George Hill is soft-spoken, polite, and has been active in our community, even beyond his involvement with his Rising Stars youth basketball teams. Whenever I’ve spoken to him after a game or at practice, he’s always accommodating and professional.
That aside, I really did not need to seek him out for this column as I have closely followed his highly successful career from Broad Ripple High School, on to IUPUI, and now the NBA. I know he possesses freakish athleticism, a giant wingspan, and the ability to play both ends of the floor well.
Here are some further observations about Hill: during last season’s immaturity between Paul George and Lance Stephenson, he played through it. As the self proclaimed dynamic duo bickered for the ball on the floor, he found the open man regardless of the name on the back of the jersey.
When Roy Hibbert self destructed, he supported him. He was a good teammate to all and he hustled his backside off on the defensive end of the floor. When the playoffs ended last year, he immediately began preparing for the next season.
Along the way Paul George suffered a catastrophic injury expected to sideline him for the entire upcoming season, while Stephenson chose Charlotte for his new zip code.
With Hibbert’s inconsistencies, and David West in the twilight of a brilliant career, the future looks bleak for the Pacers according to many, as this is a team without a star, if you listen to the so called sports-talk radio experts.
I hold a different view, but for me to be correct, George Hill will have to become the NBA All Star that he is capable of being. Unfair to dump it all at his feet? Rubbish! The man has mad skills and now this is his team. Forget about what this team might have been barring injuries and free agency, look at what is left and who has to be the focal point. Sure, none of Hill’s surrounding cast will ever see their bust enshrined in the Hall Of Fame, but if led, this team can surprise people. That leadership has to come from Hill, who throughout his career has been told he is not a pure point guard, despite being a better one than most of those the Pacers have lined up next to him.
Hill has shown his typical versatility in two preseason games that will be necessary for him to thrive in this “revamped” lineup. What he will also have to bring to the table is patience, as one needs a program to identify all the new faces on this roster. Developing a rotation and learning to trust each other will take time.
Another quality that can help Hill: developing thicker skin.
Hey Hill, forget about the guy on the radio station, (you know the one who never played professional basketball and is in love with the studio mike almost as much as he is with himself. )
Do not get caught up in any more childish Twitter battles with that minion. Let your efforts on the floor define you.
This is now your team, George Hill, and you must embrace the opportunity and leave no doubt that you are capable of providing both the productivity and leadership this franchise so desperately needs. There will be bumps in the road, and how you deal with that will show your teammates how they too must handle it. Count me as one who thinks you can do it.
Your time is now, and the only question that remains is, are you truly ready? I look forward to finding out.
Danny Bridges, who thinks George Hill will have the last laugh this season, can be reached at (317) 578-1780 or at Bridgeshd@aol.com.
Danny Bridges is an award-winning journalist and a longtime sports columnist for the Indianapolis Recorder. He covers college, professional sports and especially all things IndyCar racing. He can be reached at 317-370-8447 or at bridgeshd@aol.com.
