So...when is Spencer going to really be utilized?

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Many NBA fans have discussed the lack of low post players in the league today. The game is more perimeter oriented, and players that have post games aren't that common. When the Kings had Vlade and Webber, two great post players, they had a ton of options because of their skills.

Webber and Vlade both had low post games, but they posted on the high block to open the lanes for cutters. If they couldn't find anybody, they would either pick and pop with Peja or Bibby, hit the elbow jumper, or they were able to exploit their coverage inside with post moves. Those guys touched the ball on almost every possession, as the offense ran through them because of their skills. The difference with Brad was that while he was a great passer on the high block, he couldn't score on his man in the post, and if he wasn't setting guys up, all he had was jumpers.

Now, the Kings have a guy in Spencer who has the Vlade/Webber skills, but the offense isn't run through him. Spencer not only has the mid range shot, but unlike Miller, if nothing presents itself, he has the ability to work on his man on the block and draw double teams. Every single team that has that kind of potential in the post uses it. We saw it with Gasol in Memphis. We saw it with Yao in Houston. We saw it with Shaq too many times. We saw it with Webber and Vlade, and I think we are wasting Spencer.

When you have that kind of player (which doesn't come around every day), you have to use that asset to the fullest. IMO, Spencer should touch the ball every time down the court because he can bring that presense in the post the Kings have been lacking. He doesn't have to shoot every time, but working on the block opens up opportunities. I'm not asking for a total repeat of Pete's Princeton offense, but you can build an offense around a guy with his skill set and the ability to draw double teams. I think we should develop that a lot more.
 
Many NBA fans have discussed the lack of low post players in the league today. The game is more perimeter oriented, and players that have post games aren't that common. When the Kings had Vlade and Webber, two great post players, they had a ton of options because of their skills.

Webber and Vlade both had low post games, but they posted on the high block to open the lanes for cutters. If they couldn't find anybody, they would either pick and pop with Peja or Bibby, hit the elbow jumper, or they were able to exploit their coverage inside with post moves. Those guys touched the ball on almost every possession, as the offense ran through them because of their skills. The difference with Brad was that while he was a great passer on the high block, he couldn't score on his man in the post, and if he wasn't setting guys up, all he had was jumpers.

Now, the Kings have a guy in Spencer who has the Vlade/Webber skills, but the offense isn't run through him. Spencer not only has the mid range shot, but unlike Miller, if nothing presents itself, he has the ability to work on his man on the block and draw double teams. Every single team that has that kind of potential in the post uses it. We saw it with Gasol in Memphis. We saw it with Yao in Houston. We saw it with Shaq too many times. We saw it with Webber and Vlade, and I think we are wasting Spencer.

When you have that kind of player (which doesn't come around every day), you have to use that asset to the fullest. IMO, Spencer should touch the ball every time down the court because he can bring that presense in the post the Kings have been lacking. He doesn't have to shoot every time, but working on the block opens up opportunities. I'm not asking for a total repeat of Pete's Princeton offense, but you can build an offense around a guy with his skill set and the ability to draw double teams. I think we should develop that a lot more.

I think the best way to continue to develop Spencer Hawes is to find a coach willing to invest in him.

Spencer is showing more and more skills and yet he's not being utilized with any kind of acknowledgment of those increased skills.

I fully agree with your assessment.
 
I think the best way to continue to develop Spencer Hawes is to find a coach willing to invest in him.

Spencer is showing more and more skills and yet he's not being utilized with any kind of acknowledgment of those increased skills.

I fully agree with your assessment.
There are so many times during the game where he fights for position, gets it, and calls for the ball, but his teammates don't get it to him. Spencer's post game > Douby's jumpshot.
 
At this point, VF21's jumpshot > Douby's jumpshot.

Spencer needs to be more vocal and I think that will come with time. His teammates are beginning to look to him more than before, and he's winning them over because he's not being a self-absorbed arse about the whole thing.

Spencer Hawes will, I believe, be a part of the Kings long after Theus is reduced to collecting SAG retirement benefits.
 
Many NBA fans have discussed the lack of low post players in the league today. The game is more perimeter oriented, and players that have post games aren't that common. When the Kings had Vlade and Webber, two great post players, they had a ton of options because of their skills.

Webber and Vlade both had low post games, but they posted on the high block to open the lanes for cutters. If they couldn't find anybody, they would either pick and pop with Peja or Bibby, hit the elbow jumper, or they were able to exploit their coverage inside with post moves. Those guys touched the ball on almost every possession, as the offense ran through them because of their skills. The difference with Brad was that while he was a great passer on the high block, he couldn't score on his man in the post, and if he wasn't setting guys up, all he had was jumpers.

Now, the Kings have a guy in Spencer who has the Vlade/Webber skills, but the offense isn't run through him. Spencer not only has the mid range shot, but unlike Miller, if nothing presents itself, he has the ability to work on his man on the block and draw double teams. Every single team that has that kind of potential in the post uses it. We saw it with Gasol in Memphis. We saw it with Yao in Houston. We saw it with Shaq too many times. We saw it with Webber and Vlade, and I think we are wasting Spencer.

When you have that kind of player (which doesn't come around every day), you have to use that asset to the fullest. IMO, Spencer should touch the ball every time down the court because he can bring that presense in the post the Kings have been lacking. He doesn't have to shoot every time, but working on the block opens up opportunities. I'm not asking for a total repeat of Pete's Princeton offense, but you can build an offense around a guy with his skill set and the ability to draw double teams. I think we should develop that a lot more.

Thanks for starting this thread. The issue has become maddening to me. The whole game last night I kept wondering "at what point do they get Hawes the ball in post?"

Every time down the court it is the same story. The bigs come out and set picks 15-20 ft from the basket to let the guards slash to the basket. It's a little crazy. What's wrong with Hawes postng down low and either taking his man to the hole one on one or passing back out of a double team? Could we try it even 2-3x/game? Guess not.
 
He should touch the ball a lot, and he should play a lot. I thought that a year ago by the way. All those comparisons to him and Brad Miller a couple of years ago are laughable. He's Miller^3. When he gets more pt over the next year, he's going to be scary on the offensive end. Lately, I've seen situations where with his back to the basket he could just wheel, leave his defender standing, and dunk, but he's got to get a better feel before he can recognize that situation and react accordingly. I've said it a lot, but I'll say it again: When we get a legit point guard, LOOK OUT!
 
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