duncan228
01-18-2010, 11:15 PM
Spurs' Hill turns game, heads defending Paul (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/Spurs_Hill_turns_game_heads_defending_Paul.html)
By Jeff McDonald
NEW ORLEANS — A year and a half ago, Spurs guard George Hill checked into the second preseason game of his NBA career to find himself facing an impossible assignment: Guard New Orleans' Chris Paul.
“That was like one of my steps to say I'm finally in the NBA,” Hill recalled. “Guarding a guy like Chris Paul, who you watched on TV a few months before, I knew I'd made it.”
If there was still doubt about whether Hill belonged in the NBA — and there wasn't — his performance Monday answered it. Thrust into the starting lineup with Richard Jefferson ailing, Hill scored 16 points in the Spurs' 97-90 victory over the Hornets, a number secondary to the unquantifiable damage he wreaked defending Paul.
Paul had 18 points and nine assists, numbers the Spurs could live with. He was essentially a non-factor until the fourth quarter, after the Spurs had built a 21-point lead.
Hill essentially sealed the game when, with the Hornets within 94-88, he took a charge from Paul in the open court with 33.9 seconds left, fouling Paul out.
“Chris is a great player, and I have a lot of respect for him,” Hill said. “Hopefully, I did a good enough job that maybe he respects me a little bit now.”
Jefferson ailing: Jefferson had a string of 232 consecutive starts snapped when he sat out Monday's game with back spasms.
Jefferson's back had been bothering him for a few days — which explains his 0-for-6 game Saturday at Memphis — but he didn't bring it up to the training staff until the fourth quarter of that game.
“You just watched him running, he looked bad,” coach Gregg Popovich said. “Finally, he owned up. I wish guys wouldn't try to be heroes. He could have told us earlier.”
Jefferson last sat out a game March 6, 2006, at Dallas while playing for New Jersey. He played all 82 games in each of the past two seasons.
Roster tinkering: Popovich replaced Jefferson on the active list with Matt Bonner, who had missed 15 games since fracturing his right hand Dec. 19.
Playing with a brace on his hand he calls “The Claw,” Bonner logged six scoreless minutes, attempting one shot.
The Spurs briefly toyed with activating recently reassigned swingman Malik Hairston instead, going so far as to summon him from Austin to New Orleans. Dispatched to the Development League on Thursday, Hairston was in the building Monday but wound up being inactive.
By rule, Hairston's trip to New Orleans will not count as his second call-up of the season.
By Jeff McDonald
NEW ORLEANS — A year and a half ago, Spurs guard George Hill checked into the second preseason game of his NBA career to find himself facing an impossible assignment: Guard New Orleans' Chris Paul.
“That was like one of my steps to say I'm finally in the NBA,” Hill recalled. “Guarding a guy like Chris Paul, who you watched on TV a few months before, I knew I'd made it.”
If there was still doubt about whether Hill belonged in the NBA — and there wasn't — his performance Monday answered it. Thrust into the starting lineup with Richard Jefferson ailing, Hill scored 16 points in the Spurs' 97-90 victory over the Hornets, a number secondary to the unquantifiable damage he wreaked defending Paul.
Paul had 18 points and nine assists, numbers the Spurs could live with. He was essentially a non-factor until the fourth quarter, after the Spurs had built a 21-point lead.
Hill essentially sealed the game when, with the Hornets within 94-88, he took a charge from Paul in the open court with 33.9 seconds left, fouling Paul out.
“Chris is a great player, and I have a lot of respect for him,” Hill said. “Hopefully, I did a good enough job that maybe he respects me a little bit now.”
Jefferson ailing: Jefferson had a string of 232 consecutive starts snapped when he sat out Monday's game with back spasms.
Jefferson's back had been bothering him for a few days — which explains his 0-for-6 game Saturday at Memphis — but he didn't bring it up to the training staff until the fourth quarter of that game.
“You just watched him running, he looked bad,” coach Gregg Popovich said. “Finally, he owned up. I wish guys wouldn't try to be heroes. He could have told us earlier.”
Jefferson last sat out a game March 6, 2006, at Dallas while playing for New Jersey. He played all 82 games in each of the past two seasons.
Roster tinkering: Popovich replaced Jefferson on the active list with Matt Bonner, who had missed 15 games since fracturing his right hand Dec. 19.
Playing with a brace on his hand he calls “The Claw,” Bonner logged six scoreless minutes, attempting one shot.
The Spurs briefly toyed with activating recently reassigned swingman Malik Hairston instead, going so far as to summon him from Austin to New Orleans. Dispatched to the Development League on Thursday, Hairston was in the building Monday but wound up being inactive.
By rule, Hairston's trip to New Orleans will not count as his second call-up of the season.