Stop shooting, Grant Hill

[RichPureDoom]

What is his FG% on the year? It's gotta be terrible. It started last year and has continued this year. He simply can't hit shots consistently anymore.

[thamadkant]

He's 39 needs to be on a contender playing 20 minutes off the bench so he specializes on defense only not both sides where he gets won out and does bad on both sides.

[7Insomniac]

He should've retired in the offseason. He just doesn't have it anymore. Every one of his shots are short and his speed and quickness aren't even close to what it was last year.

[RandomVillain]

Yeah, I hate to admit it but Grant Hill is hurting us on the offensive side more than hes helping. I think its time to hang it up. Or drink more Sprite.

[RunDogGun]

Actually he would be great with the second unit. Use his leadership skills to help the younger guys, and he could run the offense. He had a rough night shooting.

[Qwigglez]

Hill is being forced to create shots and besides Nash (and Gortat PnR) he is the other guy the defense worries about. Hill should be the fourth or fifth option on the court, not our second.

[Saberestar]

He played really well the last three games, until the game at LA. He was forced by Lakers defense to take all of these shots, because they were putting a lot of preasure in Nash and Gortat/Frye, so I think he had to shoot anyway.
I prefer that shoots over the absurd shoots that try Shannon Brown, who is horrible in defense and he has absolutly NO court vision, by the way.

Ahh, and Dudley played worse than Hill too.

[GrantHill]

Sorry, maybe it's because I love Grant but after the Lakers closed out on Nash and the pick&roll with Gortat and Frye he had to take these shots he doesn't like. Lot of these shots where at the end of the shot clock. Lakers just played great defense.

[Sun Scorched]

I'm sorry, who the **** else on our team can create shots?

Nash

There's your list. So outside of our 2-time MVP, I'm glad someone is trying to take some pressure off. Would I like his shot to fall? Of course, I'd like him to shoot 100% from the floor.

I'm curious what the solution is for all of the posters above? Who takes those shots?

[GrantHill]

Most of the teams won't defend the pick&roll as well as the Lakers did. I think Nash-Gortat will be our go-to-move. I think even Redd will knock down some shots down the stretch.

[rsavaj]

I'm sorry, who the **** else on our team can create shots?

Nash

There's your list. So outside of our 2-time MVP, I'm glad someone is trying to take some pressure off. Would I like his shot to fall? Of course, I'd like him to shoot 100% from the floor.

I'm curious what the solution is for all of the posters above? Who takes those shots?

+1

The reason Grant shot those jumpers last night was because he was OPEN. He missed shots he should have made, but that doesn't mean he shouldn't have shot them.

[lilfishi22]

I'm sorry, who the **** else on our team can create shots?

Nash

There's your list. So outside of our 2-time MVP, I'm glad someone is trying to take some pressure off. Would I like his shot to fall? Of course, I'd like him to shoot 100% from the floor.

I'm curious what the solution is for all of the posters above? Who takes those shots?

Thank you.

[RunDogGun]

I think the main problem is our offense has not evolved to accommodate our players. Instead we try and change our players to fit the offense. If guys aren't hitting their shots from outside, we have almost nothing.

A few years ago, Hill had the same problem. He asked advice from his old coach, who said that he should bring it in close, and then work your way back.

But in our offense, often we have guys on the wings who haven't been hitting their shots all year, but have to continue to shoot those, because that is the only offense we have. We need some frickin plays that work for our players.

When we had Diaw, we had that back screen by one of the guards, and the allyoop from Diaw to Marion. It was good for at least two to three baskets a game.

[JasonDaPsycho]

Please keep shooting if it means we'll lose more games. TANK WAGON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Frank Lee]

Elsewhere via a provided link...

I read GHill talking about his conditioning. He said he didnt start running till 3 days before camp.... WTF ?

Just found that odd... and felt somewhat resentful. Had LOWpez, Warrick, or some lessers said such words, they would be roasted.

Grant is not in shape to play more than 5 minute stretches, 20 mins per night. He should just accept it and embrace a limited though important role off the bench.

[nevetsov]

Elsewhere via a provided link...

I read GHill talking about his conditioning. He said he didnt start running till 3 days before camp.... WTF ?

Just found that odd... and felt somewhat resentful. Had LOWpez, Warrick, or some lessers said such words, they would be roasted.

Grant is not in shape to play more than 5 minute stretches, 20 mins per night. He should just accept it and embrace a limited though important role off the bench.

Agreed, but who comes in for him? Or, are you in favour of the "start Hak at SF" express Frank?

[thamadkant]

Grant Hill is still good enough to be vital to a contender, a late pick and an expiring is fine for me.
Give him to Bulls, Knicks, Blazers or Thunder. He would give those teams an extra punch defensively and may lead to a championship. And again this is coming from a Grant fan.

This will also give more minutes to Childress so he either improves enough to be a keeper or ups his value to attract a trade offer. Both good for the future.

[Sun Scorched]

Elsewhere via a provided link...

I read GHill talking about his conditioning. He said he didnt start running till 3 days before camp.... WTF ?

Just found that odd... and felt somewhat resentful. Had LOWpez, Warrick, or some lessers said such words, they would be roasted.

Grant is not in shape to play more than 5 minute stretches, 20 mins per night. He should just accept it and embrace a limited though important role off the bench.

Frank, I heard something similar being reported on about 90% of the players in the NBA during/after the lockout.

And has Lopez or Warrick announced something similar, they would have been roasted with right reason. By my account, those guys haven't earned anything beyond their current contract - and some would argue Warrick hasn't even earned the one he has.

Rant aside, I get where you're coming from. Still don't like hearing stuff like this.

[Frank Lee]

Elsewhere via a provided link...

I read GHill talking about his conditioning. He said he didnt start running till 3 days before camp.... WTF ?

Just found that odd... and felt somewhat resentful. Had LOWpez, Warrick, or some lessers said such words, they would be roasted.

Grant is not in shape to play more than 5 minute stretches, 20 mins per night. He should just accept it and embrace a limited though important role off the bench.

Agreed, but who comes in for him? Or, are you in favour of the "start Hak at SF" express Frank?

I dont know nevets... our little dip into the free agent pool produced ????? Redd ??? And we are fingercrossing with him. The rest are non factors. Perhaps shift Dudley to SF and go with MR at SG, or, bring in the forgotten one Childress. I guess Hak would suffice too. Wont happen though... its a pride thing. Chriminey, look how Gentry sucked up to Half Man Half Done

So little to look forward to this yr.

[Cutter]

Hill had knee surgery back in September, and after rehab couldn't begin running until a few days before training camp. He's not a slacker as some have insinuated and didn't show up out of shape due to laziness.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/2012/01/09/20120109phoenix-suns-forward-grant-hill-spark.html

Phoenix Suns forward Grant Hill regaining spark after knee surgery
19 commentsby Paul Coro - Jan. 9, 2012 07:30 PM
The Arizona Republic | azcentral.com
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Grant Hill is a day away from being the oldest player in the NBA, but it was not his age that had him moving like he was emerging from cobwebs most of the time since Suns training camp opened a month ago.



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Profile: Grant Hill
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It was a knee surgery.

Hill, 39, underwent non-optional arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in September to clean out a loose piece of cartilage that had separated from the bone. That minuscule area of exposed bone could have caused more pain and instability if not addressed.

Hill underwent more than two months of rehabilitation, mostly during the lockout, and did not play basketball until the third day of training camp, he said. The Suns swingman had not run until three days before camp started.

The Suns and other free-agency suitors were aware of the surgery, which was performed by team physician Thomas Carter. Using a team surgeon was allowable during the lockout because Hill approached Carter about the knee issue, which he noticed during a summer workout.

Hill has been impressive in several recent games defensively while his usually reliable midrange shooting and transition scores have been slow to arrive. He said his offensive form had little to do with the knee and more to do with the lockout causing him and the team to miss the eight weeks of preseason work that begins with September voluntary pickup games.

"I finally feel like I'm back with my legs," Hill said. "I'm not tired. The first three or four games, my wind wasn't there. The shots will come. Even when I'm right, I'm usually a little slow getting going offensively. I'm really excited where I'm at after the last month."

Once he was allowed to work with team athletic trainers again after a tentative lockout settlement, Hill reported to US Airways Center daily for treatment while he was negotiating with teams during a rushed free-agency period. He signed a one-year, $6.5 million deal with the Suns after considering offers from Chicago, New York, Los Angeles Clippers and San Antonio.

"We were well aware of Grant's condition and had complete confidence given the quality of our training staff, Dr. Carter's skills and Grant's work ethic that it was a non-issue," Suns President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby said.

Hill's return became an issue. He wore a knee brace during training camp and often sat out five-on-five scrimmages. In the opener, Hill slipped twice to the US Airways Center floor, causing him trepidation about playing as relentlessly as usual after only two weeks of limited court action.

Hill played without the knee brace for the first time Wednesday at Dallas.

"My defense is ahead of my offense, which is a good thing," said Hill, who scored 14 on Sunday night against Milwaukee. "It's instinctive. I can react. The ball is still a little fumbly. I thought Dallas was the first game that I really felt really good and was moving well. Now it's just about getting the timing and rhythm."

During the Suns' 4-2 stretch that has returned the team to .500, Hill has resumed his top-flight level of defense.

With help from a new system and teammates, Hill led the charge that held the following scorers to below-average games:

New Orleans' Trevor Ariza, 2-for-11 shooting, seven points;

Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant, 4-for-11 shooting, 12 points;

Golden State's Monta Ellis, 6-for-16 shooting, 18 points;

Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki, 7-for-17 shooting, 20 points;

Portland's Gerald Wallace, 0-for-6 shooting, one point;

Milwaukee's Stephen Jackson, 3-for-7 shooting, eight points.

"You can see offensively he doesn't quite have his legs under him," coach Alvin Gentry said of Hill's 36.5 percent shooting. "He was ecstatic that he made a corner 3 (Sunday night, his first in 11 tries). On some of the drives and finishes, he's just not quite there yet. Defensively, he's done a great job."



Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/ar ... z1jGlwxlrg