Blackjack
10-23-2009, 02:14 AM
Spurs' Hill returns to home state a completely new player (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Spurs_Hill_returns_to_home_state_a_completely_new_ player.html)
By Jeff McDonald - Express-News
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The last time Spurs guard George Hill played in the state of Indiana, he barely broke a sweat.
An Indianapolis native, Hill spent the days leading up to last season's April 3 game against the Pacers organizing tickets for friends, family and other well-wishers. Once it tipped off, however, coach Gregg Popovich limited Hill to a second-half cameo in the Spurs' 126-121 victory.
Seven months later, Hill calls the incident “very humbling,” but not wholly unexpected.
“You never can expect too much,” Hill said. “Pop knows best and is going to put out whatever lineup he thinks can win. I can't tell him, ‘Put me in, because I'm going to help you win.'”
The last time Hill came to Indiana, he was a rookie who had already fallen out of the Spurs' stretch-run rotation. He returns tonight, for the Spurs' preseason finale against the Pacers at Assembly Hall on the Indiana University campus, as Popovich's favorite player.
Popovich has dropped that label on Hill more than once this preseason, the most obvious sign that the coach is pleased with the second-year point guard's progress as a backup to Tony Parker.
Night in and night out, Hill — a question mark last season — has been the Spurs' best player this preseason. He has averaged 14.3 points, second only to rookie forward DeJuan Blair, and leads the Spurs in minutes with 23.7 a game.
Odds are good the friends and family who make the 45-mile trek from Indianapolis to Bloomington today will see more of Hill than they did in April. They will also see a different Hill than they saw in April.
“Before, he was a little hesitant,” Manu Ginobili said. “That's totally normal when you're a rookie, with a coach like Pop. It's hard at the beginning.
“Now,” Ginobili said, “he looks like he owns the team.”
Hill worked tirelessly over the offseason working, among other things, on improving his jump shot and extending his range.
The work appears to be paying off. Hill is shooting 55.3 percent from the field, including a scorching 61.5 from 3-point range in six preseason games.
Most of his 3-pointers have come from the corner. That is a shot he will often find to be open, especially when he plays alongside Parker as a shooting guard.
“The corner is my new home,” Hill said.
In that, Hill is just following a path blazed by new retiree Bruce Bowen, the previous owner of that spot in the corner.
“Bruce told me that's one of the shots that's always going to be there, and you have to capitalize on it,” Hill said. “This summer, I spent my whole life in the corner trying to nail that.”
Hill played shooting guard in college at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), and spent last season learning the art of the NBA point guard on the fly.
His commitment to improve this offseason won over Popovich, who has proclaimed his affection for the 23-year-old often during camp. The unrelenting praise has almost become too much for Hill to swallow.
Once upon a time, Popovich used to treat Parker like his least-favorite dog, riding him mercilessly as a means to toughen him up. With Hill, Popovich seems one step away from taking him out for ice cream.
“I always ask for him to be hard on me like he was to TP,” Hill said. “(Parker) gives me a lot of stuff for him not being as hard on me. I'm waiting for that.”
Ask Popovich, and there's a reason for the discrepancy.
“I like him a lot better than I liked Tony at the same age,” Popovich said with a grin.
Hill, who had never lived outside Indianapolis before joining the Spurs, will be back near his old stomping grounds tonight. This time, he's bound to break a sweat.
“Home is home,” Hill said. “Any time you get to go back home, you're happy about that.”
By Jeff McDonald - Express-News
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The last time Spurs guard George Hill played in the state of Indiana, he barely broke a sweat.
An Indianapolis native, Hill spent the days leading up to last season's April 3 game against the Pacers organizing tickets for friends, family and other well-wishers. Once it tipped off, however, coach Gregg Popovich limited Hill to a second-half cameo in the Spurs' 126-121 victory.
Seven months later, Hill calls the incident “very humbling,” but not wholly unexpected.
“You never can expect too much,” Hill said. “Pop knows best and is going to put out whatever lineup he thinks can win. I can't tell him, ‘Put me in, because I'm going to help you win.'”
The last time Hill came to Indiana, he was a rookie who had already fallen out of the Spurs' stretch-run rotation. He returns tonight, for the Spurs' preseason finale against the Pacers at Assembly Hall on the Indiana University campus, as Popovich's favorite player.
Popovich has dropped that label on Hill more than once this preseason, the most obvious sign that the coach is pleased with the second-year point guard's progress as a backup to Tony Parker.
Night in and night out, Hill — a question mark last season — has been the Spurs' best player this preseason. He has averaged 14.3 points, second only to rookie forward DeJuan Blair, and leads the Spurs in minutes with 23.7 a game.
Odds are good the friends and family who make the 45-mile trek from Indianapolis to Bloomington today will see more of Hill than they did in April. They will also see a different Hill than they saw in April.
“Before, he was a little hesitant,” Manu Ginobili said. “That's totally normal when you're a rookie, with a coach like Pop. It's hard at the beginning.
“Now,” Ginobili said, “he looks like he owns the team.”
Hill worked tirelessly over the offseason working, among other things, on improving his jump shot and extending his range.
The work appears to be paying off. Hill is shooting 55.3 percent from the field, including a scorching 61.5 from 3-point range in six preseason games.
Most of his 3-pointers have come from the corner. That is a shot he will often find to be open, especially when he plays alongside Parker as a shooting guard.
“The corner is my new home,” Hill said.
In that, Hill is just following a path blazed by new retiree Bruce Bowen, the previous owner of that spot in the corner.
“Bruce told me that's one of the shots that's always going to be there, and you have to capitalize on it,” Hill said. “This summer, I spent my whole life in the corner trying to nail that.”
Hill played shooting guard in college at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), and spent last season learning the art of the NBA point guard on the fly.
His commitment to improve this offseason won over Popovich, who has proclaimed his affection for the 23-year-old often during camp. The unrelenting praise has almost become too much for Hill to swallow.
Once upon a time, Popovich used to treat Parker like his least-favorite dog, riding him mercilessly as a means to toughen him up. With Hill, Popovich seems one step away from taking him out for ice cream.
“I always ask for him to be hard on me like he was to TP,” Hill said. “(Parker) gives me a lot of stuff for him not being as hard on me. I'm waiting for that.”
Ask Popovich, and there's a reason for the discrepancy.
“I like him a lot better than I liked Tony at the same age,” Popovich said with a grin.
Hill, who had never lived outside Indianapolis before joining the Spurs, will be back near his old stomping grounds tonight. This time, he's bound to break a sweat.
“Home is home,” Hill said. “Any time you get to go back home, you're happy about that.”