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| Spencer Hawes is averaging a double-double for the first time in his career. Photo credit NBA |
If you don't know who Spencer Hawes is, then it is time to get familiar He is a six year NBA veteran, over seven feet tall, and averages a double-double this season. After a rocky start to his pro career, he has become a weapon for the Philadelphia 76ers and a big reason they have been able to win some big games early in the season.
Even with the steady improvement he has shown to the Sixers organization they have continued to find another starting center. First it was the Andrew Bynum experiment that failed miserably last season, then they drafted Nerlens Noel. Noel has yet to play after recovering from a knee injury suffered in college. If a Reebok commercial is any indication, he is close to returning. Regardless of the present circumstances, he has maintained a positive professional manner while putting up 16.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. Oh yeah...he shoots 49% from the three-point line, making him a matchup nightmare for big men in the league.
I caught up Spencer after their road loss to the Dallas Mavericks 94-97. Their first game after suffering their worst defeat this season against the New Orleans Pelicans 135-98.
RF: Even though you lost tonight, coach said he thought this was your team's best defensive performance tonight. Do you agree?
SH: Compared to the last one, it has to be...
RF: The team has struggled at times with consistency, do you feel like now there is some consistency this season?
SH: I think offensively the pace we play it bodes well for us for being able to get in the paint to make layups and get free throws. Defensively is were we have the most opportunity for growth.
RF: People feel like the Sixers took a few teams by surprise early in the season. Do you think the surprise factor has worn off?
SH: I don't put a lot of credit into that. They way we played earlier, we won those games. I don't know how much of a surprise it was, we were just playing better basketball.
RF: Do you feel confident that you guys can make the playoffs?
SH: It's still early in the season. We still have a lot of room to go before we start focusing on that.
RF: You numbers are at their best for your six year career. What, if anything, did you focus on this offseason?
SH: Really, just being in the weight room. I started lifting earlier this year to get the body ready and extending my range of play outside of the three-point line.
RF: A pretty physical game tonight down low. How have you been able to handle the physicality of the game?
SH: I think you kind of revel in that, to have an opportunity to bang around without the whistles. Some nights they are there and some nights they are not.
Dope interview.
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