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Do IT this week: Layering
Cavaliers rookie gains confidence and points
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 10:36 p.m. EST, Jan 12, 2009
INDEPENDENCE: Cavaliers rookie forward J.J. Hickson is going straight from the frying pan into the fire now that the NBA season is close to the halfway point.
Although not by design, center Zydrunas Ilgauskas' ailing ankle has forced Cavs coach Mike Brown to call Hickson's number more than he might have had Ilgauskas not been injured.
Although Hickson received limited minutes before the injury, they're coming more consistently now.
In the past four games, Hickson is averaging about 20 minutes per game. More important, he has displayed some of the flash that prompted the Cavs to draft him with their first-round pick out of North Carolina State. He's averaging eight points per game in that span.
Brown said that it's a simple matter of Hickson, who is just 20 years old, playing with more energy than he had before.
''[It's] understanding that he can't take any plays off like he could in college,'' Brown said. ''In college, he was the most athletic kid on the floor, so he could take a second or two off and with his athletic skill, still recover and go get it. He can't do that at this level.''
Indeed, Hickson often looked lost on the floor earlier in the season, and the mental lapses came at a quick pace.
''[I'm] seeing more of him trying to box out opponents as opposed to just going after the ball,'' Brown said. ''He's doing all of the little things he needs to do to stay on the floor.''
Point guard Mo Williams said that unless you're someone with the skills of LeBron James, the NBA is a more intense learning experience for any rookie.
''It's not just him in particular, it's young guys,'' Williams said. ''When I was a rookie, when everybody's a rookie, the game has not slowed down to the point where you can really think the game through throughout.''
Williams suggests that the best thing for Hickson would be to think less and play more.
''Sometimes you need to just go out and play,'' Williams said. ''Just use your athletic ability and use what you do best. . . . Don't think about it.''
To his credit, Hickson is listening and heeding the advice.
''Me being a rookie, I'm thinking all the time,'' Hickson said. ''The coaches told me to relax and go hard.''
He's getting some expert advice from veteran forward Ben Wallace in that respect.
''He's helped me a lot,'' Hickson said. ''He's shown me moves to work on, not only on the court but off the court. He's been in the league 13 years.''
His teammates have noticed the difference.
''He's working hard,'' Williams said. ''He's coming out, not thinking. He's doing what he's got to do, running the screen-and-rolls, going after every rebound. If he does make a mistake, he's doing it aggressively. He's just trying to make something happen and we can take that.''
He called the recent game against the Boston Celtics, in which he scored 13 points and pulled down six rebounds, the time when he realized that he wasn't in college any longer.
''That was a huge win for us,'' Hickson said. ''The crowd was really into it. That was a defining feeling as to how I have arrived.''
He said there is a big difference between now and the beginning of the season.
''I just have a lot of confidence now, knowing that the coaching staff and my teammates have confidence in me when I go out there to compete,'' he said. ''I had to go back to the drawing board and figure out what I was doing wrong. Now I'm doing it better.''
Jawad Williams returns
Rookie forward and local product Jawad Williams rejoined the team after signing a 10-day contract today. He had been released Jan. 7.
''I was saying my prayers and hoping for the best,'' Williams said of his release. ''That's all I could really do. I can't control anything. I did all I can do and it worked out for me.''
Brown said that Williams belongs in the league, and it's good that he will get another opportunity.
George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read the Cavs blog at http://www.ohio.com/thomas.
INDEPENDENCE: Cavaliers rookie forward J.J. Hickson is going straight from the frying pan into the fire now that the NBA season is close to the halfway point.
Although not by design, center Zydrunas Ilgauskas' ailing ankle has forced Cavs coach Mike Brown to call Hickson's number more than he might have had Ilgauskas not been injured.
Although Hickson received limited minutes before the injury, they're coming more consistently now.
In the past four games, Hickson is averaging about 20 minutes per game. More important, he has displayed some of the flash that prompted the Cavs to draft him with their first-round pick out of North Carolina State. He's averaging eight points per game in that span.
Brown said that it's a simple matter of Hickson, who is just 20 years old, playing with more energy than he had before.
''[It's] understanding that he can't take any plays off like he could in college,'' Brown said. ''In college, he was the most athletic kid on the floor, so he could take a second or two off and with his athletic skill, still recover and go get it. He can't do that at this level.''
Indeed, Hickson often looked lost on the floor earlier in the season, and the mental lapses came at a quick pace.
''[I'm] seeing more of him trying to box out opponents as opposed to just going after the ball,'' Brown said. ''He's doing all of the little things he needs to do to stay on the floor.''
Point guard Mo Williams said that unless you're someone with the skills of LeBron James, the NBA is a more intense learning experience for any rookie.
''It's not just him in particular, it's young guys,'' Williams said. ''When I was a rookie, when everybody's a rookie, the game has not slowed down to the point where you can really think the game through throughout.''
Williams suggests that the best thing for Hickson would be to think less and play more.
''Sometimes you need to just go out and play,'' Williams said. ''Just use your athletic ability and use what you do best. . . . Don't think about it.''
To his credit, Hickson is listening and heeding the advice.
''Me being a rookie, I'm thinking all the time,'' Hickson said. ''The coaches told me to relax and go hard.''
He's getting some expert advice from veteran forward Ben Wallace in that respect.
''He's helped me a lot,'' Hickson said. ''He's shown me moves to work on, not only on the court but off the court. He's been in the league 13 years.''
His teammates have noticed the difference.
''He's working hard,'' Williams said. ''He's coming out, not thinking. He's doing what he's got to do, running the screen-and-rolls, going after every rebound. If he does make a mistake, he's doing it aggressively. He's just trying to make something happen and we can take that.''
He called the recent game against the Boston Celtics, in which he scored 13 points and pulled down six rebounds, the time when he realized that he wasn't in college any longer.
''That was a huge win for us,'' Hickson said. ''The crowd was really into it. That was a defining feeling as to how I have arrived.''
He said there is a big difference between now and the beginning of the season.
''I just have a lot of confidence now, knowing that the coaching staff and my teammates have confidence in me when I go out there to compete,'' he said. ''I had to go back to the drawing board and figure out what I was doing wrong. Now I'm doing it better.''
Jawad Williams returns
Rookie forward and local product Jawad Williams rejoined the team after signing a 10-day contract today. He had been released Jan. 7.
''I was saying my prayers and hoping for the best,'' Williams said of his release. ''That's all I could really do. I can't control anything. I did all I can do and it worked out for me.''
Brown said that Williams belongs in the league, and it's good that he will get another opportunity.
George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read the Cavs blog at http://www.ohio.com/thomas.
Comments
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Posted 09:57 AM, 01/13/2009
This really is a great Team. I dont want to jinx them, but, this could be THE year.
Go Cavs !!
Akron, OH
Posted 03:26 PM, 01/13/2009
Not afraid of the jinx:
Title or Bust!
