On New Years Eve, when the Sixers were playing at Golden State a fan sitting behind me said at one point: That guy reminds me of Bill Walton.
He was referring to Spencer Hawes.
I promised if I used his words I would preface with a poor mans version.
Even Hawes would understand my trepidation comparing the Hall of Famer with a fifth-year player, who is only four games into what could be a very nice season.
Maybe it was the beard coupled with the made jump shots by a 7-foot tall white center that led to such words being blurted out. Hawes notched his third double-double of the season that night, scoring 14 points on 7-for-9 shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds. Walton averaged a double-double for his 10 year career13.3 points and 10.5 rebounds.
Four games into his fifth season, Hawes is averaging 12 points and 12.5 rebounds. He is a capable double-figure scorer, having averaged 11 and 10 points his second and third years in the league, respectively. In Hawes second year he averaged a career best 7.1 rebounds as well.
When Spencer is around the basket and active, great things happen, Doug Collins said. He is getting his hands on balls and rebounding the ball. There is no reason he cant be a top-10 rebounder and I actually told him he could even be top five. That would take 11-12 rebounds a game.
Last year was a down year to say the least for the man who wears jersey No. 00. Hawes, then the new kid in town, was out of shape. To add to his problems, he hurt his back in training camp, which set him back 16 days of practice. He proceeded to average seven points and 5.7 reboundsnumbers that dazzled no one and frustrated many.
NBA
As a result the Sixers' center is playing on a one-year qualifying offer. At seasons end he will be an unrestricted free agent.
I would be lying if I didnt say that was a part of this, Hawes said Monday afternoon at the Sixers practice facility before heading to Citizens Bank Park for the Winter Classic. More of it for me was not so much being frustrated but not playing up to the standard that, when I came into the league, I set for myself, for the player I wanted to be.
Having the lockout gave me a chance to step away from it and look back and say when I was 19, four years in, is this where I want to be? Hawes said. Or did I have bigger expectations for myself? Focusing on that is more of it and having the time to reflect and say what I have been doing is not quite good enough. I am 23 now. Its my fifth year. Its time to take that next step.
I give the guy a lot of credit, Collins said. He took the qualifying offer and he said I am going to come back and be in great shape. Im going to play my tail off and you guys are going to pay me a lot of money. I love that.
No excuses and an honest evaluation are reason enough to pull for Hawes current play to last 66 games and then some.
Hawes is a thinking man playing in a system that suits his strengths: his passing skills, his outside soft touch and as we are learning, his rebounding abilities, especially at the defensive end.
I see a trend and concerted effort. Hes boxing out, Elton Brand said. I think he is more athletic because of the things he did over the summer and he is keeping his man away from the basket.
Hawes would add familiarity to that mix.
This is the first time I have come back and played for the same coach, Hawes said. Three years in Sacramento I had three different coaches, then I came here and had a different coach so to be able to come back to the same system, thats big for me too with the level of comfort and not having to adjust to a new system and new philosophy.
Spencer has earned not only the coaches respect but his teammates respect, Collins said. And you do that by the way you play.
On Tap
The Sixers had a full-contact practice on Monday. They will do the same on Tuesday before flying to New Orleans for a game against the Hornets on Wednesday. The first of eight games in 11 nights, 14 in the next 19. The Sixers will not have the kind of practice they had on Monday again until after the All-Star break, which is in late February.
E-mail Dei Lynam at dlynam@comcastsportsnet.com