Hill takes advantage of Parker's downtime
Jeff McDonald
Tony Parker, as promised, did indeed see less of the practice floor over the first two days of training camp, resting up after a busy summer with the French national team. But it was more than his head coach would've liked.
“I'm trying to sit him, but he won't let me sit him as much as I'd like to,” Gregg Popovich said after Wednesday's early session.
Whatever practice time Parker has given up so far has been George Hill's gain.
Hill, in his second training camp with the Spurs, will certainly benefit from the extra time running the point in Parker's absence. After an up-and-down rookie season spent learning the position on the fly, Hill is eager to show the Spurs' coaching staff that he can be a capable backup at the point.
Hill has spent a good deal of time running with the Spurs' first unit while Parker rests. So far, he's doing it with the same kind of self-assurance with which he ran the Spurs' summer-league team in July.
“I'm waiting to see what the new, improved myself can do with a year under my belt,” Hill said. “I'm ready to see, when the season comes, how it flows.”
Hill will probably win the backup job by default. The Spurs are carrying no other traditional point guards in camp.
In the meantime, the Spurs don't want to pigeonhole Hill as simply a point guard. He was a wing player in college, and Popovich has been experimenting with some sets in which Hill plays alongside Parker — and occasionally alongside Parker and Manu Ginobili.
“I want to be versatile,” Hill said. “I don't want to be one-dimensional. I still want to have that ‘two' in me.”
Ginobili shines: Coming off the most injury-plagued season of his career, Ginobili drew rave reviews after Wednesday morning's workout.
“He was arguably the best player on the court today,” Popovich said. “He's Manu. He's back. Now, he's just got to get into shape.”
Gist likely headed overseas: Former second-round pick James Gist did not sign a training camp contract with the Spurs, and is expected to spend a second straight season overseas. Under that arrangement, the Spurs will retain his NBA rights.
Gist, a former Maryland standout, played last season in Italy.
Ready for replacements: With the regular NBA referees locked out, Popovich said the Spurs are preparing for life with replacement officials to start the preseason.
“Everybody's got to do the best job they can, no matter how this thing ends up,” he said. “No matter what goes on on the court, it will be fair for both teams.”
The NBA last employed replacement refs in 1995-96.
It's great to hear that Manu is back.Ginobili shines: Coming off the most injury-plagued season of his career, Ginobili drew rave reviews after Wednesday morning's workout.
“He was arguably the best player on the court today,” Popovich said. “He's Manu. He's back. Now, he's just got to get into shape.”
So Gist is probably heading overseas, not a bad move for him, he obviously needs some more work. Good luck to Gist and hope he brings it next year.
With Hill playing some stints with Parker, that only creates a bigger problem with the minutes available at the wing position. A good problem to have, but if that's the case there will be an obvious log jam at the two-guard most specifically. After RJ and Manu there will only be 35-40 minutes available for Mason/Finley/ Bogans/ Hill and not to mention Haislip has been playing the small forward position during training camp and is playing quite well.
Oct. 6th can't get here soon enough...
Hill is an interesting player. He showed some serious flashes of talent last year and if he can keep his confidence in his ability to score high, he can be a serious threat.
i remember last year when everyone thought the addition of hill and mason combined with a healthy ginobili would be enough to put the spurs over the top. now the spurs have both returning plus mcdyess, jefferson, and ginobili. this team is going to be very good.
George!
Agreed, I thought at times he was too passive but it sounds like his confidence is where it needs to be now.
So we have Tony,George, and ??? Who's the 3rd PG when one of the first two is out?
Roger Mason!!
Please not Roger!
The Spurs are looking real good right now, I can't wait to see them play together
Rumor is that Marcus Williams is supposed to be our 3rd string PG. But the combination of Mason/Ginobili would work in a pinch for sure.
I think Manu and more likely Mason would do the job.
Manu will be the third PG.
Good news regarding Gist. He had no shot of making the team but perhaps a spot will open up for him next year. Props to Gist for realizing he took a step backwards in summer league and that he still has more work to do on his game.
As for Hill, this is the season that will tell us whether or not he's an NBA level player. He has a great opportunity to shine and take a big step in the right direction. If we don't see improvement, then there's a chance that he's out of the league in a year or two. I think he should do well but he could go either way.
makes sense for gist. there was no room for him on this roster.
I dont need this season to convince me he is a nba level player. he proved that last year. I think this season reveals how good he can actually become and what his upside and ceiling is, but no doubt in my mind he is an nba level player and this season is no kind of tryout to prove he is. he proved that last year when he played well as a rookie when called upon. he is only going to get better and more comfortable with what is expected of him and what he is asked to do.
My sources tell me that the four guys playing PG during scrimmages Wednesday morning were Tony Parker, George Hill, Curtis Jerrells, and Manu Ginobili.
has there been any new measurements of players or what?
i wonder if Hill has grown in the summer or what....
oh Hill will be scary this year
please Pop, no Mason at PG
Manu slow down, it's only training camp
its all up to POP we can wish all we want, make theories all we want but if POP goes back to his old stubborn self wer FCKD as .....
FINLEY- 5-10 mins a game = SPURS all the way to 5th RING
BONNER-3-5 mins a game = SPURS all the way to 5th RING
HILL/BLAIR/HAISLIP in regular rotation = SPURS all the way to 5th RING
FINLEY/BONNER -30- 35 mins a game = SPURS out in the 1st ROUND
thats what im worried most forget health its the players thats needs to play shud play ....HILL all the upside wont be there if he plays 5mins a game ..blair no rebounds if plays 1 game and a DNP the next it wont work they need time on the court to be able to contribute.....
Hillbilly !!!!
Last year Hill kept falling into these periods where he'd just be so focused on trying to be a good point guard that he would just completely abandon looking for his own scoring opportunities. If he can find that balance between running the show while still recognizing that it's okay for him to call his own number from time to time he'll be fine.
I hope Hill has gotten better finishing at the basketball. Plus, he didn't know how to take a fall and looked awkward. He should see how Tony does it to avoid getting hurt when hitting the floor.
all tony does is land on his back and hip then slide past the base of the basketball hoop, it must be nice to be manu, come in after two fragmented seasons in bad shape and be the best player on the floor!!! if hes seriously healthy then hes out to prove he belongs here, and i would hate to be playing against the spurs this year! cant wait until he matches up against kobe!!!!
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