I think the cost of Lowry and Scola pretty much nixed any chance of Miller. Im fine with Hill as the backup center for now. When he got time last year, he excelled.
Unfortunately Hill doesn't have the necessary defensive instincts to be that last line of defense. He didn't block a shot in summer league until the last game and one of the blocks was when he helped but the other was a flat footed block that was just a bad decision by the offensive player. Sikma was obviously referring to him getting in better position which can be learned but he seems to lack that quick jump ability. He is stronger than I originally thought even though he looks skinny but he needs to get even stronger and use that plus his length to his advantage. If he can be an ok defender and an above average offensive player then I'll take it.
I don't see Hill as a center but rather as a PF and a darn good one, he has the size and speed to matchup with those guys but centers might eat him alive this season.
Who are the backup Centers he would face? I don't see him holding his own against Gasol, Bynum, Aldridge, etc... He's just to light in the pants, if the 2nd unit is playing a fast pace game then he would be okay. But a halfcourt game in the playoffs with out extra weight/strength he would get murdered. Pros: * Athletic, Quick, Good Jumper, can block shots and rebound (played tough against Perkins and Garnett - check Celtics game in March) Cons: * Needs strength and increase bulk to hold up.
He needs to bulk up, but truth be told there aren't many centers that are real interior scoring threats, and considering he'll only be guarding backups I'm not too worried about it. Lakers- Bynum (is an offensive option but Yao will manhandle him) Mavs- Haywood and Chandler are offensive zeros Nuggets- Nene is a bad matchup for our entire team Blazers- Camby and Oden not much offense Spurs- Don't play a true center Jazz- Jefferson always torches us... and loses Thunder- No offensive centers Hornets- Okafor is limited offensively Suns- No real centers Celtics- No offensive centers Magic- Yao owns Dwight Howard Heat- Do they have a center Considering Yao will be playing 20-25 minutes a game, who are all of these centers that everybody is so afraid of. Hill and Hayes (depending on matchup) are perfectly capable of handling the backup center role. I would have liked the Rockets to get Chandler but I don't think not having a true center is the end of the world.
I havent seen the entire games, but from the highlights for both Hill and Patterson, almost everytime they score its off a good setup pass by Ish Smith or off a rebound....I havent noticed them creating their own shot that often. The reason this is significant is that although our offense is pretty strong, when we go cold there can be stretches where we need someone to score, and thats where we've been lacking...guys who can create their own shot. Wonder if anyone else sees the same thing.
So very agree. When Yao goes out, slide Scola to the center spot, put Hill/Patterson (whichever is showing more signs of "getting it") to the PF position. When Scola needs, a break, it's Chuck Hayes time. Hill is NOT a center.
Hill will be a decent backup C by the playoffs, certainly, and probably by Christmas, if they stick with this plan.
Scola is not a center either. Guess they are stuck for now. What happened to all of that glowing praise for Hill as a backup center with that (so-called) tremendous upside? The article talks about what I've seen from him hence my contention that the guy is a project they are hoping will develop someday.
Yes!! What people don't realize is Jordan Hill just got switch to the center position this summer (practically right after the draft). People on here just need to learn to be PATIENT!!! specially when it comes to a young big like Jordan Hill. He'll be a lot better come training camp, when he constantly will have to defend Yao and go against Hayes offensively! --RB
Their still waiting on Miller to decide. Hill will not make it as a center in the league. He would be a really good PF as early as the All-Star break if they were to get Miller.
In the aftermath on wiffing on Bosh, this is the most logical next step. By natural position, our frontcourt is: Yao, Anderson Scola, Patterson, Hayes, Hill, Jeffries, Alex Johnson Ariza, Battier, Budinger Simply put, that logjam's not going to work. Step 1 - Shift Hayes and Hill to the 5 Step 2 - Give minutes to Ariza and Chase at the 2 Step 3 - Try to put Patterson at the 3 Biggest step - Send the excess pieces out in a mega deal for a franchise player (Melo, Paul, Granger)
Let's how it goes. I think PP is more likely to do better at the 4 than Hill. Chuck will remain an important defensive player off the bench.
That's a good post. From what I have seen of Hill last season and then this summer, he has almost no offensive skills. Chuck Hayes is better on offense than Hill. I think the Rockets already know Hill will never be productive as a PF, so they are hoping he could maybe be our second or third string Center. It wouldn't surprise me if the Rockets were quietly trying to move Hill for something of value. Patterson looks much more comfortable at PF than Hill, and I think he and Jeffries will be getting minutes this year, and Hill will be our second or third string Center.
Bro, I hope you are right with that last part. I just don't think Hill has the stuff and I hope Morey moves him before other, less astute GMs fall out of love with his size and athleticism.
