Hard-Nosed Hayward

Post #1 » by **Klomp** » Tue Aug 3, 2010 1:23 pm

The No. 30 overall pick in the 2010 Draft understands the importance of this small but important aspect to the NBA game. Lazar Hayward posted some nice offensive games in four outings during the Wolves summer league action. However, his attention to detail on the defensive side of the floor quickly caught the eye of NBA fans escaping the sweltering Vegas heat inside the Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion. On multiple possessions, Hayward needed assistance from his teammates to peel him off the hardwood after drawing a charge.

In a couple of months, Wolves Nation will see firsthand, Hayward does not shy from contact, "No, you know, it's fun just playing and getting into battles and getting into bodies. Really it's just reading into defenses and you know, picking my spots and today the drives were there."

Hayward made the above statement right after dropping 19 points on Atlanta in Minnesota's Summer League finale. Most players would immediately point out their best offensive output of the week-long games but Hayward started with defense, a similar mindset to his summer league outlook before making the trip to Sin City.

"Win as many games as we can, work very, very, hard be a good teammate you know play some D and go out there and have some fun," Hayward commented.

http://www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/Ha ... 08_02.html

TDWOLVESFAN · Post #2 » by **TDWOLVESFAN** » Tue Aug 3, 2010 3:16 pm

He could very well make the 14 man roster - energy player etc. His defense could help Love and some of our other players - playing against tougher D in practice every day.

I would love to see him matched up against some of the SFs and PFs in the league. He'll probably be one of those players that draws double technicals because the other players will be pissed off about his physical style and throw an elbow or two. Even though he will be doing nothing wrong, he will get a T also if it is a "star" player he is going up against.

My best example of this is when the Timberwolves were playing Seattle w/ Gary Payton several years ago. We had Gary Trent who liked to play physical. Payton had already earned one T in the game. Payton and Trent got into a disagreement of some sort. One of the Refs handed out a double T. Payton started whining that he would be out of the game. The ref changed it to just a T on Gary Trent. Trent went ballisic smacking stuff off the scorers table onto the playing floor. He then received another T - disqualifying him from the game while Payton got to stay in the game.

I see Hayward having this affect on other players - I don't see him reacting like Gary Trent did though.

Devilzsidewalk · Post #3 » by **Devilzsidewalk** » Tue Aug 3, 2010 3:24 pm

he was a 1st round pick, he'll definitely make the roster. I'm glad we drafted him right from the start, I would've gone Whiteside or Varnado for sure, but I like Hayward's game a lot

mnWI · Post #4 » by **mnWI** » Tue Aug 3, 2010 3:36 pm

LOL @ sweltering Vegas heat inside the TMC and Cox Pavilion. Most of the people were complaining that they had the AC cranked too high.

Esohny · Post #5 » by **Esohny** » Tue Aug 3, 2010 3:58 pm

mnWI wrote:LOL @ sweltering Vegas heat inside the TMC and Cox Pavilion. Most of the people were complaining that they had the AC cranked too high.

I read it as spectators were going inside the Pavilion to escape the sweltering heat of Vegas.

Post #6 » by **Klomp** » Tue Aug 3, 2010 4:03 pm

Esohny wrote:
mnWI wrote:LOL @ sweltering Vegas heat inside the TMC and Cox Pavilion. Most of the people were complaining that they had the AC cranked too high.

I read it as spectators were going inside the Pavilion to escape the sweltering heat of Vegas.

Yup, me too...

cpfsf · Post #7 » by **cpfsf** » Tue Aug 3, 2010 4:08 pm

At least Hayward, Pekovic, and Johnson should be able to contribute right away. Those guys have a lot of experience under their belt and fill a lot of holes.

Post #8 » by **C.lupus** » Tue Aug 3, 2010 4:27 pm

Hayward is going to be a fan favorite if he can get PT.

Post #9 » by **Klomp** » Tue Aug 3, 2010 4:33 pm

C.lupus wrote:Hayward is going to be a fan favorite if he can get PT.

I agree. I think he reminds me a lot of what Trenton Hassell brought to the early-2000s teams, that lunchpail and hardhat mentality.

TDWOLVESFAN · Post #10 » by **TDWOLVESFAN** » Tue Aug 3, 2010 4:56 pm

Devilzsidewalk wrote:he was a 1st round pick, he'll definitely make the roster. I'm glad we drafted him right from the start, I would've gone Whiteside or Varnado for sure, but I like Hayward's game a lot

Meaning we won't send him down to the D-League to play like some recent first round picks - BJ Mullens, Hasheem Thabeet, DJ White, JR Giddens etc.

TyKixx · Post #11 » by **TyKixx** » Tue Aug 3, 2010 5:56 pm

We should send him to the DLeague. We don't have the minutes for him with Brewer, Ellington, Johnson, Webster, and Beasley. The DLeague is not a bad thing, its a way to give young players minutes who won't get it with their NBA team.

eyeteeth · Post #12 » by **eyeteeth** » Tue Aug 3, 2010 8:19 pm

The reason I think he'll stay with the team is so that he can learn the system. I agree that he won't get much playing time, maybe 3-5 min/game and not every night. I think, frankly, that he's probably not quite NBA ready. There were times at summer league where he just looked kind of lost.

He did really well at Marquette, which is a team that has a very rigorous offensive system. He has the kind of mind that can grasp a complicated system and the game to thrive in one, and he has the kind of passing/cutting/leaping skills we are looking for. I think in a year or two he will make a fine rotation player. But for now he's on the training-wheel plan until he can play at NBA speeds.

shangrila · Post #13 » by **shangrila** » Tue Aug 3, 2010 11:11 pm

Yeah no need to rush him. But he looks awesome enough already

mchalupnik2 · Post #14 » by **mchalupnik2** » Tue Aug 3, 2010 11:56 pm

Klomp wrote:
C.lupus wrote:Hayward is going to be a fan favorite if he can get PT.

I agree. I think he reminds me a lot of what Trenton Hassell brought to the early-2000s teams, that lunchpail and hardhat mentality.

Personally, I hope to god he is nothing like T. Hassell. He sucked big time. Probably one of the most overrated defensive players is T-wolves history.

Esohny · Post #15 » by **Esohny** » Wed Aug 4, 2010 12:00 am

mchalupnik2 wrote:
Klomp wrote:
C.lupus wrote:Hayward is going to be a fan favorite if he can get PT.

I agree. I think he reminds me a lot of what Trenton Hassell brought to the early-2000s teams, that lunchpail and hardhat mentality.

Personally, I hope to god he is nothing like T. Hassell. He sucked big time. Probably one of the most overrated defensive players is T-wolves history.

At the time, under those rules, he was an above average defender. The change in the hand-check rules was basically the same as chopping off one of his arms.

Post #16 » by **Basti** » Wed Aug 4, 2010 10:02 am

Esohny wrote:
mchalupnik2 wrote:
Klomp wrote:I agree. I think he reminds me a lot of what Trenton Hassell brought to the early-2000s teams, that lunchpail and hardhat mentality.

Personally, I hope to god he is nothing like T. Hassell. He sucked big time. Probably one of the most overrated defensive players is T-wolves history.

At the time, under those rules, he was an above average defender. The change in the hand-check rules was basically the same as chopping off one of his arms.

agreed. I remember him shutting down a young Carmelo Anthony and Peja Stojakovic during the 03/04 playoffs. also I think he used to be more of a capable defender when it comes to defending shooters rather than slashers. hence being able to do a great job defensively on a young Carmelo and on Peja.

he used to be my 2nd favorite Wolf too after you know who I mean.

jade_hippo · Post #17 » by **jade_hippo** » Wed Aug 4, 2010 10:47 am

he hit open jumpers, he didn't turn the ball over often and back in the "oldschool" he was a very very good defender. he just became obsolete when they instilled the new defense rules. he's still a decent vet, he'll get a paycheck.

Fire Mchale · Post #18 » by **Fire Mchale** » Wed Aug 4, 2010 3:50 pm

TyKixx wrote:We should send him to the DLeague. We don't have the minutes for him with Brewer, Ellington, Johnson, Webster, and Beasley. The DLeague is not a bad thing, its a way to give young players minutes who won't get it with their NBA team.

I waver a bit on this one. It's true he won't get any minutes, but this is a college senior and not a one-and-done guy and he's physically mature enough to play at the NBA level. I was OK with us drafting him. He's a glue guy. He'll take a charge, he'll throw an elbow, and he'll get a rebound if you need him to. He's undersized to play the 4 and may not be athletic enough to play either the 2 or the 3. I'll still take him on my team and use him off of the bench and know that he'll dive on the floor for a loose ball and play with high energy all the time. Worst case is he's a great end of bench guy, at best he's a 6th or 7th guy.

Peezo · Post #19 » by **Peezo** » Thu Aug 5, 2010 6:25 am

I think he could be a Robert Horry type of guy (a middle career Horry). He can shoot from distance, rebound (even at his height), and has the type of ego that transitions well from being "the Man" in your college town to being just one cog in the team.

I think he's a great piece. Way better that guys like Sasha, Pecherov, Wilkins, Cardinal... and the others.

Post #20 » by **Klomp** » Thu Aug 5, 2010 7:24 am

Peezo wrote:I think he could be a Robert Horry type of guy (a middle career Horry). He can shoot from distance, rebound (even at his height), and has the type of ego that transitions well from being "the Man" in your college town to being just one cog in the team.

I think he's a great piece. Way better that guys like Sasha, Pecherov, Wilkins, Cardinal... and the others.

Hmmm, now you got me thinking. I wonder if you have the wrong Laker role player.... What about Rick Fox? Never scored over 10 ppg with the team, but brought defense, toughness, and leadership -- all qualities I think Lazar can bring. Fox was also known to hit a shot or two in the clutch too...