Getting Spencer Hawes to the Line

One, is that Spencer Hawes hasn’t exactly had a coherent system to work with. So, when you ask him to play 20 feet away from the basket for 15 mins a game, it will lower his FT attempts. If the Kings coaching staff didn’t keep changing their mind, with what seemed like every other game, I might believe that Spencer is ALL of the problem.

The truth is that I think Spencer’s rate will go up by simply getting the ball closer to the basket more often. That, and getting stronger which will help him establish position a bit easier, I think will be the biggest improvements we will likely see.

Quite honestly, I don’t expect a great improvement in Spencer’s FT rate over his career. With Kevin Martin, and Tyreke Evans, it’s not something I think Spencer has to be top 5 in the league to be effective.

Thing about Spencer is he doesn’t really have a good pump fake, and he has no vertical lift on his moves to the hoop, or under the hoop. So defenders are not really kept off balance, or forced to foul. He fades on his post moves, and avoids contact, hence no trips to the charity stripe.

If Spencer concentrates on being a more efficient O player, taking high percentage shots, and polishing up his post moves, the free throws will go up. He needs to work on his strength and quickness too., which will come with age and training. The better he becomes as an O player, the more FTs. Increasing his FTs should be a sub-goal within a larger goal of improved offensive efficiency.

Spencer will get more free throws with a pick and roll counterpart like Tyreke Evans, When Spencer rolls to the hole, Tyreke is big enough and smart enough to get him the ball in the sweet spot. (Beno is not really proficient in this skill.) Give Spencer the ball in an advantageous position rolling to the hole, we take full advantage of his size, shooting touch, and length, he will get more total points and FTs.

and even though he has some nice post moves they are not physical moves that will draw fouls. I don’t think this is a bad thing. If he’s able to draw the center away from the basket and let Tyreke and Martin do their thing, I’m all for it. He’s one of the better shooters on the team from 15 ft. So he ’s player that should be on the receiving in of a lot of drive and kicks.
The best scenario would be to become more physical and draw more fouls and also be a threat on the perimeter. Let J.T. and May clog up the middle (most of the time). That would be fine with me.

he took 2.5 shots per FT attempt. Basically the same as Jason, but Miller didn’t offensive rebound any better than Spencer(1.9 per game for each in 2 extra minutes for Brad).

Probably has something to do with blocking out on D and pump faking and taking it to the rim on O. Saw some of that from Brad last season.

I question this statement… Hawes getting more free throws sounds good and all, but is that really his game? Is he the typical low post Center who is in three pounding away and getting boards? I don’t think so. He is a big guy who can shoot and make baskets, but doesn’t seem to love getting physical. He has got skills and does need to develop other ways of scoring. It will be interesting to see, but I do hope that this team starts using players to their strengths and does not continue trying to get them to play their weakest part of their games.

Watch so many players try to play point and passer who should be scoring because Petrie can’t, really it is won’t, get any guard besides a shooting guard has really gotten old. Similarly, watching us get dominated by other team’s bigs because he refuses to get a true Center is just shameful. As a GM he should see what the team needs and get that talent… I mean come on.