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Chan · 12-06-2007, 12:19 AM

Dude seems uptight as hell.

**Peja Vu** · 01-27-2008, 02:25 AM

Hawes is back home on the court: The Kings rookie from Seattle hasn't had the minutes he'd like, but he is willing to wait.

Quote:

And although he has had a handful of highlight moments, Hawes has mostly been left on the bench while Theus hesitates to use him mostly because of his perceived defensive weaknesses. Among the top 22 players drafted in June – and excluding top pick Greg Oden because of his season-ending knee surgery – Hawes entered Saturday having played fewer minutes than 15 of the other 20 players.

"It's not (what I envisioned), but you have to be prepared for that," Hawes said. "I know that I've made strides as a player, and I know how much I've improved this year, even though I haven't really had a chance to demonstrate it. I'm just waiting. I know I'm going to get my opportunity, and when it comes, I'm not looking back."

He is, however, looking forward to a time when he's not the kid anymore. Hawes is the only member of the Kings under 21 years old, a key factor when it comes to life on the road.

"It's just tough, especially on our team where everybody kind of does stuff together on the road," said Hawes, who cited attending movies and playing video games as his two favorite pastimes on the road.

"If guys are going out, it's like, All right, man, have fun."

Theus said he plans to play Hawes against the team he grew up rooting for. As has been the case all season, what Hawes does with that limited time will dictate if there is more to come.

"I've never really been a backup guy," Hawes said.

"I've always had plenty of time to make my contributions and made them being featured (in the offense). It's been difficult for me to try and make plays more on the defensive end and stuff like that when I'm used to having chances with the ball in my hands."

A chance, after all, is all he's waiting for.

**Peja Vu** · 02-06-2008, 11:30 PM

Look like he had his best game in forever. He got some actual minutes, with Miller out:

17 minutes, 10 Points (4/8 FG) and 6 Rebounds.

**Peja Vu** · 02-13-2008, 12:13 PM

Rookie Watch: Who is showing the most improvement?

Quote:

• I still can't project how good Spencer Hawes will be, due to his lack of any significant playing time, but one thing's for certain: He has a feel for scoring. He's appeared in all but two games in 2008 for the Kings and has scored at least one point in every appearance except one. Fourteen of those appearances were for less than 10 minutes.

**Peja Vu** · 02-27-2008, 12:33 AM

16 Points tonight against the Heat on 7/10 shooting; 9 points and 7 rebounds against the Magic on Sunday.

Quote:

Reggie Theus On Spencer Hawes:
“I thought Spencer Hawes played very well tonight. I thought he was really the only one that up to play.”

“I thought his energy was good. I thought he was playing hard. A lot of things that happen with Spence is usually defensive oriented. I thought his defense was solid tonight. I just thought he played very hard, very well, that is why I left him in the game.”

**Peja Vu** · 03-02-2008, 01:44 AM

Minutes will speed rookie's learning

Quote:

With the Kings lurching toward the lottery and Reggie Theus experiencing his own rookie ailments and growth spurts, it's time to ride the movement.

Let Hawes play. Let him figure it out.

Hawes, 19, is a precocious sort. He wanted to tussle with Marcus Camby and Tim Duncan instead of Brook and Robin Lopez and Kevin Love? He thought he was tough enough for Shaq? He thinks he knows it all anyway, his mother half-jokingly volunteers, so hand him a pro playbook and let him proceed.

To be fair about this, Hawes is proving to be a quick study. Given the Kings' circumstances, Theus, who already has increased Hawes' playing time appreciably the past few weeks, might as well accelerate the process.

"I'm not a patient person," Hawes said recently. "That's just my personality, my attitude. The Pac-10, as good as it is, I did that last year. It was time to move on. And in terms of development, I think I'm a lot better basketball player than five, six months ago. If I hadn't had to have (microfracture) surgery and missed training camp, I would be even farther along. I don't have any regrets."

Nor do the Kings. Though basketball president Geoff Petrie envisioned Joakim Noah in Vlade Divac's old jersey, Hawes, who is three years younger than the Florida star plucked one spot earlier by Chicago (No. 9), the Seattle native is increasingly, quietly impressing.

In four- and five-minute increments, the 7-foot, 240-pound center is offering samplings of his expansive skill set. Jump hooks with either hand. Short bank shots. Reverse pivots. Up-and-unders. Stepback jumpers. Effortless three-pointers. Excellent hands and solid footwork.

If he appears more scripted than Divac, who was a master at low-post improvisation, Hawes nonetheless tantalizes with bits and pieces, including intuitive interior passing. He easily connects with teammates underneath and in the corners, and he seems most comfortable in the high-post, movement-oriented scheme favored by Petrie, initiated by Divac and perpetuated by Brad Miller.

"We've made a concerted effort to develop 'Spence' of late," Theus said, "and it's starting to pay off. His biggest improvement has been on the defensive end. He's so long, with such an incredible wingspan, that he can influence shots. He just needs to get stronger and concentrate on defense and develop a go-to move. When he rushes and settles for the turnaround jumper, shooting off the wrong foot, I wish I had a shock collar. 'Spence, no!' "

**Peja Vu** · 03-06-2008, 12:24 AM

Another pretty good game tonight. 10 Points, 8 Rebounds (team high) and 2 blocks.

**Peja Vu** · 03-10-2008, 12:14 AM

Rookie Spencer Hawes scores 14 points in his coming-out game.

Quote:

The Kings managed to pull off the sort of double duty that has, at times, seemed impossible, that being a win that came as they also continued the new priority of developing the young talent. Rookie center Spencer Hawes made that charge easy, scoring 14 points and grabbing eight rebounds in his coming-out game.

14 Points (7/11 FG), 8 Rebounds, 3 Assists, 4 Blocks

Reggie Theus: "Spencer Hawes played a great basketball game, offensively it’s not the issue but defensively he was very present in the game, just a tremendous game for us all around.”

KG4MVP2 · 03-10-2008, 10:17 AM

Hawes is showing potential to be a top 5 center the way he is playing in limited minutes. Also he is only like 19 years old to which is tremendoulsy young for any guy but espicially a center.

**Peja Vu** · 03-10-2008, 03:16 PM

**Peja Vu** · 03-12-2008, 10:41 PM

David Thorpe's Rookie Watch - 3/12/08

Quote:

Here are my top 10 rookies 18 weeks into the season:

(Previous rank in parentheses)

1. Luis Scola, Rockets (3)
2. Kevin Durant, Sonics (2)
3. Al Horford, Hawks (1)
4. Al Thornton, Clippers (4)
5. Thaddeus Young, Sixers (6)
6. Jamario Moon, Raptors (5)
7. Carl Landry, Rockets (7)
8. Joakim Noah, Bulls (NR)
9. Jared Dudley, Bobcats (NR)
10. Spencer Hawes, Kings (NR)

Quote:

• All season, Spencer Hawes has shown the ability to score, but his recent set of explosive dunks (and offensive tips) as well as his 12 blocked shots in the past four games suggests that he might be more of an above-the-rim player than we thought. Hawes turns 20 in April, and he has the look of a "late bloomer," meaning that his body and athleticism are probably still years away from peaking.

**Peja Vu** · 03-22-2008, 08:06 PM

First career start, first career double-double. 17 points and 12 rebounds with 6+ minutes to go.

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