By Sam Amico
ProBasketballNews.com
Random thoughts from around the NBA:
* Not many people have noticed Sacramento rookie Spencer Hawes, but the
7-foot-0 center has been coming along nicely. Hawes was the No. 10 overall pick out of Washington, and had a big game in Wednesday’s loss at Miami -- making 7 of 10 field goals for a team-high 16 points.
* Granted, the Kings got spanked by a bad Heat team (107-86), but all you can do is make the most of your minutes. Hawes did exactly that, and is averaging 7.6 points on 54 percent shooting in his last five games. If there’s one area in which he needs to get better, it’s rebounding. He’s averaging a measly 2.4 per game.
* Meanwhile, Kings forward Shelden Williams
hasn’t been playing much since arriving from
Atlanta in the Mike Bibby trade. In the five games
since the deal, Williams is averaging just 7.2
minutes per game, with a single-game high of
nine (twice).
* That’s hard to understand, considering Brad
Miller and Mikki Moore are the only proven big
men ahead of Williams on the Kings’ roster.
* Then there’s swingman Ron Artest. Despite the
Kings’ struggles (and constant allegations of
Artest’s zaniness), he’s been better-than-solid.
Artest is averaging close to 20 points and six
rebounds a night, and he’s still the best wing
defender in the league. And I just now noticed that he’s only 28 years old. If coach Reggie Theus can somehow convince Artest to adhere to the company line, the Kings will truly have someone around whom to build. But as much as I like Artest, the truth is … well, you just never know when it comes to him.
* That is why the Kings are more likely to make Kevin Martin the so-called franchise man.
* I know I just wrote a long newsletter about Cleveland, but there’s something I failed to mention. Basically, the pressure is now on Cavaliers coach Mike Brown. After the big trade that brought in four new players (Ben Wallace, Joe Smith, Delonte West and Wally Szczerbiak), no one will be pointing at Larry Hughes and Drew Gooden (both in Chicago), or GM Danny Ferry, if the team fails to live up to expectations. Instead, the blame will fall on Brown. And as the coach of a team that’s become fairly deep, let the constant questioning of Brown’s rotation begin.
* That’s not to say I agree with idea of doubting the head coach -- but I do know that’s how it usually works in sports. Ferry has remade the roster and the fans will expect Brown to know how to juggle it.
* Some inside the Cavs camp are already worried Brown will continue to play Anderson Varejao, and not Smith, in the game’s crucial moments. That was usually the case when Gooden was on the team, simply because Brown loves Varejao’s defense (and understandably so). But Varejao is extremely limited on offense, while Smith is one of the most versatile reserves in the league. It’s OK to keep playing Varejao 20-25 minutes a night, one insider said, but not at the expense of Smith.
* It’s beginning to look like Yi Jianlian has hit the infamous rookie wall. The 7-0 forward has been removed from Milwaukee’s starting lineup, and has scored only 22 points in his past four games (and just six in the previous two). Mostly, he has seemed unsure of himself on the floor for about a month now.
* Reader Duane Abraham of Dallas sent an intriguing e-mail. Duane wrote, “I know everyone likes (Minnesota center) Al Jefferson, and I won’t deny he has potential and puts up some great numbers. But as Charles Barkley once implied, ANYONE in the NBA can put up big numbers on a losing team (which is why I also think Dwyane Wade is a little overrated). Jefferson seems more like a Jermaine O’Neal-type to me -- a big man who doesn’t really understand how to win, and sometimes even gets in the way of it, and then gets credit for being a star just for putting up 20 and 10 every night. If Jefferson was on a good team, he would have to score less and rebound more.”
* Dear Duane, you make some valid points (I agree with the O’Neal assessment), but you have to remember that Jefferson is only 23 years old. Is he Dwight Howard? No, not even close. But he plays for an extremely young team with no consistent second option. You’re right, if Jefferson played for a good team HE would have to be the second option. Right now, he has no choice but to take the majority of the shots.
* Besides, Barkley’s theory is wrong. Timberwolves center Michael Doleac has spent a lot of time in the NBA not scoring while playing for bad teams.
* Actually, what Barkley meant was nearly anyone can score if they get enough shots -- and that is accurate, for the most part. But Jefferson is more than just a guy who shoots a lot. He reminds me a little of a young Kevin Garnett, in that Jefferson really wants to win and knows how to position himself for scoring opportunities. He really is a bright young player.
* In case you missed it, Shaquille O’Neal had his best with the Phoenix Suns
-- scoring 13 points on 4-of-6 shooting with 11 rebounds -- in a 127-113 win over Memphis. If the Suns can get that type of production out of Shaq on a regular basis, then trading Shawn Marion to Miami will have been worth it.
* In that same game, Grizzlies center Kwame Brown received a Did Not Play - Coach’s Decision next to his name. Is it just me, or has this poor guy gotten worse with each season?
* The odds of Houston becoming a playoff spoiler went down the tubes with Yao Ming’s foot injury (he’s out for the year) -- which is too bad, because I just know I would’ve picked the Rockets to upset someone in the early rounds. Instead, they’ll be fortunate just to make the playoffs.
* For what it’s worth, the Rockets are still better than the Wizards. The Rockets proved that in a 94-69 hammer job in their first game without Yao.
* Anyone else starting to wonder about Golden State’s decision to sign Chris Webber? Yes, it was worth giving him a shot at such a cheap price ($358,107 for the year), but Webber didn’t do himself any favors by missing the first half of the season. He looks out of shape and lost, and can’t keep up with Don
Nelson’s high-powered offense. Honestly? I’d be surprised if he makes the playoff roster.
