duncan228
07-16-2009, 11:59 PM
Spurs' Hill enjoying summer with a swagger (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Spurs_Hill_enjoying_summer_with_a_swagger.html)
Jeff McDonald
LAS VEGAS — In the most superficial of ways, the George Hill who walked into the UNLV basketball complex for this year's NBA Summer League was the same George Hill who showed up last year.
He's still 6-foot-2, still weighs 190 pounds. He's still got the same freak-show wingspan and the same impish smile.
Yet in the manner that counts most in his quest to be a No. 2 point guard the Spurs can count on, this George Hill is nothing like that George Hill.
“He's got a swagger,” said Spurs assistant coach Don Newman, who is running the summer league squad. “When a guy comes out and starts having success, they get that swagger back. That's what you're seeing from George.”
Entering his second year in the league, Hill was bent on proving he could be a capable backup to All-Star Tony Parker at the point.
Three games in, his point is taken.
Hill scored 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting and had nine assists Thursday as the Spurs defeated Oklahoma City 85-76 at UNLV's Thomas & Mack Arena, producing his third consecutive stellar outing.
It was a showcase night for several Spurs players, including newly signed rookie forward DeJuan Blair (20 points), swingman Malik Hairston (16 points) and Ian Mahinmi (13 points).
But Hill again stole the show. He's averaging 20.3 points in three games in Vegas and shooting 52.8 percent from the field. He has been one of the top guards in the summer league and, arguably, the best point guard.
In short, he is a far cry from the rookie who infamously shot 8 percent — 2 of 25 — during his first summer league foray last season.
“A year has done wonders for me,” Hill said. “I came back here with more experience, more confidence. I'm just more comfortable.”
Confidence and comfort are much easier to come by when you've been through all that Hill has in the past 12 months.
He's already played in big NBA games and on big stages. He's gone toe-to-toe with reigning Rookie of the Year Derrick Rose. He's guarded Kobe Bryant in the clutch. He's played in playoff games, albeit belatedly.
After that, Vegas doesn't faze him anymore.
On Thursday, Hill turned in the best July game of his life. Afterward, he had a one-on-one powwow with coach Gregg Popovich in the arena bleachers, which Hill characterized as a productive, positive meeting.
Hill's goal for the summer has been a straightforward one.
“I want to earn Pop's trust,” Hill said. “When the game's on the line, I want him to be able to put the ball in my hands.”
So far in the summer, Hill has passed the test with flying colors.
All three of the Spurs' victories here have come down to the fourth quarter. Two of them have come down to the final minutes.
Hill has had the ball in his hands on each occasion. He punctuated Thursday's victory, easily the most lopsided yet, with a soaring dunk down the middle of the lane.
“You come to summer league, you want your guys to get tested,” Newman said. “We wanted George to be in situations like this, where he has to make decisions in crunch time. The more often he's in those situations, the better he's going to get.”
Teams can go broke reading too much into summer league performances. Hill knows this better than anyone.
Still, he would like to think his summer league redemption counts for something.
“You always want to play well, and get your confidence up,” Hill said. “Hopefully, I can carry some of this with me when I leave.”
If he does, the Spurs will have found their backup point guard.
Jeff McDonald
LAS VEGAS — In the most superficial of ways, the George Hill who walked into the UNLV basketball complex for this year's NBA Summer League was the same George Hill who showed up last year.
He's still 6-foot-2, still weighs 190 pounds. He's still got the same freak-show wingspan and the same impish smile.
Yet in the manner that counts most in his quest to be a No. 2 point guard the Spurs can count on, this George Hill is nothing like that George Hill.
“He's got a swagger,” said Spurs assistant coach Don Newman, who is running the summer league squad. “When a guy comes out and starts having success, they get that swagger back. That's what you're seeing from George.”
Entering his second year in the league, Hill was bent on proving he could be a capable backup to All-Star Tony Parker at the point.
Three games in, his point is taken.
Hill scored 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting and had nine assists Thursday as the Spurs defeated Oklahoma City 85-76 at UNLV's Thomas & Mack Arena, producing his third consecutive stellar outing.
It was a showcase night for several Spurs players, including newly signed rookie forward DeJuan Blair (20 points), swingman Malik Hairston (16 points) and Ian Mahinmi (13 points).
But Hill again stole the show. He's averaging 20.3 points in three games in Vegas and shooting 52.8 percent from the field. He has been one of the top guards in the summer league and, arguably, the best point guard.
In short, he is a far cry from the rookie who infamously shot 8 percent — 2 of 25 — during his first summer league foray last season.
“A year has done wonders for me,” Hill said. “I came back here with more experience, more confidence. I'm just more comfortable.”
Confidence and comfort are much easier to come by when you've been through all that Hill has in the past 12 months.
He's already played in big NBA games and on big stages. He's gone toe-to-toe with reigning Rookie of the Year Derrick Rose. He's guarded Kobe Bryant in the clutch. He's played in playoff games, albeit belatedly.
After that, Vegas doesn't faze him anymore.
On Thursday, Hill turned in the best July game of his life. Afterward, he had a one-on-one powwow with coach Gregg Popovich in the arena bleachers, which Hill characterized as a productive, positive meeting.
Hill's goal for the summer has been a straightforward one.
“I want to earn Pop's trust,” Hill said. “When the game's on the line, I want him to be able to put the ball in my hands.”
So far in the summer, Hill has passed the test with flying colors.
All three of the Spurs' victories here have come down to the fourth quarter. Two of them have come down to the final minutes.
Hill has had the ball in his hands on each occasion. He punctuated Thursday's victory, easily the most lopsided yet, with a soaring dunk down the middle of the lane.
“You come to summer league, you want your guys to get tested,” Newman said. “We wanted George to be in situations like this, where he has to make decisions in crunch time. The more often he's in those situations, the better he's going to get.”
Teams can go broke reading too much into summer league performances. Hill knows this better than anyone.
Still, he would like to think his summer league redemption counts for something.
“You always want to play well, and get your confidence up,” Hill said. “Hopefully, I can carry some of this with me when I leave.”
If he does, the Spurs will have found their backup point guard.