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Wow-Pop is really milking it with Hill...
http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblog...hen-there.html
George Hill: Pop's pet
By Jeff McDonald on Oct 13, 09 02:44 PM
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich ambushed another player's post-practice interview following the morning's workout. Unlike his grilling of Manu Ginobili last week, Popovich stayed on the interviewee's side of the camera.
He slid an arm around this morning's victim -- George Hill -- as reporters began with this question: "Why do you think it is you've become Pop's favorite player?"
"I'm the baby, I'm the young one," Hill said, with Popovich by his side. "I always ask for him to be hard on me like he was to TP (Tony Parker). (Parker) gives me a lot of stuff for (Pop) not being as hard on me as he was on TP. I'm waiting for that."
It's true. Popovich used to treat Parker like his least-favorite dog, as a means of toughening him up. With Hill, by contrast, Popovich often appears one step away from taking him out for ice cream after the game.
"I like him a lot better than I liked Tony at the same age," Popovich said, still grinning. "That's why I'm not hard on him."
After a few more volleys, Popovich left the interview scrum, and left Hill to his own devices. The coach exited, however, on a serious note.
"Watch this guy play," Popovich said, arm still wrapped around his backup point guard's shoulders. "Watch him. Especially if you're a young one, and you want to know how to play -- my favorite player is your guy to watch."
Wow-Pop is really milking it with Hill...
Hope it's just his way of saying he is going to be good this year.Wow-Pop is really milking it with Hill...
im actually very happy about this. Hil > Mason & Finley... maybe this year he can finally get some quality time backing up tony and playing the combo gaurd
break out year for george hill?! i hope soo
Because he knows he ed up last season now he's trying to make it up to Hill.Wow-Pop is really milking it with Hill...
+1
Couldn't have said it better myself!!!
Pop really has some high expectations for Hill this year...And no reason not to, but he doesn't usually do this. Look at the "support" he's given Blair (it's non existent)
Really good to hear. George Hill has really become a player. If we look back most of the people here were not at all happy with the draft choice of George Hill (me included). However, he is just one of those guys who gets 'it'. He is a just a basketball player.
Pop is getting so mellowed in his old age.. has he ever fawned over a young player like this before?
I wonder if this new-found adulation by Pop means that he's through dog-cussing his backup PG.
No matter how much Hill has developed, he showed during the Dallas series, what many of us already knew - that he was more than capable of holding down the primary backup PG position last year. Pop simply didn't trust him until he was forced to use him in the playoffs.
While I looking forward to seeing Hill pair up in the backcourt with TP when matchups make it possible, I just hope Pop doesn't get carried away with overplaying Hill at the 2.
Pop is too easy on Ghill.
Pop will probably fawn over Blair, in the same way, next year.
Just like the beginning of last season: Zany Pop emerges.
pop is trying to get hill confidence
knowing he needs him in the playoffs
especially if one of the big three are hurt
and in the playoffs you really need 4 players playing their game
and pop knows he needs hills d without bowen
Pop is that master of knowing how to get the best from his guys.
I agree with you, particularly about the confidence aspect. He motivates players in different ways, depending on what floats their boat. RJ is going to add to the big three mix, though, ducks...so don't forget him.
only reason pop likes GHILL besides his handsome slick looks,
his the teams donuts biatch
For a second I thought I was reading a ducks-haiku.
It is a ducks haiku.
I think Pop figures that this excessive adulation drives Hill more than dogging him. Hill wants Pop to get after him like he used to get after TP, so Pop praises him non-stop instead.
Pop should play a little more hard to get but it's good to see him support a young player like this. Maybe he balances it out when he passes Ian in the hallway and acts like he doesn't know him.
This is all very interesting. It's sort of like Hill went through the fraternity hazing ritual and now he's "one of us".
If Hill plays well, then who cares. It will be interesting to see how he treats Blair, especially if he continues to dominate. I imagine it will be a challenge for Pop to give a lot of trust to Blair in his first year, but so far Blair deserves minutes.
Should be a great season.
It's probably Pops way of putting pressure on a good guy like Hill. He knows Hill is capable of stepping up big time this year.
Every person is different, you can't reach everyone with the same approach.
Besides being the greatest rookie PF of all-time, Pop was very relaxed with Duncan because he's a thinker, over analyzes things, etc. Pop knows how to talk to him and get the best out of him. Manu was a man when he got here and a baller, he knew he could just pluf him in and this was a pro, ready to go. Same with all the vets he signs in (Fin, Barry, etc.).
Parker's dad must have placed a call to Pop and said... "that little boy needs an ass whipping. He's thinking about finding movie star girlfriends, fast cars and Gatorade commercials. Get his head out of those clouds."
Unfortunately, Pop never could find Beno's dad's phone number.
I joined spurstalk early last summer, just in time to see lots of threads and hundreds of posts about how RC Buford should be fired for drafting George Hill, and how the Spurs sucked when it came to judging talent.
Ah, memories! Some people never learn.
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