In the Kings' first 19 games, Spencer Hawes was a reserve who looked like a starter.
The second-year center out of the University of Washington had made the most of his playing time (28.6 minutes per game), averaging 12.4 points on 49.7 percent shooting overall (98 of 197) and 41 percent shooting from three-point range (16 of 39). What's more, he had averaged 7.1 rebounds, two turnovers and 1.9 blocks. The production paid off in the form of a starting role at the power forward spot, with Hawes taking the spot previously belonging to veteran Mikki Moore. But in the nine games since Hawes has become a starter prior to Friday's game, his production has been on the decline as he adjusts to playing out of position. He's adjusting to a new coach as well, with Kenny Natt taking over on an interim basis after Reggie Theus was fired on Dec. 15. In that nine games, Hawes -- who has averaged 30.8 minutes -- is scoring 9.8 points per game on 35 percent shooting (35 of 100) overall and 12.5 percent from three-point range (one of eight) to go with 7.8 rebounds, two turnovers, and 1.4 blocks per game. Even with the Kings' offense struggling mightily of late, Natt said he has no plans to move Hawes for a second time.
"I see him as a starter," Natt said of Hawes. "He was scoring a lot more when he came off the bench. That's something where he just has to keep learning to make that adjustment."
RAPTORS 107, KINGS 101: Jermaine O'Neal scored a season-high 36 points on 15-of-19 shooting on Friday night at Arco Arena as Toronto broke a 10-game losing streak in Sacramento.
O'Neal's outing capped a hot-shooting outing as the Raptors shot 55.1 percent overall, and he hit two baskets down the stretch to help seal the win. The Kings were led by John Salmons (20 points), but the swingman drove through three defenders and turned it over with 28 seconds left and the Kings down four.
