CLEVELAND, Ohio — J.J. Hickson has seen the measuring tape up close, so he knows exactly how tall he is. He's not 7 feet, or even 6-11.
He's 6-9, and he knows at that height his future in the NBA is not as a center, but as a power forward. Too many centers in the league are much bigger and stronger for him to consistently compete at that position. So while Cavaliers coach Byron Scott admitted the move to start 7-0 Ryan Hollins at center the past two games was more about adding length to the rotation, it also allowed Hickson to move back to his natural spot at power forward.
And while Hickson's play at that position has been up-and-down this season, he realizes it's an adjustment he must make. In his first game moving back to power forward, Hickson had 17 points and 17 rebounds against New Jersey on Wednesday.
It took concentration to focus on crashing the boards for rebounds, he said.
"A lot of the plays we run for the four-man are on the perimeter," Hickson said. "I have to make a conscious effort to position myself by the basket."
Hickson said he learned much of what he knows about grabbing rebounds from former teammate Ben Wallace, now with the Detroit Pistons. At 6-9, Wallace also was an undersized center who was a dominant rebounder in his prime.
"The main thing I learned from Ben is how to position my body and knowing that it's a battle of feet to get the rebound," Hickson said. "It's a mix of technique and will to get the ball."
The fact Hickson is so focused on gathering rebounds now, after starting the season with low totals, is encouraging to Scott.
"He's come a long way in a short period of time," Scott said. "To the point where we were butting heads earlier, to now where he listens to everything I say. He's matured a lot in less than a year, and I think he'll continue to grow."
