If the Kings have a dependable starter for eight or 10 years at one of the hardest positions to...

If the Kings have a dependable starter for eight or 10 years at one of the hardest positions to fill, without being considered a star, the investment of the No. 10 pick in 2007 will have been worth it. If not, criticize away. Just don't think [Spencer] Hawes will ever be the muscle man who is feared as a rebounder or shot blocker. That never has been him.

Scott Howard-Cooper with some perspective on our long-term expectations

over 3 years ago Tom Ziller 13 comments 0 recs |

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Divac

All the Divac comparison talk Scoop gets into in this post deserves discussion, too. It’s the best comparison out there I’ve seen. The difference, though: Divac was a very good defender throughout his career. Hawes has been a pretty good rebounder and decent shotblocker through one season, but his overall defense has a looooong way to go. I hope, he’ll get there, or even exceed that level.

by Tom Ziller on Oct 9, 2008 1:58 PM PDT reply actions

Divac D

Divac was a very good defender throughout his career

We may need some lower expectations for Hawes in this department. He’s got some bad knees already. I think that will be what prevents Hawes from being as good at defense as Divac was. Nobody talks about it, but flopping is really hard on the knees…

Never forget: I am a complete idiot

by Exhibit G on Oct 9, 2008 4:34 PM PDT up reply actions

Also extremely tough

Vlade never got any credit, but he was also extremely tough. You know how many games he missed in his six years with the Kings? SIX. Total. I remember Vlade getting his tooth knocked out, giving it to someone on the sideline and going back into the game. I also remember him getting elbowed in the head, getting stitches and coming right back into the game with a big bandage on his head. Vlade was tough.

Shut up and Coach

by Carl on Oct 9, 2008 4:38 PM PDT up reply actions

Vlade was gold

without ever having to wear those stupid lame’ uniforms.

We need to hang his jersey in the rafters. His and Webber’s.

Let's go home.-Kevin Martin

by LeaguePassAddict on Oct 9, 2008 6:05 PM PDT up reply actions

Coop might be speaking the obvious

But I don’t think we’re hoping for him to be a “feared” rebounder or shot blocker. Adequacy in those categories, along with superior low post scoring abilities which are allegedly his bread and butter, are how most of us will judge him I think.

If he is not adequate in those categories, he absolutely needs to learn to pass the ball. A one-dimensional center doesn’t do this team a whole lot of good in the long term.

Kevin Pritchard has Chuck Norris tied up in the trunk of his car.

by otis29 on Oct 9, 2008 2:01 PM PDT reply actions

sanity

SHC’s column brings some sanity to the SHawes discussion….he’s right, SHawes is just a kid and its a rare 20 year old that is an instant “force” in the NBA, especially at the Center and PG positions. Had he not made the dumb decision on the conditioning drill, i wonder if the critiques would be so harsh. I hate comparisons, but the Vlade one is as good as any. The better one is the comparison to other 19-20 year old bigs that took 3-4 years to figure it out. What we should be looking for is progress and that can not be measured in a single pre-season game. I’ll bet Oden has some bad games in his near future also.

by longtimelistenerfirsttimecaller on Oct 9, 2008 2:50 PM PDT reply actions

Spencer's abilities to pick his spots had concerned me since Summer League

So whether or not it had anything to do with the sprints or not, picking his spots is still apparently a major issue. (I think the issue with the sprints was what it is.)

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. It's simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get tangled, you tango on

by pookeyguru on Oct 9, 2008 10:43 PM PDT up reply actions

bad Oden game > good SHawes game

by In Walks Rudy on Oct 10, 2008 1:27 PM PDT up reply actions

Scott Howard-Cooper

I’m just amazed that he wrote a blog entry on a Kings player!

by #12Pick...who? on Oct 9, 2008 2:59 PM PDT reply actions

for real

by passionforPERPS on Oct 9, 2008 4:46 PM PDT up reply actions

He can justify it

by talking about Divac quite a bit, because of course, Divac is a Laker.

Ball movement ... is like jogging for most people: They do it occasionally, and it makes them happy. Then they go back to not doing it. - Henry Abbott

by Kfan in Korea on Oct 9, 2008 4:55 PM PDT up reply actions

LOL

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. It's simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get tangled, you tango on

by pookeyguru on Oct 9, 2008 10:43 PM PDT up reply actions

Call Hawes a Debater

Unless Reggie told him to not foul out, there is no reason for him to stop trying to score at the low post. I don’t care if Oden blocked him everytime. This is preseason, and he needed to find out where his game stood.

There is that old saying: It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog. (sorry Micheal Vick)

This dog needs to stop debating and to impose his will and prove once and for all that he can be a low post threat. Man up Hawes. There are a lot of tough 20 year olds.

"If you don't have anything good to say, LIE" - Mom

by HighTops on Oct 9, 2008 8:32 PM PDT reply actions