"Going up against a guy like that is still a little crazy for me. I saw 'Kazaam' in theaters when I...

"Going up against a guy like that is still a little crazy for me. I saw 'Kazaam' in theaters when I was kid. That's how much I looked up to that guy. But playing like that against him shows people that you're ready. He's one of the greatest of all time."

Spencer Hawes, as quoted in the Sacramento Bee

7 months ago Ziller 20 comments 0 recs |

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From now on

anytime Spencer scores on Shaq he needs to yell “KAZAAM!”

www.mancancook.net

by vfettke on Mar 30, 2009 6:56 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Good call

"Greed is the inventor of injustice as well as the current enforcer." - Julian Casablancas

by submison on Mar 30, 2009 7:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Movie review

I remember complaining a lot about how lousy that movie was back then.

“Sure, it’s fine. But think how much better a film (not movie, you Philistines) like this would have been with a genie who was 7’2” or 7’3" instead of only 7’1". It would have given the overall millileu in the oversized genie genre a freshness not seen since Andre The Giant and Billy Crystal and Gheorghe Mureşan made magic in “My Giant.”

Does anyone believe that Bergmann would have settled for a so-called oversized novelty genie under 7’5"? Not with Bea Arthur’s dick."

Rocks are free, and slingshots easily stolen.

by andy sims on Mar 30, 2009 7:23 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

well it looks like we found the one person who actually saw “Kazaam”…

www.myspace.com/cynemamusic.com

by Cynema the Band on Mar 30, 2009 9:38 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

You caught me.

by Aykis16 on Mar 30, 2009 9:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Did I miss something?

Playing like that against him shows people that you’re ready.

Really? Spencer had a good game on the offensive side of the ball, mostly from outside shots and assists under the basket after Phx’s horrid defense broke down time and again. I don’t remember a move around the basket on Shaq. I do remember Hawes trying to post up Barnes only to almost airball (or maybe he did – can’t remember) a hook on the baseline. I also remember Shaq dominating him inside with an array of moves while pushing him around like a kid in there. To me, it says a lot that Phx was happy to put Barnes on Hawes for stretches of the game. My point? Spencer will be “ready” when he can get inside and hang with the big guys around the hoop.

I thought Spencer was also on the wrong side of the highlight of the game when he attempted to dunk over Grant Hill – that was just nasty.

by cabz on Mar 30, 2009 10:08 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed (mostly)

but whatever is good for Spencer’s self-esteem is ok with me. Any positives that can be squeezed out of these last few games are nice going into the summer.

Kings fan in OKC

by rockrichmond2 on Mar 30, 2009 10:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well ...

Shaq isn’t still averaging (roughly) 18/9 for nothing. He’s still unstoppable most of the time. That Hawes was active and smart enough to balance the ledger is a big plus. Hawes will never be 300 lbs, nor do I think we would want him to be.

by Ziller on Mar 30, 2009 10:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You give Shaq too much credit

of course he knocked Spence around inside. He knocks everybody around inside. That’s what he does. Spence played him as well as he could. Of course his offense came from outside and assisted inside shots. That’s how you score on Shaq. I’d love to see Spencer take it to him in the post and destroy Shaq, but it’ll never happen. Not because he can’t do it, but because nobody can do it against Shaq.

www.mancancook.net

by vfettke on Mar 30, 2009 11:03 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I loved the way Shaq took Spence outside and shot those jumpers over him.

OH wait, Shaq doesn’t have that in his game. So, why criticize Hawes for playing his game. If you can’t take Shaq’s game away which NOBODY can, then the best you can do is offset his offense by playing your game. I’m just impressed that Hawes didn’t foul out.

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

by HighTops on Mar 30, 2009 2:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah, that's pretty much the game I saw but at this time didn't totally dominate him and Spence was still effective

"We are in the business of kicking butt and business is very, very good." - Charles Barkley

by Bluejohn on Mar 30, 2009 7:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

20 and 10

Spencer went 20 and 10 up against a hall of famer. He’s a 20 year old, 2nd year pro. Nit pick all you want, but that was an important game for him. He found the open spots and exploited them. He ran the floor very well. Had a huge 3rd quarter. He also had a ton of tip to teammates on the boards that were credited to others as rebounds but that he kept alive. My only gripe was that he let Shaq get position too early in many sets. Not sure though that he (or any other King) could have stopped Shaq from getting his position since nobody in the last decade or so has.

Hill just happen to catch a piece of the ball. It wasn’t some monster block. Spencer started his jump way too far from the basket.

BTW, Shaq doesn’t not have an “array” of moves. He has one: an occassional pump fake and then putting the shoulder down (while almost always commiting an offensive foul that rarely gets called.) and going to the basket. I realize that it’s not his fault that he’s the biggest guy on the playground, but let’s not exaggerate.

Spencer had a very good (not great) game. I listened to his interviews. He wasn’t talking like he dominated Shaq. He was responding to media questions about what it felt like to have a double double against the best center of the last decade +.

Context people.

by Kusian on Mar 30, 2009 10:21 AM PDT reply actions 6 recs

A-men

You’ve got it.

by Ziller on Mar 30, 2009 10:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Centers who play at the rim don't need a lot of moves

or PFs who do the same for that matter. One of our two bigs needs to be able to do it, establish themselves deep and get easy buckets. More frequently anyway.

Good offensive & rebounding game by both of them – but lets not fool ourselves, it was another lay-up, 3pt drill, we just came out on top of this one.

Now I am thrilled with the win! Gotta have one here and there to build on.

So imitate the action of the tiger!.
- lend the eye a terrible aspect
and teach them how to war!
Henry V iii

by lietothegirls on Mar 30, 2009 11:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rec'd

For sanity.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Mar 30, 2009 11:52 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Well said Kus

As fans, we often risk paralysis by analysis. I mean, it’s not like Hawes will suddenly levitate and create a new dimension getting him to the FT line. But, once his career starts getting in full swing, and he starts finding ways to score around the rim against anybody, his FT attempts will go up. He’s already a quality shooter, which is another weapon in the arsenal.

I think sometimes people forget what they WERE like at 20 years old. I was an asshole myself. So maybe I haven’t improved. But, Hawes? Yeah, I think he might with regards to his “dream”. It’s not like the NBA was a way to make him rich (his family ~~lives~~ owns a house in Queen Anne—this is not the poorest of area’s in the world—and I believe the brothers are originally from Mercer Island—also not a poor area—it’s where Paul Allen lives—Bill Gates lives in Medina which is another swanky suburb—ugh I’ve lost myself here where was I? Oh yes Spencer Hawes….) or super wealthy (although if he does it right it will), but on the other hand? He wants to be here This was his goal. If players of Spencer’s talent have his drive and interest in getting better, at some point, they will get better. The only thing that will hold back Spencer now is his knee’s. If he works on maintaining his core (have to give props to Ailene for that one), then he will be fine. He needs to get stronger. He knows that. His opponents know that. They take advantage of it. When Dwight Howard was 19, opponents fouled him because he wasn’t as strong finishing inside. Now obviously Howard is not a valid comparison, but at one point, Howard had a lot of fixable and correctable flaws at 19. Did that not make you want him? (And it’s not like people projected super-stardom that he is being projected at now either.)

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

I am the stone that builder refused..I am the visual...The inspiration..That made lady sing the blues....I'm the spark that makes your idea bright.....The same spark that lights the dark....So that you can know your left from your right...I am the ballot in your box....The bullet in your gun...The inner glow that lets you know...To call your brother son....The story that just begun...The promise of what's to come...And I'm 'a remain a soldier till the war is won....

by pookeyguru on Mar 30, 2009 3:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

you're telling me at this point in the season................that spence can't levitate or create another dimension?

Why did we draft him? How disappointing.

"We are in the business of kicking butt and business is very, very good." - Charles Barkley

by Bluejohn on Mar 30, 2009 7:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Think how Lorenzo Romar feels

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

by pookeyguru on Mar 30, 2009 7:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs