Does Hill play BS defense?

[nkdlunch]

that's what the ESPN spanish announcers were crying about the whole night. Said Hill cheats too much on D and hurts the Spurs team D. And that might look like hustling, but the coach knows that's just being lazy and out of control. Also he left Allen for that dagger 3.

I don't know. Hill's D was atrocious again tonight.

[HarlemHeat37]

He's by far the most overrated defender on the team, as I've been saying for a while..however, he missed 1 game vs. Orlando and the Spurs got lit up, then he came back and had a good game vs. Kobe, so his defensive reputation became inflated again..

He's an above average defender..he defends well in 1 on 1 situations, so he could actually be pretty successful against players like Kobe, Wade, Durant and others that play a lot of 1 on 1..

He's an average or poor defender in any other situation IMO..he has trouble against other quick players, he makes questionable rotations..

He doesn't hurt the team defensively though, he's a better defender than the other options..that's the problem though..

This was the main problem that I had with the Spurs coming into the season, even more than the lack of a 2nd big..the Spurs have very poor perimeter defenders..

[Arc]

say what you will, but D was not the reason why we lost yesterday and why we're probably going to lose tonight. it took perfect shooting nights from both the knicks and the celtics to beat us. the crazy thing... we nearly won both games.

[cheguevara]

those s said "Fake Hustle"

which means it look good on tv and all but in reality it was a stupid move

[cheguevara]

say what you will, but D was not the reason why we lost yesterday and why we're probably going to lose tonight. it took perfect shooting nights from both the knicks and the celtics to beat us. the crazy thing... we nearly won both games.

wake up bro,

[HarlemHeat37]

It's easy for teams to have "perfect" shooting when they're wide open..

When Rondo is making jump shots, OK, you can't blame that on defense, but everybody else was getting wide open jump shots from poor rotations and a poor defensive strategy..

[jag]

It's easy for teams to have "perfect" shooting when they're wide open..

When Rondo is making jump shots, OK, you can't blame that on defense, but everybody else was getting wide open jump shots from poor rotations and a poor defensive strategy..

Agreed. The Spurs look like they've never played together before and have no idea what the rotations are.

[Spurs7794]

Our entire team does NOT know how to play defense when ANY pick is set. Its ridiculous.

[baseline bum]

George Hill should never be guarding someone like Allen who makes his living off screens. Hill is awful fighting through picks. He's phenomenal guarding guys off the dribble, but dude gets caught in screens at a ridiculous rate. I'm just dumbfounded that Pop doesn't see this. Maybe he's trying to toughen George up for the playoffs or something.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

Also he left Allen for that dagger 3.

I don't know. Hill's D was atrocious again tonight.

IMO Manu should have had the hand-in-the-face on that dagger 3.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

He's by far the most overrated defender on the team, as I've been saying for a while..however, he missed 1 game vs. Orlando and the Spurs got lit up, then he came back and had a good game vs. Kobe, so his defensive reputation became inflated again..

He's an above average defender..he defends well in 1 on 1 situations, so he could actually be pretty successful against players like Kobe, Wade, Durant and others that play a lot of 1 on 1..

He's an average or poor defender in any other situation IMO..he has trouble against other quick players, he makes questionable rotations..

He doesn't hurt the team defensively though, he's a better defender than the other options..that's the problem though..

This was the main problem that I had with the Spurs coming into the season, even more than the lack of a 2nd big..the Spurs have very poor perimeter defenders..

Pretty much.

[UnWantedTheory]

I don't think he plays BS defense, but he is slightly overrated, despite being our best wing defender. Either way Hill made some terrible decisions on O & D tonight.

[DMC]

Everyone left Allen on every shot. Allen actually left them. Ray Allen aint no slouch.

Here's more "guess what".... the D on Kobe wasn't as much about Hill as it was about Kobe.

Hill is a good defender, but sometimes the offense is better. Ray Allen and Davis were not missing tonight. How that happens to the Spurs all the time I don't know, but it seems to.

[FkLA]

lol ESPN Deportes

[itzsoweezee]

his defense in that Lakers game was absolutely amazing. it was bowen-esque.

however, in other games, it has definitely been lacking at times. still, his potential is really high, he just needs to play at that high level all the time.

[DMC]

his defense in that Lakers game was absolutely amazing. it was bowen-esque.

The results were. His D was about what it normally is. He didn't just become Bruce Bowen.

however, in other games, it has definitely been lacking at times. still, his potential is really high, he just needs to play at that high level all the time.

I'm claiming that fans judge more on results than on the technique, because most don't understand the technique anyhow.

[crc21209]

ESPN Spanish announcers....what do they know? This isnt soccer...

[timaios]

ESPN Spanish announcers....what do they know? This isnt soccer...

Spanish team since 2006 :

Gold medal at the 2006 FIBA World Championship
Silver medal at the 2008 Olympics
Gold medal at the 2009 European Championship

I think they know how to play that game !

[Hoops Czar]

Hill plays defense when its convenient for him. When he struggles on offense, you won't get diddley from him on defense. That's when he needs to sit.

[SenorSpur]

I've said before that Hill is terribly overrated, as a defender -especially by this coaching staff. The manner in which he got lost on that last Ray Allen 3-ball, was absolutely atrocious. How could he not fight through to close out on him? He knows damn well that Allen is a terrific 3-pt shooter. THe guy only torched them for 31 pts.

The dependence on Hill, as the primary perimeter defender, only exposes the fact that the Spurs are severely limited in having above average defenders on the wings.

[fyatuk]

As was said earlier, the weakest part of Hill's defensive game is following a player through picks. It's why Nash torched him last year, and why he'll likely never be able to guard a player in the Ray Allen/Reggie Miller mold.

Hill is a good on-ball iso defender, but where he really shines is ball denial on players who don't use off-the-ball picks. Those players allow him to fully utilize his freakish reach and amazing body control on defense.

Spurs need to hire Bruce Bowen over the summer to work with Hill on reading and getting through picks, though. Bowen was insanely good and navigating picks and screens.

[in2deep]

ESPN Spanish announcers....what do they know? This isnt soccer...

they actually comment on the game being played and not on Van Gundy's breakfast or Lebrons this and that...

[kaji157]

Bruce was way Stronger than Hill he would squeeze through screens or play dirk one on one without backing down.
Hill is nowhere faster or stronger as Bowen was. Plus Hill still is still not great at rotating or recognizing when to call for a change on defense.

[BlairForceDejuan]

Still don't know why the Spurs didn't pay Bowen a hefty sum to teach Hill defense.

Hill has the physical tools to be a freak on D.

[Agloco]

Bowen

Stop the comparisons. You won't get anything like that out of Hill. If he can learn how to navigate picks, he'll improve at least.