Cavs’ Hickson can only improve

Akron Beacon Journal

INDEPENDENCE — One thing Cavaliers forward J.J. Hickson won’t have to worry about is a sophomore slump.

After an inconsistent and rocky first season, the first-round draft choice out of North Carolina State in 2008 can only get better. Used to getting by on pure athleticism in college, Hickson learned that the NBA is filled with athletic players with one significant difference — they have experience.

Couple that with the emphasis the Cavs put on defense, and you get a rookie player who was on the bench a lot.

Could things get worse? Certainly. He ended up sitting out the final weeks of the regular season and all of the postseason with a lingering back injury.

Given that confluence of events, it’s easy to see why Hickson, 21, is looking forward to showcasing his skills this year.

‘’Last year, I would say I was playing on eggshells with [coach] Mike Brown and his defense, but this year, I’m a lot more comfortable with the defense and I know a lot more,’’ he said. ‘’I know the ins and outs of the defense and the offense. I’m playing real comfortable right now.’’

During this preseason, Hickson’s play has been an eye-opener to coaches and fans. He’s averaging 12.8 points, 4.3 rebounds in 21 minutes per game.

What accounts for his improvement? Hickson will tell you the reason, first and foremost, is being healthy.

‘’The back is at 110 percent right now,’’ he said. ‘’I did a lot of rehab over the summer and I’m ready to go in the season.’’

He rested for much of the summer, then began hitting the weights. The result: Hickson looks stronger, plays with aggression and a lot more confidence. Where the power came from is obvious. The confidence? He got a little help from LeBron James, who took him under his wing the second half of the summer.

‘’Everywhere I went I had him with me because I knew the potential he had,’’ James said. ‘’And he’s definitely implementing everything he learned this summer from myself and himself.’’

Hickson said they worked on his low-post game and shooting form. The results can be seen in his improved mid-range jump shot.

‘’Before teams would dare him to shoot, and now he is shooting a lot better,’’ center Zydrunas Ilgauskas said.

The learning hasn’t stopped for Hickson either. With Shaquille O’Neal in a Cavs uniform, it’s only gotten more intense. O’Neal has stressed to Hickson the need for him to be consistent in his play.

‘’He’s a young kid who has a lot of raw talent. The good thing about him is he’s got a lot of good players to work with him,’’ O’Neal said. ‘’I was telling him you have to watch the so-called greats.

‘’You have to watch your so-called favorites and do what they do. Add a little bit of your own, then become the first J.J.’’

Ilgauskas said that Hickson’s current situation — being the fourth big man behind O’Neal, Anderson Varejao and himself —isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

‘’Sometimes it’s better for young players to play on better teams and not get as much time like he did last year, because everything is handled the right way,’’ Ilgauskas said. ‘’He sees how things are done. This is a good place for him to be.’’

None of this would matter if Hickson weren’t receptive to the knowledge and help being offered to him on and off the court. In short, he has grown up after having his share of problems last season.

‘’The maturity level has gone up in J.J. on the floor and off the floor to a certain degree,’’ Brown said. ‘’That’s not to say he was a kid last year.

‘’Yes, he was a young fellow and he did act his age, but just being around LeBron, who is a professional, helps anybody at that stage in their career.’’