Rookie Hawes says he is ready to debut

[HighFlyingMonkey]

Huh? Last summer, when I was dying for us to get Thornton, the pro-Hawes argument was that Thornton might be an athletic freak, but that he was a project with questions about his health, and that Hawes had post skills which made him totally NBA ready. Now Thornton's playing well, Hawes' health questions dwarf Thornton's, and you're telling me that Hawes is the one that's a project?

What? You must have been reading some faulty scouting reports; Thornton was the one thought to be really polished (Had to be, considering he's already 24 years old!) with questionable potential, while Hawes might be a NBA level scorer, but his body is clearly too skinny for an NBA big. I don't think "project" was the word people were using with Hawes, but rather not NBA ready.

 

[NewArena]

He may not be our Knight and shining armor but he will certainly be better than our fresh pile of garbage were trotting out there right now. If Reef is up for it, i want to see him get the ball a little bit more down low because without artest we need some type of low post presence.

Obviously an athletic player like williams or watkins is good but im not sure they have to start to be helpful. I want to see one of them get about 20-25 minutes per game along with hawes when he is ready.

 

[VF21]

SAR may be a low post presence but watching him is painful, more painful than watching Vlade his last year with us.

Artest will be back in four more games. Until then, I'd rather watch Watkins get more minutes.

 

[PoundForPound]

whats going on with justin williams, when is he going to play again?

 

[VF21]

Justin Wiliams is still on indefinite leave from the team. You can be sure that if/when anything new is announced, we'll be reporting it.

 

[HndsmCelt]

All I can say is anyone who seriously wants to see Watkins or Justin start will DEMAND that Hawes start... different type of player but he has a compleet lowpost game and all in all brings something the Kings desperatly need and is a better all arround player.

 

[Warhawk]

All I can say is anyone who seriously wants to see Watkins or Justin start will DEMAND that Hawes start... different type of player but he has a compleet lowpost game and all in all brings something the Kings desperatly need and is a better all arround player.

Agreed.

 

[fnordius]

What? You must have been reading some faulty scouting reports... Hawes might be a NBA level scorer, but his body is clearly too skinny for an NBA big. I don't think "project" was the word people were using with Hawes, but rather not NBA ready.

I read the usual sites, same as you, I'd imagine. Yes, they did say that he needed to bulk up, although as Justin showed us, much can be done in a few months with hard work. They also said things like, "In terms of skill, it appears that Hawes may have been born ready for the league."
http://www.draftexpress.com/viewprofile.php?p=483

So my overall impression was not that he was regarded as a project, just that he should spend most of his off hours in the weight room, which is pretty normal for a rookie.

 

[BritishColumbia]

What? You must have been reading some faulty scouting reports; Thornton was the one thought to be really polished (Had to be, considering he's already 24 years old!) with questionable potential, while Hawes might be a NBA level scorer, but his body is clearly too skinny for an NBA big. I don't think "project" was the word people were using with Hawes, but rather not NBA ready.

Spencer is not too skinny .. he is not skinny at all .... Spencer is not an NBA Center strong .. yet ....

 

[kennadog]

Spencer is not too skinny .. he is not skinny at all .... Spencer is not an NBA Center strong .. yet ....

Well, he is only 19 years old. His last college year he added an inch in height and may not quite be finished growing even. I'm sure with the right training and the natural filling out still not finished, he can be strong enough. From reports he's tough-nosed and competitive, too.

I don't expect him to walk out and perform miracles, but I'm looking forward to seeing how he develops and hoping I'll be very pleasantly surprised.

 

[Fresno King]

Maybe the other way around? Hawes at C and Miller at 4?

That's hilarious. Guys who play the 4 are usually not allergic to rebounding.

 

[BritishColumbia]

Yes, Spencer is only 20 y.o. and he is not strong enough; Yes, he has no experience and he had a surgery ..... however, Hawes, despite all his minuses, is the best big man on our team now.

 

[mac]

We have big men other than hawes?

 

[Gary]

That's hilarious. Guys who play the 4 are usually not allergic to rebounding.

I was thinking the same thing until I saw how terrible out PFs are. Why not start Miller at the 4? You think he would do any worse than KT/Moore/SAR? At least Miller can score a bit.

Believe me though.. If we had a shred of what a PF should be I woudl be laughing along with you, but in our current situation I would actually consider it.

 

[kennadog]

Yes, Spencer is only 20 y.o. and he is not strong enough; Yes, he has no experience and he had a surgery ..... however, Hawes, despite all his minuses, is the best big man on our team now.

He's not 20 until April 2008.

 

[dude12]

If Hawes became as good as someline like Chris Kaman, I would take that in a hearbeat. He's not going to be an elite center but I would take a guy who is in the upper third of centers.

 

[Gary]

If Hawes became as good as someline like Chris Kaman, I would take that in a hearbeat. He's not going to be an elite center but I would take a guy who is in the upper third of centers.

I have no doubt in my mind that Hawes can become a decent center. One thing I have always liked about Hawes was his post game. I have to admit though that I only saw about 3-5 games of his in college, but I did like what I saw. If I was not mistaken he was not playing so well on the boards when he was sick early in the year, but came on late when he got his wind back, and actually got aout 7 or so boards a game if not more. Which is decent at the college level for a freshman.

I don't think rebounding will be a problem for him in the NBA. If he can give us about 7-9 a game on average and score about 15 than he will be what we need. We REALLY need a low post threat, and he seems to have all the right moves.

 

[Bricklayer]

Hawes does have the moves -- he should be able to score inside, and I think fairly prolifically if he can bulk up and learn shot selection. But there has been no inkling of rebounding or interior defense from him at any level above high school (and maybe not even then). Excuses come flooding in, but these things are not magic. Guys either have a mentality and knack for it or not. Those will be his challenges going forward.

I expect him to look fairly wild, but also drop in some wow moves on offense this year. Can pass as well, and I think has some nasty in him, at least as far as hitting the floor or wanting the ball. But the telling numbers will be those rebound and block numbers. He's got to want those things, because all evidence suggests they aren't natural.

 

[BawLa]

I think Hawes will be great this year coming off the bench. He will be surrounded by energy guys, and he will give us that interior scoring. By feeding the ball into him in the post, we will be slowing the game down and hopefully running our offense. This will be great in helping our starters get good rest when they are on the bench. Plus he will probably be drawing double-teams if he starts scoring with authority. This should get some open looks to Douby and Cisco.

So when Hawes says that he is "ready to debut", I say: SO AM I!!!

 

[kingsfan101]

I think Hawes will be great this year coming off the bench. He will be surrounded by energy guys, and he will give us that interior scoring. By feeding the ball into him in the post, we will be slowing the game down and hopefully running our offense. This will be great in helping our starters get good rest when they are on the bench. Plus he will probably be drawing double-teams if he starts scoring with authority. This should get some open looks to Douby and Cisco.

So when Hawes says that he is "ready to debut", I say: SO AM I!!!

It's nice to be optimistic. However, to expect a rookie, who hasn't played a single NBA game yet (preseason doesn't count), to start drawing double teams is going a bit over the top. We all hope that he gets there. Right now, it is just an unreasonable expectation.

 

[NoBonus]

Hawes does have the moves -- he should be able to score inside, and I think fairly prolifically if he can bulk up and learn shot selection. But there has been no inkling of rebounding or interior defense from him at any level above high school (and maybe not even then). Excuses come flooding in, but these things are not magic. Guys either have a mentality and knack for it or not. Those will be his challenges going forward.

I expect him to look fairly wild, but also drop in some wow moves on offense this year. Can pass as well, and I think has some nasty in him, at least as far as hitting the floor or wanting the ball. But the telling numbers will be those rebound and block numbers. He's got to want those things, because all evidence suggests they aren't natural.

One dimensional, yes, but that is one more dimension than most of the Kings bigs.

 

[Gary]

It's nice to be optimistic. However, to expect a rookie, who hasn't played a single NBA game yet (preseason doesn't count), to start drawing double teams is going a bit over the top. We all hope that he gets there. Right now, it is just an unreasonable expectation.

I think he will be doubled depending on how well he is doing in each game he plays. If he drops 20 off the bench and is in towards the end of a close game I bet the opposing D will come to double. It's not like the coached say "he's a rookie, an has never played an NBA game so we won't worry about doubling him". It's kind of a spur of the moment thing whether or not to double a guy.

Basically if the opposing coach knows he's our only low post threat on the floor, and is hitting his shots all game under single coverage I am sure he will draw a quick double. At least that's what I would do if I were a coach.

Now if he was in a game for 10 minutes and is 1-6 FG than I wouldn't put another player on him

 

[fnordius]

However, to expect a rookie, who hasn't played a single NBA game yet (preseason doesn't count), to start drawing double teams is going a bit over the top.

Considering that the guys we've been playing don't even draw single teams, he can't be any worse.

 

[kingsfan101]

Considering that the guys we've been playing don't even draw single teams, he can't be any worse.

He might turn out to be our best big man, but in the current scenario, that isn't saying much.

Don't get me wrong. Like all fans, I too hope that he plays exceedingly well, and draws double teams, kicks out to the shooters, and is a presence in the middle, and more. A certain amount of reality check is in order though, most of all for Spencer, who shouldn't get his first minutes with the weight of exceeded expectations.

 

[BawLa]

He might turn out to be our best big man, but in the current scenario, that isn't saying much.

Don't get me wrong. Like all fans, I too hope that he plays exceedingly well, and draws double teams, kicks out to the shooters, and is a presence in the middle, and more. A certain amount of reality check is in order though, most of all for Spencer, who shouldn't get his first minutes with the weight of exceeded expectations.

I don't think him drawing double teams is exceeding expectations. We drafted this kid because of his plethora of moves on the low post, along with other reasons. So expecting him to be able to use his extensive scoring ability on the post is realistic. I'm not saying he is going to reach his highest level in his first game, but I do expect him to score down low in a Kings uni., and by doing so, he will likely draw double teams.

Exceeding expectations would be if I expect him to grab 12 boards and 2 blocks while he scores on the block. And I certainly don't expect that.

 

[Warhawk]

I don't think him drawing double teams is exceeding expectations. We drafted this kid because of his plethora of moves on the low post, along with other reasons. So expecting him to be able to use his extensive scoring ability on the post is realistic. I'm not saying he is going to reach his highest level in his first game, but I do expect him to score down low in a Kings uni., and by doing so, he will likely draw double teams.

Exceeding expectations would be if I expect him to grab 12 boards and 2 blocks while he scores on the block. And I certainly don't expect that.

Agreed. He will definitely need adjustment time once he starts playing, but the kid has moves and scoring capabilities on the block. He will draw double teams, in time if not relatively quickly.