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Hawkins Starting

He had a similar thing his freshman year at UConn. He missed so many wide open in-rhythm transition 3s in big spots. Real back breakers. But the ball always looked good coming out of his hand, even those misses. It was all very perplexing.

He just has to dial in his range finder.
 
He's being thrust into a larger role earlier than anyone expected - likely even his coaches. That many shot attempts shows how much trust his teammates & coaches have in his ability. He won't get that same level of opportunity once Ingram & crew come back from injury, so I'm happy to see him "shooting his shot." If just 2-3 of those near misses went in, we'd be raving about how well he's doing. He's going to be really good as he settles into a more consistent role.
 
He's being thrust into a larger role earlier than anyone expected - likely even his coaches. That many shot attempts shows how much trust his teammates & coaches have in his ability. He won't get that same level of opportunity once Ingram & crew come back from injury, so I'm happy to see him "shooting his shot." If just 2-3 of those near misses went in, we'd be raving about how well he's doing. He's going to be really good as he settles into a more consistent role.
A miss is as good as a mile. He needs to seize this opportunity.
 
It’s great he was doing all the other impactful things he could with his minutes. But I stand by any player shooting that poorly for a game should stop shooting, unless the shot clock is expiring. Guess that’s just me.
Yea I disagree. When you’re passing up open shots you become a liability because you don’t need to be guarded. Shooters shoot. You live with these nights
 
True, also true that BE teams gummed up UConn's offense last year by making AJ shoot wide open 3's. Basketball is fluid and the basketball gods credo is that a bad shot or badly missed shot turns into points for the other team.
Because they knew they didn't have to guard him. He didn't have a track record of being a good shooter at any level. You can leave that guy open.

A guy who has a record of shooting well over a long period of time is probably going to start hitting.
 
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Y'all are funny. Walking into the game he was at exactly 40% from behind the arc after 3 games. He has one really poor shooting game and suddenly he's in an "early-season shooting slump".

Last two games he's 4/20...and it's early in the season. I'm not sure what you'd call that other than a "slump" in the early season.
 
Last two games he's 4/20...and it's early in the season. I'm not sure what you'd call that other than a "slump" in the early season.
4/20 lol well he’s due then especially if it’s 4/20
 
He's playing huge minutes specifically because the coaching staff trusts him. He's a more NBA-ready defender than a lot of guys that come into the league with his skillset and that means he's not a liability even when his shot isn't falling.

Hawkins had plenty of games last year where he missed 6, 7 threes and it was never a concern for me because you know he can make them. He's almost scoring in double-digits, he's getting plenty of opportunities, he's rebounding and sharing the ball, there's nothing to be worried about.
 
I disagree. Physical ability and talent aren't the problem and that's what you're trying to improve when staying in school. While Bouk's career so far has definitely been a disappointment, I've always felt that by young adulthood, people are who they are personality-wise for the most part.

Not saying that we can't mature and make better decisions as we get older but that usually happens over many years/decades. Clearly, Bouk has some serious knucklehead tendencies. Do you really believe Hurley was going to root those out in one more year?
I thought it would benefit him to stay in school another year but, in retrospect, leaving may have been the best decision for him for a reason we didn't contemplate at the time.

If he had stayed another year he might have revealed his true character, the NBA would likely have run away from him as fast as they could, and there wouldn't have been the guaranteed three year contract that should have set him up for life before the age of 25.

He could still salvage his career but is it likely he can make the necessary changes in how he conducts himself? I hope so but have my doubts.
 
My take is that he is a freshman again. Let's take another look after 35 games.
His sophomore year with us was a whole lot better than his freshman year.
 
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He's playing huge minutes specifically because the coaching staff trusts him. He's a more NBA-ready defender than a lot of guys that come into the league with his skillset and that means he's not a liability even when his shot isn't falling.

Hawkins had plenty of games last year where he missed 6, 7 threes and it was never a concern for me because you know he can make them. He's almost scoring in double-digits, he's getting plenty of opportunities, he's rebounding and sharing the ball, there's nothing to be worried about.
Also due to the fact that guys are injured, it's literally Trey Murphy's role in the office that Hawk is assuming right now.
 
Also due to the fact that guys are injured, it's literally Trey Murphy's role in the office that Hawk is assuming right now.
Definitely agree he’s getting a lot of the minutes because of injury but they still have bodies they could stash him behind if he wasn’t ready. He’s been serviceable even in the games where the shot isn’t falling
 
Hawkins pretty quiet 1st quarter. Guarded fairly tight by Ausar/Pistons, unlike everyone else on his team who had wide open lanes.

Stripped on a drive, airballed a 3, and then a soft foul in the bonus on a drive for 2FT.
 
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Hawkins pretty quiet 1st quarter. Guarded fairly tight by Ausar/Pistons, unlike everyone else on his team who had wide open lanes.

Stripped on a drive, airballed a 3, and then a soft foul in the bonus on a drive for 2FT.
Is he the one Detroit is specifically game planning to contain? Only 3 shots all 1st half. Hopefully he explodes in the 2nd!
 
Just missed a couple more wide open catch and shoot 3s. Just doesn't have the range from NBA 3 yet. Then a 3 attempt blocked by a nice recovery and athletic play by Jaden Ivey.
 
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Is Detroit really this bad. NO is without five of their top 7-8 players tonight.


Looks like Hawkins’ first back to back was not great but he should be playing off Zion or Ingram at this point in his career.
 
Rough line tonight. 29 min, 6 points on 1-7 shooting (1-5 from 3). 1 rebound 0 ast 0 stl 0 blk.
 
Rough line tonight. 29 min, 6 points on 1-7 shooting (1-5 from 3). 1 rebound 0 ast 0 stl 0 blk.
He was shooting pretty poorly in Summer League/Preseason too. A bit worried about how his shot is gonna fare against pro level defenses.
 
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I thought Bouknight would be a walking bucket in the NBA with his breakdown and finishing ability. I didn't factor in how tiny he would look in the NBA, how he wasn't all that good an outside shooter at UConn, and his mental state. I still think most of his problems are between the ears because even though his body isn't ideal for the league he has the explosive athleticism and scoring ability.
Totally agree with you. He needs help beyond what Dan Hurley could furnish. Living in another world. He has to want help in order to accept it. Believe he can change. Let others help him to help himself become free of his past so he can live in today. All that money and fame cannot buy happiness. "When the student is ready the teacher will appear." When he makes that decision (I need help) he will find he can be surrounded by people going in the same direction instead of being alienated. Come on home James. We are all rooting for you. You have friends. Pick the right ones and walk away from the other ones.
 
My son in-law is a huge Pelican fan and loves that Hawkins got the opportunity to start. Clearly, he has struggled the past two games with his shot going down but Coach Green has given him the greenlight to keep shooting and when he gets going it will be nice to watch.
 
He was shooting pretty poorly in Summer League/Preseason too. A bit worried about how his shot is gonna fare against pro level defenses.

Sample size is still way too small. If there's one thing Jordan can do, it's make tough shots.
 
Is Detroit really this bad. NO is without five of their top 7-8 players tonight.
Detroit is just one of the youngest teams in the league so you don’t really know what they’re going to give you on any given night. I’m pretty sure every player they’re starting right now is 22 or younger
 
Totally agree with you. He needs help beyond what Dan Hurley could furnish. Living in another world. He has to want help in order to accept it. Believe he can change. Let others help him to help himself become free of his past so he can live in today. All that money and fame cannot buy happiness. "When the student is ready the teacher will appear." When he makes that decision (I need help) he will find he can be surrounded by people going in the same direction instead of being alienated. Come on home James. We are all rooting for you. You have friends. Pick the right ones and walk away from the other ones.
Would you happen to know what specifically Coach Hurley did proactively to help Bouk with the issues he had brought with him and showed during his time at UConn? And why did Dan Hurley treat Bouk with kid gloves after the ridiculous display at Gampel that afternoon? When a reporter asked Dan Hurley if he had any comment or words of wisdom for Bouk - he insinuated Bouk will be Bouk, thanked Bouk for the Hornets jersey and nothing else. I understand the desire to not display dirty laundry......
If not Dan Hurley then the Athletic Department or administration should have done something when Bouk was a student, Many people in high places at UConn knew the issues.
Enough said about this- Bouk needs to man up and get the help he needs, that I agree 100%
 
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