Hill's Rookie Season Leaves Everybody Smiling (Pop Promises To Play Him More)

[duncan228]

Local piece on Hill. There's a photo gallery here (http://photos.indystar.com/galleries/slides/6453?page=1&template=default).

Ex-IUPUI star's rookie season leaves everybody smiling (http://www.indystar.com/article/20090522/SPORTS0607/905220379/1068/SPORTS06/Ex-IUPUI+star+s+rookie+season+leaves+everybody+smilin g)
Spurs coach promises to play Hill more next year.
By Jeff Rabjohns

George Hill learned many lessons in the NBA this season, including that a rookie needs to know his place -- even in the parking lot.

After an early season practice with the San Antonio Spurs, Hill came out to find his Escalade filled to the brim with foam packing peanuts, courtesy of his new teammates.

His offense? He was in All-Star center Tim Duncan's parking spot.

"I didn't think we even had 'spots' because they didn't have names on them," the former Broad Ripple High School and IUPUI star said recently while he was in town watching his youth league team play.

"I was always at the gym an hour or two before everybody, and I just parked closest to the door. I came out six hours later and I was like, 'What happened here?' "

Always good-natured, Hill laughed it off and went about his rookie season in the NBA.

An early entry candidate after his junior season at IUPUI, Hill became the school's only first-round NBA draft pick. But going to an established team like the Spurs with stars such as Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, Hill wasn't expected to play much.

After their first-round playoff loss to Dallas, coach Gregg Popovich said he wished he would have played Hill more. He promised to do so next season.

Hill, a 6-2 point guard, averaged 5.7 points, 1.8 assists and 2.1 rebounds in the regular season, and about the same in the playoffs. As important, he learned about the difference between the 82-game regular season and the postseason.

"There's more focus on that one game," Hill said while waiting for the first-grade basketball team he sponsors, G3 Progeny, to play at the Indy Southside Sports Academy.

"You have time to study other players. You have time to study the whole team, what their strengths and weaknesses are."

Hill showed he was more ready for the pros than many people expected. He scored in double figures in 10 of his first 17 games, with three 20-point performances, as the Spurs dealt with injuries in the backcourt.

The state's leading scorer as a high school senior, Hill was IUPUI's top offensive player in college. In the NBA, he already is making a name for himself as a defender.

"They're now talking about him becoming a great defensive player and how that's what he's going to make his living on," IUPUI coach Ron Hunter said.

"When George came into our program, he had no idea what defense was. For him to turn himself into a great defensive player says a lot about him and how hard he's worked."

Popovich said Hill will be part of the primary rotation next season.

"He's somebody that's going to be important to the Spurs both at the point guard and the off guard," Popovich said. "Obviously the pick-and-roll is big in the league and he's learning that offensively and defensively, but he's a fantastic defender. That's his major skill. He's learning to shoot the 3, and he's going to get better as he gets more experience."

Hill plans to spend part of his summer working out in Indianapolis. He wants a better jump shot.

He'll be sure to make time for the little guys, too.

"It's just a joy," said Hill, who recently had his first chance to watch his first-grade team play a full game. "I never had anyone as a mentor I could look up to start me off on the right foot when I was little.

"To see these kids wearing the GHill Progeny jersey and the headbands, it puts a smile on my face because it puts a smile on their face because it's giving them an opportunity."

[timvp]

Very good find :tu


After their first-round playoff loss to Dallas, coach Gregg Popovich said he wished he would have played Hill more. He promised to do so next season.Interesting. Pop has never publicly regretted his decision to not play Hill more. I wonder if this info is via Hill or did the writer talk to Pop.


"He's somebody that's going to be important to the Spurs both at the point guard and the off guard," Popovich said. "Obviously the pick-and-roll is big in the league and he's learning that offensively and defensively, but he's a fantastic defender. That's his major skill. He's learning to shoot the 3, and he's going to get better as he gets more experience."My last question would probably be answered by figuring out whether or not this is a new quote. Looks like an old, recycled quote but I didn't find it right away on a Google search.

[lurker23]

Great article, thanks for posting.




"When George came into our program, he had no idea what defense was. For him to turn himself into a great defensive player says a lot about him and how hard he's worked."

Popovich said Hill will be part of the primary rotation next season.

"He's somebody that's going to be important to the Spurs both at the point guard and the off guard," Popovich said. "Obviously the pick-and-roll is big in the league and he's learning that offensively and defensively, but he's a fantastic defender. That's his major skill. He's learning to shoot the 3, and he's going to get better as he gets more experience."

Hill plans to spend part of his summer working out in Indianapolis. He wants a better jump shot.


:tu to everything in the quoted section. We'll see what comes of the season, but it sounds like Pop is envisioning a similar rotation for Hill to what many of us have been suggestion for a while: 10-15 minutes as the backup PG, plus 5-15 minutes in the SG position, with a key emphasis on defense.

[NewJerSpur]

When you start to stray Pop, just come to ST and take a look at my avatar.

[Obstructed_View]

Interesting. Pop has never publicly regretted his decision to not play Hill more. I wonder if this info is via Hill or did the writer talk to Pop.

If you find a quote, please let me know so I can email it to Randy Galloway.

[angelbelow]

nice! great read!

[raspsa]

A lot of fans were upset at Pop for his handling of GH.. some were even convinced that Pop had lost faith in the rookie. That was just Pop being Pop and GH having to pay his rookie dues. Unless you're a rookie like TD or TP you're going to go thru a similar learning cycle. Almost like the military in some ways. Break the rookie down, teach him humility and patience then go about rebuilding him.

[spursbird]

After their first-round playoff loss to Dallas, coach Gregg Popovich said he wished he would have played Hill more. He promised to do so next season.
I doubt it. See how Pop treated Beno when he was a Sophomore.

[poop]

good article. i hope what pop said is true

[Ice009]

Well we all wanted Hill in the playoff rotation and Pop should have played him from the get go.

Hill showed he is tough and played his ass off. Mason Jr on the other hand vanished.

Anyway Pop playing Hill next season is a good thing because it means DEFENSE could be the no 1 priority again. I thought Hill was awesome on D for some good stretches last season.

I like Hill at 10-15 minutes at PG and 10-15 minutes at shooting guard like a poster mentioned above because of the defense he brings.

[Bukefal]

Local piece on Hill. There's a photo gallery here (http://photos.indystar.com/galleries/slides/6453?page=1&template=default).

Ex-IUPUI star's rookie season leaves everybody smiling (http://www.indystar.com/article/20090522/SPORTS0607/905220379/1068/SPORTS06/Ex-IUPUI+star+s+rookie+season+leaves+everybody+smilin g)
Spurs coach promises to play Hill more next year.
By Jeff Rabjohns



After an early season practice with the San Antonio Spurs, Hill came out to find his Escalade filled to the brim with foam packing peanuts, courtesy of his new teammates.



:lol Is this some custom? I remember Amundson doing that to Shaq about a month ago.

Nice read! I hope we can see much of him in the future

[tonylongoriafan]

i like george hill

[manufan10]

I saw a video at the Kings practice facility, and they filled a rookie's car with popcorn. That is more harmful than packaging peanuts, but still funny.

[Dex]

I saw a video at the Kings practice facility, and they filled a rookie's car with popcorn. That is more harmful than packaging peanuts, but still funny.

:wow That would suck. Packing peanuts would just be annoying, but that shit would make your car smell like popcorn for weeks!

[DPG21920]

So we have Pop and Hollinger admitting they were wrong in the same week. Is it 2010?

Hill had a successful season, and unlike everyone else he did not let Pop's whacky rotations completely derail his attitude and effectiveness. He went through some patches where he struggled but for the most part, he made an impact when he came into games no matter how many minutes or what position he played.

It would still not surprise me to see him traded though if the right piece comes along.

[spurspokesman]

good. Finally

[manufan10]

YKP-ysd4VEU

[John_C]

Sheesh, I won't take Pop's word outright. Better wait and see if he stands up to what he's saying now. Remember when they drafted him he said that GHill would be someone who would be able to help outright on the get go. And Hill did prove him right during the early games only for Pop to screw the kid for the rest of the season.

[z0sa]

Hill should have averaged 25 mins a game against the Mavericks.

[John_C]

I guess since Pop has 4 rings and we don't. We didn't know what we were talking about...

Well since Pop's 4 rings did not really make him the wiser to play GHill during the playoffs just proves that he's not correct at all times.

[tomtom]

At least he finally admits to his mistakes. Good news to hear Hill should be a bigger part of the team next season

[Bruno]

Hill has had a very good rookie season. I hope Spurs won't trade him.

[MoSpur]

Pop knew he made a mistake in not playing Hill when he finally did play Hill against Dallas and saw how he performed.

[Spurs_9_20_21]

Finally! At least Pop says he is playing Hill more. Well see if he follows his words. :flag:

[024]

i expect good things from hill. he definitely has the talent to play even if it's just to fill parker's time and chase around elite point guards.

[Summers]

http://photos.indystar.com/photos/2009/5/21/269170/show.jpg

Is there anything cuter than that?

[HarlemHeat37]

Like I said earlier, this was just rookie treatment, that's it..everything that Pop has said has indicated that he loves Hill as a player, and there's no reason he shouldn't with George's hard-working defensive personality..

He will be a big part of this team..he could get traded for the right piece, but that could happen to anybody, so it doesn't really mean anything..

He's going to be a special player IMO..he doesn't even know how to use his athleticism at this level yet, so he's going to get even better in that regard..he's also still learning how to play the PG position at the NBA level..he's already a good NBA defender, so there's a start..

[Spurs_9_20_21]

http://photos.indystar.com/photos/2009/5/21/269170/show.jpg

Is there anything cuter than that?
Is that Hill when he was younger?? If it is.....awwwww he's so cute

[duncan228]

Is that Hill when he was younger?? If it is.....awwwww he's so cute

No, it's one of the kids on the team Hill sponsers. The link to the photo gallery of Hill and more kids is in the first post.


Progeny's Michael Saunders, Jr., 6, drives the ball up the court during the team's game Monday. The Progeny team sponsored by George Hill played Monday, May 11, 2009 at Indiana Student Sport Association on the south side.

[GSH]

Pop talked like he loved Drew Gooden when they brought him in, too. There was even talk of a long-term relationship, becuase of the kind of player and person he was. And before the end of the season, I kept finding myself thinking, "What could he possibly know about Gooden now, that he didn't know before?"

That's kind of how I feel about this article. Hill wasn't just in the doghouse - he was in the toilet inside the doghouse. So what could Pop possibly know about him now, that he didn't know 6 weeks ago?

Now that I think about it, Pop also said that Manu was permanently off the bench and in the starting lineup. That lasted, what? Two games - maybe three? I know people are allowed to change their minds, but a number of things this season just felt erratic. (And, please, they weren't all predicated on injuries.) The one constant seemed to be Michael Finley.

[DAF86]

Hill's Rookie Season Leaves Everybody Smiling (Pop Promises To Play Him More)

Son of a...

[ducks]

has to play more
less manu more hill

[Sean Cagney]

has to play more
less manu more hill

????????? Manu is the problem now? Are you serious? Less Vaughn and less Finley, but less Manu? Yeah RIGHT.

Manu needs to rest some yes during the year, but he is one of the best we have out there in big game situations.

[ducks]

????????? Manu is the problem now? Are you serious? Less Vaughn and less Finley, but less Manu? Yeah RIGHT.

Manu needs to rest some yes during the year, but he is one of the best we have out there in big game situations.

less manu to keep him healthy for playoffs

[Sean Cagney]

less manu to keep him healthy for playoffs

Oh okay, I see what you mean there then, just asking you Ducks!

[Crookshanks]

George Hill is one of the reasons we need to keep Bruce around for at least another year. George needs a good mentor to continue his development as a defensive player - and who better to teach him than Bruce?!

[Biggems]

i want to re-sign Hairston too.

Hill and Hairston together working with Bruce all offseason can only be a positive thing for us.

I would also like to see Hill and Hairston working with Chip everyday, just look what it has done for Tony.

[Indazone]

Manu will be fine next season. Finally recovered from his surguries and his hairline fracture. He'll be good as new.

[NFGIII]

George Hill is one of the reasons we need to keep Bruce around for at least another year. George needs a good mentor to continue his development as a defensive player - and who better to teach him than Bruce?!

I think that is a good reason for having Bruce around. If he doesn't fit as a player, which I don't think will happen, then as a coach and mentor to those guys. He has a lot of knowledge to pass on to our younger players.


i want to re-sign Hairston too.

Hill and Hairston together working with Bruce all offseason can only be a positive thing for us.

I would also like to see Hill and Hairston working with Chip everyday, just look what it has done for Tony.

I'm hoping that they bring back Hairston and see what happens. At times he showed promise but needed more PT to develop.


Manu will be fine next season. Finally recovered from his surguries and his hairline fracture. He'll be good as new.

I sure hope you're right. Time will tell though. His style of play has taken its toll on his body but I still believe hi has 3 - 4 years left in the tank if healthy. Pop needs to continue to manage his minutes to keep him fresh for the playoffs - just like Ducks stated.

[SenorSpur]

Beside Parker and Manu, Hill is the only other player currently on the roster, who can break down defenses and get to the rim.

It scares me to think that we almost lost this kid as part of that failed Marcus Camby trade. While Camby could've helped (when healthy), that trade would've further plunged the Spurs deeper into old-age fraternity. Moreover, that trade would've taken one of their youngest and most athletic defenders off of a roster that has far too little of both.

[ivanfromwestwood]

pop did good by not playing GH late in the season. everyone including pop knew we didnt have a chance to win a title. i knew that back when manu went out. i think putting a chip on GH's shoulder will drive him this off season. prove his worth. same can be said about hariston.

[mattyc]

After their first-round playoff loss to Dallas, coach Gregg Popovich said he wished he would have played Hill more. He promised to do so next season.

..and I wish Pop recognised this a month ago :wakeup

[Obstructed_View]

pop did good by not playing GH late in the season. everyone including pop knew we didnt have a chance to win a title. i knew that back when manu went out. i think putting a chip on GH's shoulder will drive him this off season. prove his worth. same can be said about hariston.

Sorry, but that's complete BS. If Pop didn't think the Spurs had a chance, then he would have rested Duncan and Parker as soon as Manu went out. You don't shorten your rotation in garbage time, you empty the bench.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

After their first-round playoff loss to Dallas, coach Gregg Popovich said he wished he would have played Hill more.

Oh, so NOW he works it out!? Pop should read more ST - we were telling him to play more Hill with 6 weeks left in the season.

[Avitus1]

George Hill!!!

Good read.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

If Hill demonstrates he can deliver at the 2 we can dump Manu's fragile X contract and use the money elsewhere.

[Obstructed_View]

If Hill demonstrates he can deliver at the 2 we can dump Manu's fragile X contract and use the money elsewhere.

Yeah, projecting him to be Manu isn't unrealistic at all. :lol

[Cant_Be_Faded]

Yeah, projecting him to be Manu isn't unrealistic at all. :lol

I'm not. Not at all. I mean if he's sufficient, we can use the money elsewhere. We're never going to have another Manu on this team for the rest of it's existence. We should all be glad he helped us the way he did. But the more I think about it, he's a liability now, and this is a business.
Maybe we can use the money to sign a legitimate free agent big, instead of panning for gold in the river for the Xth straight year of Duncan's Reign.

[SenorSpur]

After their first-round playoff loss to Dallas, coach Gregg Popovich said he wished he would have played Hill more. He promised to do so next season.


Ya think!

That has got to be the ultimate "A-Ha" statement from Pop. Oh, great Master of the Obvious. :rolleyes

Why Pop deliberated over something that was so obvious to the average armchair Spurs fan is incomprehensible.

[poop]

Ya think!

That has got to be the ultimate "A-Ha" statement from Pop. Oh, great Master of the Obvious. :rolleyes

Why Pop deliberated over something that was so obvious to the average armchair Spurs fan is incomprehensible.

exactly this is a very disturbing and ominous sign from pop.

[z0sa]

Ya think!

That has got to be the ultimate "A-Ha" statement from Pop. Oh, great Master of the Obvious. :rolleyes

Why Pop deliberated over something that was so obvious to the average armchair Spurs fan is incomprehensible.

It's honestly quite sad that he isn't under much more criticism if you ask me. Its obvious Pop's stubbornness will lead to misevaluations of our talent and how it should be appropriately used.

[manufor3]

Oh, so NOW he works it out!? Pop should read more ST - we were telling him to play more Hill with 6 weeks left in the season.

[DPG21920]

Oh, so NOW he works it out!? Pop should read more ST - we were telling him to play more Hill with 6 weeks left in the season.

If Pop read ST more & followed the advice, he would have:

1) Fired himself
2) Traded Manu
3) Traded Parker
4) Played Bruce 48 minutes per game
5) Played Pops 48 minutes per game
6) Killed himself
7) Beat Bonner to a bloody pulp
8) Returned his championship rings because he did not deserve them for having Duncan

[BWS-1994]

If Pop read ST more & followed the advice, he would have:

1) Fired himself
2) Traded Manu
3) Traded Parker
4) Played Bruce 48 minutes per game
5) Played Pops 48 minutes per game
6) Killed himself
7) Beat Bonner to a bloody pulp
8) Returned his championship rings because he did not deserve them for having Duncan

:rollin

How about Fin?

[DPG21920]

:rollin

How about Fin?

9) Had man sex with him while they howled naked into the moonlight.

[SCdac]

I just hope our early vacation from basketball sends some serious signals to the Spurs coaching staff, higher ups, and team scouts...

And not just about George Hill, but about the whole roster, minus the big three. Hill was one of the only spurs to get a dunk on a fastbreak in our short PO appearance. An "easy bucket". Not that "easy buckets" and dunks are everything, but a high percentage shot is a high percentage shot. Spurs couldn't get high percentage shots to save their lives. Just a perimeter game out there, jump shot after jumpshot. Not to mention, a fast break like that is usually spawned from a defensive stop, might as well field players who can capitalize from it... Hill I can see being our Dahntay Jones - solid/pesky defender, athletic, fast, capable of dunking in traffic, will play the 1 or 2.

Nene Hilario, Kenyon Martin, and Chris Anderson make our frontcourt look so weak and old, it's sort of sad... because they're not necessarily "all stars" individually. But as a unit, they are really solid. They're active, mobile, quick in the lane, offensively inclined, and not slouches on defense. I don't know what's more alarming, how bad the Mavs beat us, or how bad the Nuggets went on to the beat the Mavs. If we we're having difficulty with the Mavs wildcards like JJ Barea or Brandon Bass, or if a scrub like Ryan Hollins can actually give us problems in a PO game... then we ARE in trouble.

Ditch the "role player" theme for a minute, and start going after potential stars or established stars. And if we already have potential stars, play them accordingly. It's called development on the NBA floor in a Spurs uniform, not in Austin, not in Italy. Too many Ime Udoka's or Matt Bonner's will kill us, even if they're killing us at a relatively cheap cost. I'd take a few more losses per season (ala giving younger players big minutes), if it meant becoming more of the powerhouse we used to be.

[Fabbs]

Local piece on Hill. There's a photo gallery here (http://photos.indystar.com/galleries/slides/6453?page=1&template=default).

Ex-IUPUI star's rookie season leaves everybody smiling (http://www.indystar.com/article/20090522/SPORTS0607/905220379/1068/SPORTS06/Ex-IUPUI+star+s+rookie+season+leaves+everybody+smilin g)
Spurs coach promises to play Hill more next year.
By Jeff Rabjohns

After their first-round playoff loss to Dallas, coach Gregg Popovich said he wished he would have played Hill more. He promised to do so next season.


Kori,
As to the above part of Jeffs article, I telephoned Mr Rabjohns and asked if that was an exact quote or not. Jeff said not only was it accurate, but that Pop said much more on this exact subject, the he (Jeff) had about 4 paragraphs of notes on this exact comment(s) by Pop on regretting not playing Hill, and the only reason he did not quote it all was for space reasons, as you know you jounalists sometimes have to condense a quote. I told Jeff i think ST would love to have the whole shebang, all 4 paragraphs if he is indeed at liberty to disclose. He said sure, but that he was on a deadline and would get back to me later. That was last Mon July 20th.

Now I'm thinking maybe the exchage would be better if it was given from one "pro" (Jeff) to another (You).
???

Anywho i think, make that i know its a topic we all at ST would love to hear the whole thing.

[jdiggy0424]

imagine our lineup in a couple of years with parker going out and hill coming in. future is bright

[Dr Cox]

hill will be the best wing defender on the team i think

[lefty]

Thanks Duncan228

I've been waiting for the good news.

If Pop does play Hill more, and with our newest guys........... :flag::lobt2:

[DaBears]

You think POP would ever completely flip out and start GHILL and have TP come off the bench.. Give the bench extra fire power.

[EmantheSpursFan]

You think POP would ever completely flip out and start GHILL and have TP come off the bench.. Give the bench extra fire power.

Only way i see Tony coming off the bench is if he got injured and it was his first game back from injury and he was only coming in for scrap minutes. (kinda like Jameer Nelson did in the finals)

[elbamba]

Hill showed in summer league that he has earned the right to more playing time. He needs to follow up with a solid preseason and keep working on the jump shot. He hits that and then he becomes similar to Tony in that it will be impossible to guard the Spurs PGs

[DaBears]

Understanding this thread is about GHILL i couldnt help think about who should start this season MG or JR. Should Manu come off the bench if so he could be the best ever 6th man in the history of the NBA. Whats everyone else's thoughts.

[DaBears]

Bench:

PG-HILL
PF-BLAIR
SF/PF-HASLIP
PF/C-BONNER
PF/C-MAHANI
SF-GINOBLI
SG-FINLEY
SG-MASON JR

[DaBears]

STARTERS:

PG-PARKER
SG-HAIRSTON
SF-JEFFERSON
PF-MCDyess
C-DUNCAN

[DaBears]

In that scenario bench might be better than starters