duncan228
05-02-2010, 08:15 PM
Improved game has George Hill playing bigger role for Spurs (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/2010-05-02-george-hill-expanded-role_N.htm)
By Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY
A year ago, San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich couldn't afford to give rookie guard George Hill many quality minutes in a first-round playoff series loss to the Dallas Mavericks.
This season? Popovich couldn't afford not to play Hill in the first round against Dallas. In San Antonio's four victories, Hill averaged 18.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals. The Spurs wouldn't have won the series without him.
"He's become very reliable. He's played the most minutes (among guards) for us because he's been unbelievable," Spurs guard Manu Ginobili said.
Hill carried the team in the 92-89 Game 4 win, when forward Tim Duncan, guard Tony Parker and Ginobili shot 26% combined from the field. Hill had a game-high 29 points on 11-for-16 shooting and 5-for-6 on three-pointers.
His defense also limited Dallas' guards, and that same two-way effort is necessary if the seventh-seeded Spurs can upset the third-seeded Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference semifinals.
Game 1 is Monday in Phoenix (10:30 ET, TNT).
It's another challenge for Hill —Jason Kidd in the first round, Steve Nash in the next.
"I'm pleased with his game," Popovich said. " 'Surprised' would indicate you didn't expect much. I was waiting to see what we would get. I had no expectations. I had hopes."
Keep Reading... (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/2010-05-02-george-hill-expanded-role_N.htm)
By Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY
A year ago, San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich couldn't afford to give rookie guard George Hill many quality minutes in a first-round playoff series loss to the Dallas Mavericks.
This season? Popovich couldn't afford not to play Hill in the first round against Dallas. In San Antonio's four victories, Hill averaged 18.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals. The Spurs wouldn't have won the series without him.
"He's become very reliable. He's played the most minutes (among guards) for us because he's been unbelievable," Spurs guard Manu Ginobili said.
Hill carried the team in the 92-89 Game 4 win, when forward Tim Duncan, guard Tony Parker and Ginobili shot 26% combined from the field. Hill had a game-high 29 points on 11-for-16 shooting and 5-for-6 on three-pointers.
His defense also limited Dallas' guards, and that same two-way effort is necessary if the seventh-seeded Spurs can upset the third-seeded Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference semifinals.
Game 1 is Monday in Phoenix (10:30 ET, TNT).
It's another challenge for Hill —Jason Kidd in the first round, Steve Nash in the next.
"I'm pleased with his game," Popovich said. " 'Surprised' would indicate you didn't expect much. I was waiting to see what we would get. I had no expectations. I had hopes."
Keep Reading... (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/2010-05-02-george-hill-expanded-role_N.htm)