Hill is 6'10 with a 7'1.5 wingspan and a 35.5 vertical, these numbers are great for a PF, but a tad bit undersized for a "Center" which going into the off season the rockets really do need to make a priority to get, because Hayes and Andersen ain't cutting it! Brandon Haywood should be on top of the Rockets priority list, right behind the possible acquisition of Bosh! --RB
He has enough size to be a center, particularly if he succeeds in keeping that ridiculous vertical after he bulks up. His man defense is also adequate now and will probably improve. What I don't think he has, is elite shotblocking instincts. His numbers (nba+college) are pretty underwhelming in that department considering the physical tools that he has. However, I don't think that shotblocking is important enough to not play him at 5. And we have some shotblocking and length from other positions also, mainly Battier, Jeffries, Ariza and now possibly Patterson.
Hill can get some minutes at the 5,but we need another center. Perkins' success in Boston shows the importance of having size against long/strong players. Hill is smart,but he is raw and does get in quick foul trouble at times. Chuck can't be expected to be a full time backup at the 5. Luis should be playing at the 4 exclusively.
We would still be undersized if we were to face a team like the Lakers, Celtics, and the freaking Kings(Dalembert, Cousins, Whiteside) But who knows maybe your right, Maybe Jordan Hill has bulked up enough to play the back-up C, he has shown the ability to finish over bigger players... The main thing that bothers me is that the only 7'0 players on our team besides Yao, are Andersen and Jeffries... --RB
If Yao can play, we have enough size. If not, we are not contenders anyway. It's too early to say anything about Lakers and Celtics big man depth. Bynum, Garnett, Perkins have their own health issues. And the freaking Kings have to show something on the court before we are going to start to plan our acquisitions on what they "potentially" can do. It's not like anybody is scared of the Nets, either, and they will have the biggest frontcourt in this league.
Hill has the height and size, but he would need to become much more of a defensive presence, able to protect the paint when Yao is on the bench. Right now, he seems better suited as a weakside defender, a four that would complement Yao nicely once he gains another season of experience. However, he's not the answer for the backup 5 if the Rockets are serious about making a championship run in 2010-11. For that, we need more immediate, veteran help.
He can. Big men have shrunk recently, Yes some teams do have big tall 7 footers on their bench like Utah and Orlando...and some teams go out there with two PFs basically. I think it will change on a game by game basis.
I guess he could, but how do u knock off the king of the hill? When La brings in odom and slides gasol to the 5, do u like hill matching up with gasol? If we can agree that even in his advanced age, garnett is still a better defender than hill, how do you matchup? Top that off, the only guy who can half way matchup with odom is jeffries. So when they move gasol down and bring in odom, do u feel comfortable with jeffries/hill as 4-5 combo?
Hill will play some 5 but hes still developing and has a long way to go.. u wana depend on trying to go far into the playoffs on that? didnt think so.. we're gona sign a veteran backup C at the worst this FA if we cant get Bosh (which isnt looking too good at the moment)
You guys are really reaching. Hill is not a center. He lacks the size and strength. Saying he can play center will not make him a center. We still need size and it sucks to have to look to so-so big men like Haywood for help. Haywood bombed in Dallas. Man, i have grown so tired of waiting to see what Yao is going to do. Mark my words, Yao will not play a full season and we will be right back where we are today.
http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=187752 The Rockets believe Yao be limited 20-25 mpg for the rest of his career. The backup C would have 23-28 minutes. I would consider the backup C more important, if they are playing almost 30 mpg, while Yao is playing a lesser role.
Yao is going to see minimal minutes at the start of the season and will be brought along very slowly. The team can't get in the hole to quickly when their fighting to make the playoffs. They need a veteran rim protector with size in the worst way or we will see the same layup drill by oppossing teams like we saw this last season. Hill and Patterson should help, but its not going to be enough in my opinion.
Agree, people don't realize this. Yao is not going to get the same minutes as he's recieved in the past. The quality of the backup center is critical.
Didn't PP play some 5 as a Soph? Also, if people say Hill is not heavy enough to play the 5 at 6-10 235, let's look at some of the draft prospects people wanted us to draft as a 5 with #14 pick: Whiteside 7-0 227 Udoh 6-10 237 Aldridge 6-10 235 Sanders 6-11 222 Orton 6-10 269 They are all pretty close to Hill's weight, except Orton (but everyone said he is too fat).
Hill can play the five, he will need more experience and probably some one on one tips from Yao and Hayes but he has enough tools to more then serviceable as a backup center.
