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The young players are showing some improvement the last few games. JT has quit whining over every call and is playing tough in the paint. The new players Noc and Cants can score and play some D. Both these guys show toughness that has been lacking on the Kings squad, except in JT, who bangs. I also think Will Solomon complements the second unit better than previous Back up PG's, except for Bobby Jackson, if only Bobby was 25

Its nice to be competitive for at least part of the games after some of the stinkers this team has laid down this year.

Drew Gooden should sign a one year deal, heal up and play for a 2010 contract. It would be best for Drew and the Kings. Drew is as good as most of the FA's available this summer.

GP has done a nice job of starting the rebuild. There is still so much work to be done. Who is going to be the head coach? Who is drafted? Who gets re-signed? What trades are made? In GP I trust.

Go Kings, this fan can see the improved effort

KB

Also Hawes defense and rebounding have looked really good. Too bad he is struggling shooting, but that should come around. I bet he is 15/10/3/2 Next year. Not bad for a 21 year old.

murray wrote:Also Hawes defense and rebounding have looked really good. Too bad he is struggling shooting, but that should come around. I bet he is 15/10/3/2 Next year. Not bad for a 21 year old.

Murray you are right, Hawes is playing better and he is VERY young.

KB

King Baller wrote:

murray wrote:Also Hawes defense and rebounding have looked really good. Too bad he is struggling shooting, but that should come around. I bet he is 15/10/3/2 Next year. Not bad for a 21 year old.

Murray you are right, Hawes is playing better and he is VERY young.

KB

I don't think people realize this when the compare him to much younger players including a much older Horford, Thompson, Noah, etc.

Guy has mad potential. I hate the Brad Miller comparison, because he is not even close to as lazy. I would say a more athletic Vlade Divac, without the smoking habit that cost Vlade years of his career and his lungs.

murray wrote:

King Baller wrote:

murray wrote:Also Hawes defense and rebounding have looked really good. Too bad he is struggling shooting, but that should come around. I bet he is 15/10/3/2 Next year. Not bad for a 21 year old.

Murray you are right, Hawes is playing better and he is VERY young.

KB

I don't think people realize this when the compare him to much younger players including a much older Horford, Thompson, Noah, etc.

Guy has mad potential. I hate the Brad Miller comparison, because he is not even close to as lazy. I would say a more athletic Vlade Divac, without the smoking habit that cost Vlade years of his career and his lungs.

I totally agree with that. All the so-called "experts" think calling Spencer a "mini-Brad Miller" is a sufficient comparison clearly have little knowledge of his game. I think it goes beyond laziness, however. Spencer's low-post game is already (at age 20) almost as polished as Miller's was. And Hawes' anticipation on the defensive end is something that Brad Miller really never showed any signs of. People think that just because both players can pass and shoot from 17 ft means that they are the same player. I also have been impressed with both JT and Spencer's play since the trade deadline.

I have said before and I maintain still that at the end of their respective careers - including the obvious injury issues so far and that will continue - Hawes will end up with a better career overall than Greg Oden and will be considered the best center out of his clas and one of the top five of his generation.

It's funny Hawes is starting to look more like Kaman than Miller. I agree he is struggling on offense right now, but his rebounding is waaay ahead of where I thought it would be.

With talk of a Gooden buyout that could potentially mean more time for Greene at PF, which I really want to see more of. He is a much better presense of defense at PF and his shotblocking is a lot more effective there. I also think it will give him a chance to take his man off the dribble more.

With that said, I really can't see Gooden nor the Kings even considering a buyout. On Goodens side his best shot at getting a good contract is to remain with the team that has his Bird rights. On the Kings side the PF position is still far from guaranteed "filled" at any level IMO and Gooden still has considerable upside. I'd wait until the draft and see what we come out with. If it's Griffin, see ya Drew! If not, you may want to consider bringing him back.

OGSactownballer wrote:I have said before and I maintain still that at the end of their respective careers - including the obvious injury issues so far and that will continue - Hawes will end up with a better career overall than Greg Oden and will be considered the best center out of his clas and one of the top five of his generation.

I totally agree with you here. I know it's downright blasphemous to state that now. But looking at their NBA games, I think Hawes will be the best C in his class, and have a better career than Oden barring a major catastrophic injury.

Smills91 wrote:

OGSactownballer wrote:I have said before and I maintain still that at the end of their respective careers - including the obvious injury issues so far and that will continue - Hawes will end up with a better career overall than Greg Oden and will be considered the best center out of his clas and one of the top five of his generation.

I totally agree with you here. I know it's downright blasphemous to state that now. But looking at their NBA games, I think Hawes will be the best C in his class, and have a better career than Oden barring a major catastrophic injury.

Oden has proven nothing. I hate how people go nuts over him. Hell I take Pryzbilla over oden if there was to be one game to be played. Oden is all hype. He has nothing but the ability to dunk. Hawes brings multiple aspects to his game that make him a better player now, and in the future.

I would love to hear that Durant/Oden debate now. I love how Durant averages almost 3x the points a game that oden does, while rebounding and blocks are just a little lower (despite weighing atleast 80 pounds less).

And I would love those experts try to explain why Hawes and Oden rebound just about the same, but Hawes scores more points and gets more blocks (no need to mention 3's/Assists/etc). Not bad for a goofy white guy that got no respect from anyone, especially not the "experts" that laughed at him. Go ahead and keep Oden and those 45 year old knees. We got something special.

Oden has proven nothing, but per minute his stats are pretty darn good. If he played (or could play?) starters minutes he'd easily surpass the double-double mark. I didn't really get the gaga when he came out of college either and right now he is not only producing stats at an Olowokandi level but DNP's at an Olowokandi level as well. He most likely isn't the next Shaq but if he stays healthy he should be more than solid.

SacKingZZZ wrote:Oden has proven nothing, but per minute his stats are pretty darn good. If he played (or could play?) starters minutes he'd easily surpass the double-double mark. I didn't really get the gaga when he came out of college either and right now he is not only producing stats at an Olowokandi level but DNP's at an Olowokandi level as well. He most likely isn't the next Shaq but if he stays healthy he should be more than solid.

No one is stopping him from playing starter minutes except himself. Gets in foul trouble, or is constantly injured. PER only applies to people not getting opportunities, not players that choke there opportunities away. I see alot of "if''s" in your statement. But I agree with alot of what u say. He can be solid, but will always be an injury risk with a 1 dimensional game.

Wow, Gooden bought out. So much for resigning him to a one year deal I gues we will get to see what Ike and Cedric can do as this season winds down

KB

i want to see more greene!!!!!!!!

loot wrote:i want to see more greene!!!!!!!!

Me too.

It’s amazing how little some people know about the game. At the beginning of the season the first few games Spencer played he played awful and soooo many people called him a bust. Now no one is saying that. I’ve been high on Spencer since we drafted him. I’ve always said I liked his game better than Oden’s. Oden relies too much on the power game and doesn’t have the overall offensive skill set that Spencer has. How many 7 footers can shoot a hook shot with either their left or right hand? How many 7 footers can shoot the 3? How many 7 footers have a fade-a-way jumper? How many 7 footers are good passers? Once Spencer learns to relax and let the game come to him and not rush his shots, and gain some strength, he’s going to be a force both inside and outside. I read some were that he has been practicing the sky-hook. Can you imagine what he’ll be able to do if he perfects that shot?

He’s offensive game has not surprised me one bit, but what has is his defense. I did not expect him to start playing good defense and block shots the way he has been this early in his career. I think he’s the best 20 yr old big man in the game, and when it’s all over and done with he will have had a better career statistically then anyone named Oden, Kamen, Divac, Miller, or Detlef Schrempf. I think he could be as good or better then Gasol.

It’s amazing how little some people know about the game. At the beginning of the season the first few games Spencer played he played awful and soooo many people called him a bust. Now no one is saying that. I’ve been high on Spencer since we drafted him. I’ve always said I liked his game better than Oden’s. Oden relies too much on the power game and doesn’t have the overall offensive skill set that Spencer has. How many 7 footers can shoot a hook shot with either their left or right hand? How many 7 footers can shoot the 3? How many 7 footers have a fade-a-way jumper? How many 7 footers are good passers? Once Spencer learns to relax and let the game come to him and not rush his shots, and gain some strength, he’s going to be a force both inside and outside. I read some were that he has been practicing the sky-hook. Can you imagine what he’ll be able to do if he perfects that shot?

He’s offensive game has not surprised me one bit, but what has is his defense. I did not expect him to start playing good defense and block shots the way he has been this early in his career. I think he’s the best 20 yr old big man in the game, and when it’s all over and done with he will have had a better career statistically then anyone named Oden, Kamen, Divac, Miller, or Detlef Schrempf. I think he could be as good or better then Gasol.

He looks so damn nervous. Someone should tell Hawes to calm the hell down. He plays hard (great), but forces it offensively (terrible). If he could play with a little swagger, he would be great.

And gets intimidated by bigger guys so I wish he would have had Shelden to bang on him in practice so he could learn to make shots against those players. The problem with Miller was he didn't really have a go to move to score against the Shaqs except jumpers or cutting to the basket. Will Hawes be able to develop one? And should we be starting both JT and Hawes next year with probably a drafted young PG too. I agree totally with the Hawes, JT and Greene I just don't know that we won't have to use Noc as a big occasionally (a la Kenny Thomas) for a vet rebounding and toughness and let Hawes and Greene who are younger come off the bench. We are going to be tough offensively with the right drafted PG. It just looks like the 2 big young guys are struggling a lot together. Tim Duncan had a vet center with him on the Spurs his rookie year to take the pressure of of him before he took over. A young CWebb played with old Vlade, while the young Miller played with the vet CWebb. I just don't know if both young guys should start next year for a few years until both are developed (Noc is 29 already).

cdt3 wrote:And gets intimidated by bigger guys so I wish he would have had Shelden to bang on him in practice so he could learn to make shots against those players. The problem with Miller was he didn't really have a go to move to score against the Shaqs except jumpers or cutting to the basket. Will Hawes be able to develop one? And should we be starting both JT and Hawes next year with probably a drafted young PG too. I agree totally with the Hawes, JT and Greene I just don't know that we won't have to use Noc as a big occasionally (a la Kenny Thomas) for a vet rebounding and toughness and let Hawes and Greene who are younger come off the bench. We are going to be tough offensively with the right drafted PG. It just looks like the 2 big young guys are struggling a lot together. Tim Duncan had a vet center with him on the Spurs his rookie year to take the pressure of of him before he took over. A young CWebb played with old Vlade, while the young Miller played with the vet CWebb. I just don't know if both young guys should start next year for a few years until both are developed (Noc is 29 already).

Long confusing post. So because Hawes is younger he shouldn't start? I think that he should start to get experience. And Webber wasn't young when he came to Sac. We were Webbers third team as I remember (Same with Miller). Let them struggle and figure it out. Thats how players grow.

Here's a nice audio chat featuring K-Mart personal coach, David Thorpe. He talks about K-Mart and the future of the Kings, good stuff.

http://www.sports1140.com/topic/play_window.php?audioType=Episode&audioId=3541891