(I spent the past hour searching for visual evidence of Spencer Hawes's massive dunk. This post was supposed to entirely consist of said depiction. Said play got a standing ovation in the Ziller household. Even the cats were impressed.)

Will Spencer Hawes ever be something special? Will his fan base spread outside the borders of Sacramento? Will we ever get a goofy All-Star Game moment where he dribbles the ball up the court?

I don't know. Right now, Hawes is fighting for something: playing time. When he is named a starter next year or next January, will he continue to fight frenetically? Will he continue to work til he cannot work anymore on defense? If he adds this newfound explosion of energy to his game permanently, he can be special. He's got the skills. A good portion of defense is effort. Combining the two… 4 blocks and a steal in 25 minutes work doesn't seem so outlandish.

But the second Hawes rests on defense, he becomes just another Kings offensive-minded center. He doesn't have the supreme length or the instincts to rest on his laurels and make up the difference. He has to stay active, he has to be the most annoying center on the planet. (And he needs to act this way in the weight room, too. Getting stronger will make those fouls more meaningful — giving up two FTAs is infinitely better than a FGM and a FTA.)

If Hawes keeps up this commitment of effort, we cannot put a limit on who he'll become. He could be better than Brad. He could be better than Vlade. The kid's 19 years old, and he outplayed Pau Gasol down the stretch. I'd request a three-year fast-forward, but I have a feeling watching this kid grow into something will be fun.

Other retrospective notes: