best defenders. It is anathema to the entire advantage of the positon.

To this I would agree. I am just saying that having a good jump shot does not negate being a great big man if you have the other requisite skills. In addition, I think that in recent years with Shaq being the poster child of a great center many believe that a great center must be a brute. However, there are many ways to be a great big man exemplified by the players cited above.