I'm betting that Hill basically took time off after all the craziness of an NCAA season and the Draft workouts. I would guess he wanted to get some rest and may have overdid it. It's not the end of the world. From everything i've read the kid is a hard worker and has never been known as a slacker. If you can't understand a kid taking a break and wanting to just have some fun I don't know what to tell you.

I'm sure they've more than impressed upon him the physical requirements of playing in MDA's system and I think he knows that he wasn't ready for even SL. I fully expect him to be on his job and get in the gym.

In terms of his talent, someone argued against my statement that Hill has almost the same physical ability as Amare coming into the league and if you check the stats, you'll see that Hill is VERY close to Amare in almost every way. If he's not in the best shape and playing a bit timid due to that I wouldn't kill him over that. I think we need to see this guy after some time in this system. Like any rook you need to see them over the course of a season at the very least, if not two.

Hill's read-and-react defensive style probably worked well in College. And now he is learning that the guards at the next level are much better passers and the big men are much taller and can jump higher. McGee made him look pretty badly out of position on a few alley-oop attempts. As Hill learns what the next level is about, he will hopefully adjust his style.


[Edited by - kam77 on 07-20-2009 2:25 PM]

man, i wish i could remember the name of the character, but jordan hill looks just like this cartoon cat from back in the day.

Posted by nyk4ever:

Posted by eViL:

man, i wish i could remember the name of the character, but jordan hill looks just like this cartoon cat from back in the day.

Mikki Moore?

haha! nah, really though -- there was this cartoon cat, i think it wore a headband and it had an underbite... looks just like him. if he was a cartoon cat, that is...

Posted by eViL:

man, i wish i could remember the name of the character, but jordan hill looks just like this cartoon cat from back in the day.

I believe his name was Riff Raff. Which I actually like as a nickname for Jordan Hill if he develops into an Oakley like enforcer who cleans up the boards and throws elbows.

Somehow I don't remember Oakley going up for softie fadeaways near the hoop. Ah well..much time to learn right?

riff raff is close, but there might be a better match out there. i remember the cat being fairly thin, with an underbite, a headband, a funny accent, maybe even roller skates. my memory is faint though, haven't seen this cat since i was a kid...

The cat on roller skates is Wordsworth

Or maybe you're remmebering Hector?

To start off I was pretty disappointed with what I saw, but his game clearly improved as the summer league went on. Also, they were clearly trying to develop or see his outside game.

What has been needed to say has been said, but just to restate something here: Hill has played ball for like 5 years. He went to Arizona on potential and in 3 years was a lotto pick. Many of us here wanted to take a chance on a guy like Jennings (I did), but in a funny way we did take a chance. Next time you see Jordan Hill, think, 5 years of experience. That is insane. Most of these guys have been playing ball for 2 or 3 times that. Big men often take time and those with not much experience take a lot more time, so it is interesting that we got one who has improved each year amazingly so. Hill would have been drafted late first last year, ok the draft wasn't great this year, but still.

I think with Hill we are going to know what we got by year 2, cause he has really moved up and now he is on the grand stage. Add to that some real coaches and direction now which was up in the air the last 3 years.

I see Hill as being at least average, but when we look at him you have to throw this hugely steep curve that he is on, so it's deceptive to predict. But again, just think what he has done in 5 YEARS!

EMS