Hill vs. Nash in crunch time becomes a Spurs' success
Mike Monroe
George Hill played 42 seconds of the first three quarters of the Spurs' 103-98 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Sunday at the AT&T Center.
As the Spurs were about to take the floor for the final period, a 13-point lead having been whittled to four, coach Gregg Popovich told Hill he was going back in the game, with a key assignment: control Steve Nash, the Suns' point guard who is a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player.
The rookie combo guard, his role as Tony Parker's primary backup having reverted recently to Roger Mason Jr., recalled Popovich's instructions.
“He said, ‘George get in. You've got Nash,'” Hill said.
“I said, ‘OK,' and he said, ‘I mean you've really got Nash, so pick him up full-court and work him.'”
Drafted out of IUPUI, an NCAA mid-major school in Indianapolis, primarily for his defensive abilities, Hill was on the floor for all of the final 12 minutes of the close game. He accomplished his mission, as Nash was unable to snatch victory from the Spurs' grasp.
“I thought he did a good job on Steve, which is saying a lot,” Popovich said. “He handled himself well, didn't foul him, made it tough for him to get shots. That really helped us out, because you know Steve is going to be able to try and score in those situations.”
In one key stretch midway though the fourth period, Nash committed two turnovers and missed a shot Hill contested to the point that a make would have been miraculous.
The Spurs stretched a five-point lead to 10 in 1:39 by taking advantage of Nash's miscues.
Tony Parker got credit for the steal on Nash's first turnover. But it was Hill's defense that forced the Suns' point guard to try to make the awkward, wraparound bounce pass to Shaquille O'Neal that Parker picked off.
Kurt Thomas got the steal on a second Nash turnover when Hill forced another ill-advised pass by the NBA's No. 3 assist man.
Hill's theory of defending the two-time NBA MVP: Be solid.
“Steve Nash is a great player, one of those players I watched in the NBA before I got here,” Hill said. “I just tried to give him his respect and defend as best I could.”
Before Hill defended Nash in the fourth quarter, defensive stopper Bruce Bowen took his usual turns against the Suns' star during stretches of the first three periods.
“If you've ever seen any of our series against the Suns,” Bowen said, “it's only logical to expect that I'm going to get an opportunity to do that.”
Having Hill available to hound Nash, baseline to baseline, freed Bowen to defend other Suns during crunch time.
“George did a good job,” Bowen said. “By us picking him up full-court, that took a little steam out of him. By late in the game, he was making some uncharacteristic turnovers.”
Hill attempted only one shot in the game, but it was a big one. With 1:25 left, and the Spurs nursing a three-point lead, he took a slick pass from Mason on a baseline cut and scored a layup.
Thanks again for the post Duncan228.
Goerge Hill played a great defensive 4th quarter. Pop may be on to something here, perhaps he has a found a greater utility for Hill at least for now. Plus, that was a great confidence builder for George-I mean he handled Nash the entire 4th quarter. Good job Hill-Keep it up!
Hill Billy !!
Hill is becoming a better defender lately. I can still remember his 2 block shots on Detroit's Iverson weeks ago. That block on an AI fastbreak(from behind), was awesome
Great showing by Hill. I still wish he was getting more time as the primary backup for TP.
Those long arms gotta be useful for something!
But besides that, he is actually a very solid defender.
Hope he stays in silver and black for awhile
his versatility is his biggest strength..the wingspan helps him alot, and if he's gonna make his jumpshots like he has been as of late, he's gonna be alot like oj mayo, with better defense..him sliding to the 2 and getting some good offensive/defensive productivity gives us a new dimension, and added depth at 2..roger doesnt make too many mistakes at PG, and is a 3 point threat which switches up the gameplan a little opposed to the offense we run when tony's in.. hopefully we can manage to keep George after his rookie contract is over, but if he improves too much, that might be difficult.
the Lakers like him too!
I really like George Hill, spurs always find a way to draft unknown talent.
Hill = keeper
i hope he can slow down cp3
i really think bowen is a deron william stopper forsure
hill>nash
/thread
hill > lebron
I wanted to post this for a while, but didn't want to start a whole thread for it. You may think I'm nuts, but my favorite thing about Hill right now is his eyes.
Watch him when he puts up a shot. He's always looking to get his own rebound, if he misses. But the moment... the instant... that he sees that the ball is going through the rim, his eyes are up and scanning the floor. This is a guy who is locked in on defense.
Most players will take a second or two to admire their work. Even the ones that don't beat their chest (or even slap their hips) will have a moment of inactivity. I always considered Horry a tremendously heads-up player, but even he would stand and hold the pose for a second. Hill never does.
To be a rookie and have that kind of intensity and discipline is an amazing thing. It also says that he gets what Pop wants from him. Some talk it, but not all of them really, really get it.
well i really like his smile..
LOL.. I knew some smartass was gonna do that. I was being serious.
If Hill is going to play the 2 spot, I think he does better when he's out there with Tony. He seems lost when Mason is running the point.
yeah, me too
but lol, robert did spend like 14 seconds posing with his arm up in place after a 3 was made, sometimes, against the more uptempo teams, he would still be in place waiting to cherry pick on the next play after the opposing team scored..
Yep. And I'm one of Horry's biggest fans. Watch Hill scan the floor next game, and you'll see what I mean. He's still a rookie, and he has lots of room to improve. But he's focused, and he's disciplined. And that is what makes me believe that he is going to improve.
Maybe a Bowen Jr in the making(Just with a little more athletic ability :P)? Hill has the speed and athleticism while Bruce has the IQ and size.
Hill will be Bowen for pgs!!!
sweet article! good stuff geogre.
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