Mike Monroe's Instant Analysis

[duncan228]

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA062708.4D.BKNmonroe.spurs.45117fe.html

Mike Monroe's Instant Analysis

Express-News staff writer Mike Monroe breaks down the Spurs' draft.

All you need to know about George Hill, the player the Spurs drafted in the first round of Thursday's NBA draft, is this: There was a celebration in the Spurs' draft night war room when the Houston Rockets made Frenchman Nicolas Batum the 25th selection of the first round, leaving Hill to the Spurs.

Anyone within a mile or two of the Spurs' practice facility, where the basketball operations staff gathered to make the picks, would have heard the groaning and cursing had the Rockets snatched the guard from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis from the Spurs' draft night grasp.

Hill, you see, is no loaf of bread. The Spurs have a recent history of picking first-rounders they have no intention of signing for a season or two. Popovich likens this to baking these prospects in an oven to make sure they're ready for the NBA.

Hill, who recently turned 22, requires no additional heat. Popovich, a discerning gourmet, believes his newest player is a perfectly risen soufflé.

Unless you are a fan of small college basketball, you probably hadn't heard of Hill when NBA commissioner David Stern announced the Spurs had picked him. But Hill will get a chance to be point guard Tony Parker's backup, and right away.

The term “impact player” is overused each draft season. The Spurs haven't even hinted they had drafted in impact player for the past seven years. The last pick they believed capable of making an immediate difference: Parker, in 2001.

Now, Popovich promises that Hill will make the Spurs better next season.

[T Park]

Good lord.

Was this guy seriously that loved around the league? Or just this team? :lol

[dknights411]

All you need to know about George Hill, the player the Spurs drafted in the first round of Thursday's NBA draft, is this: There was a celebration in the Spurs' draft night war room when the Houston Rockets made Frenchman Nicolas Batum the 25th selection of the first round, leaving Hill to the Spurs.


Meanwhile at Spurstalk, the sky was falling!:downspin:

[remingtonbo2001]

Makes you wonder if the Spurs hit a gem?

What will Buford's critics be saying if Hill becomes a solid rotational player?

[Buddy Holly]

This will be very similar to Tony and Tinsley with Hill and Chalmers.

[T Park]

If it winds up that way, thats fine with me :)

[Blackjack]

For Pop to say he expects a rookie to make the team better next year...

It's hard for me to not believe him.

[bigdog]

Pop tends to not like younger players, especially rookies, so for him to seem this excited about Hill, I'm excited too.

[Spurtacus]

I wish I had their game film to analyze. They certainly see something in this kid!

[Mr. Body]

Hill, who recently turned 22, requires no additional heat. Popovich, a discerning gourmet, believes his newest player is a perfectly risen soufflé.

That's just awful. Awful.

[Budkin]

Man the Spurs FO and Pop were really high on this guy huh? CIA all the way methinks.

[xtremesteven33]

im so excited to see this kid play

[easjer]

Makes you wonder if the Spurs hit a gem?

What will Buford's critics be saying if Hill becomes a solid rotational player?

"It's about damn time RC got one right. He really needed to prove himself in this draft and he did it. Thank God, because we really needed a solid back up!"

I never mind when the Spurs prove me wrong in a way that results in a positive outcome for the team. I like my crow roasted though.

[foodie2]

Hill, you see, is no loaf of bread. The Spurs have a recent history of picking first-rounders they have no intention of signing for a season or two. Popovich likens this to baking these prospects in an oven to make sure they're ready for the NBA.

Hill, who recently turned 22, requires no additional heat. Popovich, a discerning gourmet, believes his newest player is a perfectly risen soufflé.

Despite the horrendous mixed food metaphor, I'm getting excited about Hill myself.

[tp2021]

That's just awful. Awful.

How come? did you find it in bad taste?

[Mr. Body]

How come? did you find it in bad taste?

It's horrendous writing.

[tp2021]

It's horrendous writing.

mine was a pun. bit of a reach, i suppose.

[Mr. Body]

mine was a pun. bit of a reach, i suppose.

Ah. Much better than the line itself, at least. The article reeks of putting lipstick on the pig. Not the player - George Hill is fine - but the situation.

[Supergirl]

Spurs never speak this confidently about a draft pick. Wow.

Spurs have certainly picked out talent EVERYONE ELSE IN THE LEAGUE OVER LOOKED before. As in, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. So it should surprise no one if they did it again.

[Bruno]

Spurs never speak this confidently about a draft pick. Wow.


Agree, it's really surprising to see Pop and RC being that high on a player. They should have seen something special in Hill.

[Spurs Brazil]

San Antonio Spurs Grade: C

Round 1: George Hill (26)

Round 2: Malik Hairston (48), James Gist (57)

Analysis: The Spurs are one of the best-drafting teams in the league, so I'm wary of criticizing them. But sometimes a team can be too clever for its own good. Hill is a nice player, but I don't believe he's a better point guard than Mario Chalmers.



Hairston is a nice pick at No. 48. He's solid at just about everything; he could make the team as a defender and spot-up shooter. Gist is a great athlete, but I'm not sure he's got what it takes to stick.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2008/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=DraftGrades-080627

[picnroll]

This will be very similar to Tony and Tinsley with Hill and Chalmers.
Chalmers is mediocre and vastly overrated. He'll be lucky to make it out of D-league for a few 10 days.

[Mr. Body]

Chalmers is mediocre and vastly overrated. He'll be lucky to make it out of D-league for a few 10 days.

I love how whoever the Spurs pick is the best player of all time and whoever they pass on is a terrible slag.

[picnroll]

Ah. Much better than the line itself, at least. The article reeks of putting lipstick on the pig. Not the player - George Hill is fine - but the situation.

Mr Body spending so much time as a draft guru, dumping on Pop's selection. Soon all to come crashing down.

Pop>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Mr. Body

[picnroll]

I love how whoever the Spurs pick is the best player of all time and whoever they pass on is a terrible slag.

I've thought Chalmers was vastly overrated and wanted the Spurs to pick a dog with fleas first forever.

[Mr. Body]

If you're saying he makes more money than me, then you're correct. If you're saying Buford (who is the GM, by the way) got the proper value considering what was around him, then no, you are not correct.

[Mr. Body]

I've thought Chalmers was vastly overrated and wanted the Spurs to pick a dog with fleas first forever.

Dogging Chalmers because he's not a Spur is plain stupid.

[picnroll]

Dogging Chalmers because he's not a Spur is plain stupid.
So you think he'll make the cut?

[Mr. Body]

So you think he'll make the cut?

I have no idea. But right now he's no better or worse than Hill and I hope both succeed.

[picnroll]

I have no idea. But right now he's no better or worse than Hill and I hope both succeed.

He's better or worse and in Pop's opinion clearly worse.

[td4mvp21]

This makes me feel better. Hopefully I'll look like the stupidest person ever after this guy starts playing.