McDonald: Odds And Ends From Indy

[duncan228]

Odds and ends from Indy
By Jeff McDonald

INDIANAPOLIS -- A couple of tidbits from Spurs shootaround this morning, as well as some warmed-over leftovers that didn't quite make the dead tree edition of the E-N ...

* George Hill was the expected media star at this morning's workout, with multiple reporters and television crews showing up to welcome the rookie guard home to Indianapolis. Hill led the city in scoring as a senior at Broad Ripple High, but was often obscured by big-name schoolboy stars like Greg Oden, Mike Conley, Eric Gordon and Rodney Carney. He became somewhat of a local icon in college, staying home to play at lesser known IUPUI.

Gregg Popovich addressed the media throng and praised Hill for all the reasons you've heard throughout the season -- his mental toughness, his inability to be intimidated, his defensive proficiency. Popovich excused himself from the throng about the time Michael Finley was ordering Hill to go rebound for a group of veterans still shooting. Popovich wheeled back around and said, "One thing I forgot -- he's the best practice rebounder we've got."

* Popovich admitted he was still in the process of figuring out what to do with Hill, who has fallen out of the rotation in recent days. Reading between the lines, Popovich seems committed to trying to find a role for Hill somewhere with the second unit.

* Ian Mahinmi wasn't with the team, having been reassigned to Austin the day before. It was somewhat of a surprising move -- Popovich said a few weeks ago he didn't expect the injured Mahinmi would be up to playing anywhere before the end of the season. The Toros would like to have Mahinmi for the Developmental League playoffs. After playing in exactly one basketball game this season, Mahinmi will have five games left to round himself into some sort of shape.

* Talked to Roger Mason Jr. a bit about his old team, the Washington Wizards, upsetting LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night. He noted it was the second time this season Washington had beaten the Cavs. Last year, the Wizards beat the eventual NBA champion Boston Celtics three times. It's a weird game, this basketball.

* Finley has been named one of seven regional winners for the NBA sportsmanship award. Other finalists for the honor, selected by a panel of former players, include Denver's Chauncey Billups, Washington's Antawn Jamison, Detroit's Antonio McDyess, Boston's Ray Allen and Golden State's Ronny Turiaf.

The league-wide winner, as selected by a vote of current players, will be announced after the regular season.

[timvp]

Popovich excused himself from the throng about the time Michael Finley was ordering Hill to go rebound for a group of veterans still shooting.

Coincidence?

[urunobili]

Can someone ask Andande's on his chat what he thinks about Pop's latest rotations and if Bruce will be back? he never answers questions from internationals

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=25772

[Spurminator]

* Popovich admitted he was still in the process of figuring out what to do with Hill, who has fallen out of the rotation in recent days. Reading between the lines, Popovich seems committed to trying to find a role for Hill somewhere with the second unit.

Between what lines? A quote here would be nice.

Good god this coverage is irritating me.

[EricB]

I'd say the quote is "in the process of figuring out what to do with hill"

[MoSpur]

The Pop and Billy Ocean love fest needs to end.

[MaNu4Tres]

Can someone ask Andande's on his chat what he thinks about Pop's latest rotations and if Bruce will be back? he never answers questions from internationals

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=25772

Adande as well as every other espn " expert" doesn't watch enough Spurs to give you a good answer to that.

[Spurminator]

I'd say the quote is "in the process of figuring out what to do with hill"

You'd be wrong.

[urunobili]

Adande as well as every other espn " expert" doesn't watch enough Spurs to give you a good answer to that.

who would that be Stein then?

[G-Nob]

the "throng" needs to grow some balls and ask the questions we want to know.

[1Parker1]

* Popovich admitted he was still in the process of figuring out what to do with Hill, who has fallen out of the rotation in recent days. Reading between the lines, Popovich seems committed to trying to find a role for Hill somewhere with the second unit.

That's good news I guess...

[ploto]

It's April and he is figuring out what to do with Hill? How about playing him at back-up PG??