[Chron Blog] Don't overlook Hill's growth

Besides Hill's improvement in RA's eyes it is still the amount pt Hill is now getting. The more minutes he gets the more experience he is gaining. He has to learn by playing more minutes and learning from his mistakes.

 

I was extremely impressed with Hill's defense down the stretch. But he is wildly inconsistent. There were multiple plays where he came down, fumbled the ball around, and lost it when he should have just went up and dunked it or passed out of traffic instead of playing with the ball. And then there were a couple plays where he took the 15 footer that was like screeching on a chalkboard for me. He just does not have a natural feel for the game and does goofy things out there. But he definitely has natural tools and in games like last night where he actually applies himself and understands what is going on defensively, he is a huge difference maker. I only wished he got it all the time. Maybe this is just a young player developing. Maybe it's just a player that is slow mentally. I don't know which at this point. But he did look terrific defending Pau and helping in the post last night. If he can continue to do that, then I am all for giving him Hayes minutes and bringing Hayes off the bench as a situational specialist. I hope he continues improving.

 

I was thinking he was playing more so like a poor mans Miki Moore!!!! Stromile might be fudging it a bit!!

 

At least everyone agrees he has been improving and is getting deserved playing time.
With the key boards Hill grabbed last night and his overall performance on both ends of the floor, he had a solid game and contributed greatly to the rockets win.
How many more games like this does he need before he starts over Hayes?
Or are Hayes and Miller so dependable (entrenched with the coach) that Hill won’t get a chance to start this season, barring injury?
Is it too late to even bother talking about Hill starting with Yao coming back on the 7th, tentatively?

With only 2 games left before Yao's return Jordan must have solid if not great games to firm up his place in the rotation. No doubt Yao will be rusty and will have to get back into form, but hopefully this will eat into Hayes minutes not Hills.

 

it has been said that he has small hands and it shows when he receives the ball in traffic, I see this as his only physical weakness, hopefully he can improve a little a la Yao by catching tennis balls or something.

That 15 footer is in his repertoire, and if or when he starts making it he will turn into a stud offensively. Now to become a stud defensively he only needs to learn team defense. What I liked the most about last night, aside from the defense he played on Gasol, is how Odom’s big night came to a halt after Jordan started defending him, he had the quickness to deny him the lane and the strength and length to deny him the post. It was sweet watching that!

 

I agree he can hit the 15 footer. But he doesn't take it in the flow. You can tell he's trying to figure out what to do and he just kinda pops it. It's not smooth. He's still not used to the speed and flow of the game. Maybe this is just lack of minutes. I hope so. But he does need to be able to hit that 15 footer and then after that he needs to be able to upfake the 15 footer and take one dribble past defenders flying out to challenge the jumper, and go in and dunk it. When I see him hit that 15 footer consistently to the point where the defense has to react, and then when I see him upfake it, and go in and cram it after the defense overreacts to his jumper, I will get excited.

I can see pieces of his game. I just don't know if he can put it all together. Didn't notice his work on Odom as much as his work on Pau and his helping off in the paint.

 

That is right, we can say it hasn’t been in the flow of the offense, but is not like he is forcing it, 90% of the time he shoots it when he is left alone completely, it’s time for him to get consistent with those, although I think is a question of confidence and not of ability. When we see him make the 15 footer that other thing you want to see most likely will just come naturally to him.

The Odom sequence came late in the 3rd.

 

Nobody is saying he cant play,but the concern is can he do this on a consistent basis?? It is not easy to play a full season with as much energy and bounce it requires for him to be productive. He must have a hell of a motor to sustain this type of play through out the season.He can do it, but only a player can push that button.....not a coach (nor a fan) can dictate that, he has to want to be that type of player......But its just one game but i do look forward to see how he uses this game to spring board him into either a new and improved hill or the inconsistent player he tends to be most of the time..............IT IS WRITTEN.

 

The kid is slowly starting to get some confidence in himself and he's bringing the intensity (key). He really has true size and great athletism.

 

I think there is some merit to Hill's PT tied towards player development, but it's not like it's Adelman's only concern when he makes substitutions. First off, I'm sure Adelman is using some of Morey's stats, not just the box score, to evaluate Hill. He may get points and boards, but who he got them, how he defended and made the right decisions surely factors in as well. Not to mention how Hill is responding in practices and such.

I can understand the idea that if you set low expectations for a player, and give rewards as such, then you may only get those low expectations met.

And of course, he also wants to make sure the other players are getting thier due, and that we are putting the best players on the floor for the game we're currently in. And of course, sometimes he'll put the wrong guy out there.

I was impressed though with how he played in the closing minutes. I was particulary impressed with how he knocked the ball away from Pau on a rebound. That was a play he didn't have to make.

 

This is one place RA has an advantage over JVG. After those terrible defensive plays in first half , Hill may not see the floor again in the next 5 games under JVG. RA let him learn on the court.

 

We heard that at the time of the trade and I'm convinced, now, that it's bogus. His hands are excellent. His problem is lack of experience, not his hands. Hell, he snatched a one handed board during the second half against Dallas that had me with my mouth hanging open, going "What? I didn't think he could do that!" Jordan can make those kinds of plays, and he'll continue to improve, in my opinion.

 

Couldn't agree more, Hill has been on the upswing for a while now. It's entirely up to him on how good he wants to be.

 

Just think how good he will be after a summer with Hakeem.

 

I surprised he only had 4 boards in last nights game. Maybe they were just timely but he seemed to be a great job getting postition on Pau. The jump hook is falling, his face up game is improving, I'm really seeing a lot more upside to him than I did last year.

 

Biggest thing is he kept Pau off the offensive glass. A couple times yesterday, Pau was able to tip the ball away from Hayes. Not blaming Chuck -- he did what he's supposed to do yesterday; can't expect a 6'5 guy with limited hops to box out a player like Pau Gasol effectively.

 

Hill has small hands. Men with small hands have limited growth.

 

He'll be better than Landry if he continues his steady rate of growth. He has an innate physical advantage over Landry.

 

I do too my friend.........