04-09-2008, 11:18 AM
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#32 (permalink)
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Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: NORCAL
Age: 23
Posts: 18,009
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Re: Spencer Hawes
Hawes takes on a bigger role for the Kings
Quote:
Reggie Theus and Spencer Hawes walked off the Oracle Arena floor, through the nearby tunnel and headed for the locker room.
The game had just ended, and the talking between the Kings' coach and his rookie center had already begun.
"I know you can do it," Theus said It had taken less than a minute for the focus to turn from Golden State's 140-132 win on Tuesday night to the discussion on what would come next. The future, for all its uncertainty, is certain to include Hawes as a focal point, and that will only grow brighter so long as this sort of communication continues.
"He liked the fact that I was playing him at the high post," Theus said in explaining the conversation. "He wanted to know if there was some tape of somebody he could watch who played the high post like that, and I told him, 'Yes, we will find it.'
"I was telling him what he had to do under those circumstances. He can't look over his shoulder (at the high post). He has to turn and face the floor and become a shooter and a passer at the same time."
Just like the player whose season ended on Tuesday.
Hawes – who had 13 points on 5 of 13 shooting, five rebounds, and three assists in 35 minutes – moved to front and center with the news that Brad Miller will not return. The 10-year veteran is suffering from a stress fracture in his left leg and a bone chip in his right elbow.
Yet all season long, Miller has been an in-house example for Hawes. Beyond the rookie pranks and the political debates that have been so prevalent in their relationship, he helped show the fellow 7-footer the finer points of his offensive game. The passing skills that helped Miller achieve the rare feat for centers of leading a team in assists as he did last season, the long-range game that Hawes has already fine-tuned quite well that helps open up passing lanes by drawing out the defense.
"You feel different ways about it because obviously Brad is my veteran who's looked out for me all year," Hawes said. "It's sad to see (a more prominent role) come at his expense, but at the same time I just have to take advantage of it and build on it for the rest of my career."
Miller said he could have kept playing if the Kings were playoff-bound or still in the fight for the postseason, but he opted to "play it safe" and expedite the recovery process.
"I just told (Hawes) to go out there and play and have fun," Miller said. "Just take advantage of those opportunities. These (remaining opponents) are all good teams that are playing for something, and it's a good chance to judge himself against guys who are playing their butts off."
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Last edited by Peja Vu : 04-09-2008 at 11:36 AM.
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Spencer Hawes
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