The Other Ways

I watch the team and think, “rebound bad.” Even I can realize that, but you and the other admins and contributors on here put it into numbers that explain the point, and show trends. I’m smarter about the game in general for reading the site, even while most of the internet is making me stupider.

That reminds me, I have a blog to write.

I also think the problem last night is that the team doesn’t have an answer for Yao Ming. Spencer’s rebound rate was never super high; it’s a problem when you’re talking about Jason Thompson being on the court for only 24 mins. Especially when he was in foul trouble. This is the good thing about Brad Miller being out right now. It’s exposing Shock & Hawes as much as it can. But that’s a good thing. It’s not a bad thing. In a season that hasn’t worked very well it’s difficult for me to imagine anything but this type of result.

I’m not looking for silver linings with either of these 2. I think Shock is an All-Star caliber player when he figures it out. I don’t think he’s quite figured it out. Each passing game is convincing me that Natt is over matched coaching, which is quite a problem when you also factor in the current state of the roster. I think Shawes is going to be a very good player. The question is how quickly it takes for him to get there.

It was ugly when the Hawks started their process in 2004. Very very ugly even. It eventually improves as players grow up and become accustomed to the league. It’s almost as if we expected some of these steps to skip because that’s what we’re used to. This is going to be a very painful process moving forward.

I think one reason we got killed on the boards last night was that the lineup’s were not matched. I would be interested to see how Ming & Scola got their boards (nobody else grabbed 3 last night), and who was defending them when they got them. Sounds like a job for me. Maybe this weekend. (Unless you have a place that would find this info.)

This team also needs a three who can rebound — most of the league’s two-guards rebound better than John Salmons.

Very good point, and it looks like there may be some guys around the Rockets draft pick this year that can address that need (maybe Terrence Williams or Sam Young?). The team should continue to build with pieces that compliment each other; right now, athleticism and defense are clearly lacking and need to be addressed.

on tv w/ P®eaches & Jerry. He said that’s why you can tell we’re a young team right now. This was in response to what the thought of the young bigs. So then it comes down to foot work. I’d be willing to bet that both shock and hawes become better rebounders when playing alongside Miller or Moore, just because the vets box out a little better enabling them to go after the ball. With the two young guns on the floor at once they’re skipping the little things and looking up at the ball, when they really need work on their footwork.

I know Hawes is still very young, but I’m not convinced that his game will ever develop into that of a great rebounder.

The more I watch the more I see him as that third bigman option off the bench who keeps you in the game by scoring while he’s in. A better scorer than BMiller – but a similar player role-wise, more suited to playing beside a dominant rebounder or coming off the bench and being a shifty bastard. As TZ says, Hawes might be able to start on a team where the 4 and 3 are exceptional rebounders (or the 5 if he becomes a 4, something I still think is a possibility)

JT will be a better rebounder if he dedicates himself to getting stronger – dedicates himself and learns to defend without fouling. He does not use his fouls well, many are touch fouls at odd moments. He’s a rookie, I get it.

Part of the rebounding problem has been a cycle of pain. We’re not getting rebounds so the staff says “Everybody get a rebound!”, for a while that works, then because of a lack of pue rebounding talent and a lack of rebounding as a team, (bigs not blocking out for each other, or for guards, guards can do the same. BLOCK OUT!) it disintegrates.

This team is lost right now, the players just don’t know how to play with each other. This is trust – or lack of confidence as a team. There’s been reason to doubt this year. The Kings constantly fail to make the key shot at that crucial moment, fail to get that key rebound, fail to make that key stop. Sure, there have been some exceptions here or there but……

I think we need to add another big to the mix, one way or another, if this is the future it can’t be the whole picture up on the front line.

-Whatever that is.

KM will be nearly 30 by then.

I like both Thompson and Hawes. Jason’s energy and tenaciousness are one of very few bright spots this season. Spencer’s age to skill ratio is sky-high. But after watching them, I don’t think either player has multiple All Star games in his future.

I see Jason a Kurt Thomas or Brian Grant-type player. Physical, hard nosed, not afraid to bang, good but not great rebounder, good jump shot, good defender. Doesn’t block shots and not a good enough athlete to be an elite rebounder. Maybe he can be better than those guys, but I’m not sure. Jason is going to be successful based primarily on strength, not athleticism, so hitting the weight room is absolutely critical.

Hawes could go one of two ways: One is early Raef Lafrentz – 13 points 8 rebounds, jump shooting, perimeter-oriented forward who occasionally slides to the “big” positions. Hawes has a tendency to play this kind of game. The other is a Vlade Divac-type player – 14 points, 9 rebounds, a 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks per game, along with being a facilitator and leader. I would certainly hope for the latter. Spencer is going to rely on skill more than strength, but he needs to get stronger to avoid getting pushed around in the post, assuming that’s where he’s going to play.

This is why I would give up either player to get a superstar. I think they’re both going to be good players, but I don’t see either guy reaching the superstar level. Then again, I could be completely wrong on both of them.

Can we reasonably expect Shock & Hawes to get significantly better as they physically mature, learn the league, learn to box out, etc?

I guess I’m not totally disappointed with Hawes, as I have a difficult time being too hard on a 20yr old competing with 25-35yr olds. I’m not sure if that’s me being a complete homer or not though. I wonder what other 20yr old 7fters did for rebounding numbers in their NBA minutes.

For Shock, it seems pretty evident he’s going to be a good rebounder. The low end of his projection has to be 8rpg in starter’s minutes right? I’m not sold he’s going to be a 12rpg guy someday in starters’ minutes but I don’t think that possibility can be completely ruled out.

One other factor is our atrocious defense. There aren’t a ton of defensive rebounds available given the number of perimeter guys are running free to the basket any given night or opposing post players catching the ball within 5ft of the hoop. Being more solid on D leads to less rotations, which means less big guys leaving their man to influence shots, etc. How often do you see the Kings force an opponent to take a shot without total chaos on defense where each guy can just turn, block out their guy and go get the board? Good defensive teams it happens at least fairly regularly, its a rarity for our guys right now, but there’s some hope it will get better.

I guess I don’t think rebounding for Shock & Hawes is hopeless, I will say its a little disappointing right now though. And the defensive presence Spencer had the first couple of weeks isn’t there anymore, which I hope returns.

Seems like I was crucified not that long ago for doubting Hawes’ chances of becoming a star in this league at some point. Maybe I was just a little early in my assessment, but that sentiment seems to be becoming a bandwagon. It also may have a lot to do with JT’s development and the fact that we might have to part with one of them in a trade if we want to get better.