Averaging Out? Hickson Cools Off After Hot Streak As Starter
Written By: Rick | Category: Cleveland Cavaliers | Comments: 9
J.J. Hickson has now started 11 games for the Cavaliers this season. The first eight of those starts were fairly impressive, as Hickson provided a spark to the starting line-up and allowed Varejao to come off the bench in a familiar role. Hickson averaged 13.6 points (on almost 67% shooting) and 4.5 rebounds in those first eight games. He set career scoring marks in three straight contests, and seemed to be learning his place defensively quicker than some expected. So where has that production been the last three games?
Since that hot start, Hickson has averaged 5.3 points and three rebounds per game. (In the last two contests Hickson grabbed only a single board.) So, what changed? Well, his playing time for one thing. During that eight-game stretch, Hickson topped 30 minutes five times. He averaged almost 28 minutes for those first eight starts (including a 13-minute stint in his first start) and has averaged just over 20 minutes in the last three.
I suppose that is the old chicken and egg argument, however. Is he struggling because he isn’t playing as much or is he not playing as much because he is struggling? Certainly Shaq’s return could mean slightly fewer minutes for J.J. as Varejao takes minutes at the 4 instead of the 5, but even during the infamous ‘Zydrunas snub game‘ when Mike Brown was going with a smaller, more athletic line-up Hickson struggled to get any floor time. It is hard to argue with the numbers from that game. Hickson was the only Cavalier with a negative +/- number.
His shooting percentage (.385 the last three games) is down in part because of shot selection. He has taken a few more outside shots and simply hasn’t knocked them down. But perhaps the biggest reason is that teams realize they can’t let him roam the court because they know LeBron has been looking for him cutting to the basket. Jamario Moon’s hot play has to factor in the equation as well. Moon is long enough to guard the 4 position, or guard any 3 in the NBA pushing LeBron to the 4. Additionally, Jamario is a better outside shooter and can fly to the basket as well or better than Hickson. Jamario appears to be a decent rebounder as well when he gets the opportunity to play consistent minutes.
Whatever the reason(s) for Hickson’s slowdown, it will be interesting to see if Coach Brown continues the Hickson as a starter experiment. It’s a nice problem to have- too many good players. Wait until Powe comes back. The minutes at PF could get pretty competitive.
Author: Rick
Rick is a co-founder and editor of WFNY. His love of Cleveland sports is surpassed only by his faith and love of his family. Follow him on Twitter- @rickwfny.Rick has written 921 articles for Waiting for Next Year.
What changed? Shaw came back. His reduction in PT shouldn’t be the only factor then affecting his play.
Instead, you have to realize that Hickson’s production is down because he is playing with Shaq in those minutes now, which he was not doing for the majority of those games when he hit his stride.
The offensive and defensive shapes are different when Shaq is playing; especially the offensive shape. We’ve already seen JJ jump into Shaq on a lob pass intended for the diesel. But When Z was out on the pick and pop, spreading the floor, JJ had lanes to cut to and could finish around the rim, getting some easy dunks. He can’t do that now. Now when Shaq is in, he posts up, and the back-door lanes are reserved for the perimeter guys, mostly Lebron, to take advantage of. This strings Hickson out and he becomes Drew Gooden (he needs to have plays run or get a 16 ft. jumper in order to score).
Playing with Shaq in the bulk of his minutes also makes it much more difficult to get offensive rebounds because he is a run and jump rebounder, not a position guy. His path to the ball is oft impeded by 350 lbs in the lane. So he isn’t getting the 2-3 athletic putbacks each game anymore either. And, like many young players, his inability to contribute effectively on offense causes him to lose focus.
That is why JJ has struggled. That is why is shot selection has seemed worse.
Yeah, you heard me. Shaw came back.
Who is this magical/mysterious player named Shaw?
I think Hickson is a valuable asset and I think we should trade him and Shaw(q) for whatever we can get, i.e., Chris Bosh.
Wishful thinking, I know.
On Windhorsts podcast today he insinuated that the person who is going to see a drop in minutes is actually going to be Z. He sees JJ as the starter along with Shaq and Powe and Andy backing them up. He said the “Person” that loses their minutes will probably be used as trade bait.
Z has to lose minutes. If he ever sees the floor when Powe returns (assuming he can run and jump moderately well) then it will be really hard to watch Cavs games. I think Z has to admit it’s over and enjoy the ride, knowing that the best way for him to get a ring before he retires is by staying out of the rotation.
There was a part in the last game where Shaq appeared to become really irritated at JJ because he ended-up on top of him on an offensive rebound attempt. JJ had a few words for him on the way back and Austin Carr commented on him not having to do that when Shaq was on the floor. That is part of the negative impact of having Shaq on the floor, isn’t it? That he doesn’t allow the players to run all over like they used to?
Robbie-
I remember what you are talking about. It was actually supposed to be an oop to Shaw. I think that is what Jack was talking about in his 1st post. J.J. was just out of position and running around and got in the way. It was on him. Shaq has helped J.J. in his development just like LeBron so I don’t blame him. Somebody needs to get in JJ’s ear about it because the extent of Brown’s coaching is to simply bench him.
During the 2nd half of the Mavs game, J.J. looked really lost. I think there were like 3-4 offensive possessions in a row where he made an error and impeded our offensive production. I’m hoping they’re just growing pains and hopefully his play with find a median somewhere in the middle of where he’s played this season.
I think the biggest problem for him has been matchups, lately we have been playing teams with offensively talented PFs and JJ just isn’t capable of guarding them…yet