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i wouldn't mind seeing Hill on Nowitzki, at least for a few minutes.
After defending Durant, Spurs' Hill wants Nowitzki
By Jeff McDonald - Express-News
DALLAS – Fresh off performing yeoman's work defending Oklahoma City scoring star Kevin Durant, Spurs guard George Hill wouldn't mind an even tougher assignment tonight in Dallas.
Bring on Dirk Nowitzki?
“If the opportunity is there to guard Dirk, I'm going to welcome it with open arms,” Hill said. “I like the challenge. I like to defend.”
Hill's dream matchup is probably not going to happen. Though the 6-foot-2 Hill has demonstrated considerable ability to defend players taller than he is, the 7-foot Nowitzki is probably a little out of his range.
Durant, 6-foot-9, was the tallest player Hill had been asked to defend. Hill held his own, helping to limit to Durant to 6-of-18 shooting. He finished with 25 points, getting 13 of them at the foul line.
“It was difficult guarding him, because he can do so many things, but it was fun,” Hill said. “You can't stop someone like that from scoring. All you can do it make it difficult for them.”
Nowitzki, the NBA's eighth-leading scorer at 26.3 points per game, falls into the same category.
In a 92-83 victory over Dallas a week ago, the Spurs found some success guarding Nowitzki with a combination of Antonio McDyess, Richard Jefferson and Keith Bogans.
Nowitzki finished that game with 29 points, but was 9-of-27 from the field.
You again?: It was only a week ago that the Spurs knocked off the Mavericks without Tim Duncan and Tony Parker. They have played just one game since, losing to Oklahoma City on Saturday.
For the Spurs, the quick rematch with Dallas makes it feel a little like a playoff series.
“After a while, you learn that's the nature of the NBA,” Spurs forward Richard Jefferson said. “I've played home-and-homes with teams before. It's interesting, but I think it's good for us to get these good, compe ive games against a quality team.”
The Mavs have played three times since leaving San Antonio, winning all three games on the road. Monday, they needed an overtime buzzer-beater from Nowitzki to beat Milwaukee, 115-113.
Defending Big D: The Spurs enjoyed their best defensive game of the season against Dallas, limiting the Mavs to 83 points and 35.4 percent shooting. Dallas coach Rick Carlisle wasn't surprised at the Spurs' defensive prowess that night, even though they entered the game ranked in the bottom half of the league.
“Bogans is a good defender, Jefferson's a good defender, (Manu) Ginobili's a good defender, Hill's a good defender,” Carlisle said. “They've got a bunch of guys. Everybody's trying to work through things and get better, and we're no different than them.”
i wouldn't mind seeing Hill on Nowitzki, at least for a few minutes.
Kick his ass, Sea Bass!
I reckon he'd do alright to be honest
if by alright you mean get face ed I agree.
I miss the old Dirk-stopper - Elson.
Dirk may be just too tall for Hill. If it gives him trouble, Dirk would eventually adjust and just sink easy jumpers over him.
I think RJ on Dirk is fine. The thing about our Mavericks matchupability in this era is that Hill absolutely utterly nullified anything that Jason "the jet" (ROFL) Terry can bring to the table. Putting Hill on Terry at all times makes Terry the invisible man on both sides of the court.
Rather see Hill in that role.
We actually have a better chance than I thought to win this game with Marion, Howard, and Damp all out. If Gooden blackholes for a quarter or two, this game may even be a gimmie.
Bogans and McDyess did fine on Dirk
Who does he think he is, David West?
[quote=celldweller;3845840][/quote
GET THAT WEAK ASS OUTTA MY MUTHA IN FACE YOU WORTHLESS PIECE OF MONKEY !!!!!
Hill had success on Durant because of his ball-denial. Once Durant and, even more so, Dirk get the ball in a scoring position, Hill's pretty much at their mercy; he's just hoping for a miss.
You couldn't get away with Hill on Dirk for extended amounts of time but in spot-minutes, where he could deny or take away the ability for him to put the ball on the floor, he's capable of having some success.
He can't do it alone, though. If you want to deny the ball when you're at that big of a physical disadvantage, you've got to have a cohesive help defense. The front-court has to be solid in their rotations and the helpers have to receive help; the team's got to be on a string.
The Spurs have just got to continue to mix it up and not be too predictable from where they choose to double if and when they do so. 'Dyess, Bonner, Jefferson, Bogans, and yes, even Hill will all get their shot; again.
Agreed. I thought Dice did quite a nice job on Dirk in the previous game. Dirk went nuts in the second half but that was somewhat to be expected with a great player like him, given the success the Spurs had in the first half.
I think Dirk shot a lot of jumpers in the first half and missed and realized that without TD, the Spurs didn't have much shot blocking so he took it to the rim in the second half and had success. Again, McDyess didn't shut Dirk down, but he did as well as could be expected.
barrea looks like a little fat smurf haha
Dirk will make his share of off-balanced jumpers and awkward shots (he always does), but the trio of RJ, Bogans and McDyess will surely have more success than Bowen, Udoka and Fab.
McDyess can also use his smarts, length and athleticism, something Elson was never capable of pulling off. The McDyess we saw against Dallas - tenacious, mean, aggressive - is the McDyess I hope to see as the season wears on.
Hill would get torched... he wont be able to do anything against Dirk once he catches the ball.
Its not just the ball denial; Hill can pressure the dribble and he is quick enough to make it difficult for Dirk to comfortably get into his shooting position.
In a post up situation, without help, I think Hill is screwed.
Be careful what you wish for George Hill-you may not like what you get!
On the other hand, it would be a humbling and learning experience for him which could only help him become a better player.
That's the spirit.
I'm not seeing the disagreement...
spurs defense is all about help d down low
this would be a lot more impressive if jj barea was over 6 feet tall
who has the old jpg of bowen blocking a dirk jumper and he's like 3 ft off the ground?
edit:
there's a bigger version somewhere. THAT is playing d on dirk.
Skim read. Sorry.
Its become a habit, the increase of morons on this board has brought it on.
well said.
(much like Bruce) Hill will also be able to successfully defend players taller and stronger than him. but there will be limits. just because he was a little bit successful on Durant that night doesn't mean this proves he could constantly guard the 6'10''+ players. this is ridiculous.
I don't think anyone is saying that. Its all about throwing different looks at players to stop them getting into a rhythm. It's a method Pop subscribes to in the absence of a single lock-down defender.
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