http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dl.../1088/SPORTS04Thumb injury slows Ex-IUPUI star Hill
Ex-IUPUI star and Spurs rookie guard was doing well until getting hurt
By Mike Wells
Posted: October 19, 2008Read Comments(2)Recommend E-mail Print Share Del.icio.us Digg Reddit Yahoo Google A A
SAN ANTONIO -- The transition to the NBA was going a lot smoother than expected for San Antonio Spurs rookie guard George Hill.
The former Broad Ripple High School and IUPUI star's quick grasp of the NBA has been one of the highlights of the preseason for the Spurs.
But then it happened.
Hill, all 6-3 of him, went into the paint for a rebound in a game last week against the Detroit Pistons only to go down court with a sprained left thumb after getting hit by somebody's elbow.
The thumb injury has caused Hill to miss the previous two preseason games, including Saturday's contest against his hometown team, the Indiana Pacers.
"My reaction was to stay humbled and focused," Hill said before doing some on-court work Saturday. "Any player is going to get mad if he doesn't get to play because that's how competitive I am. I always want to be out there."
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Hill is expected to undergo an MRI on his thumb Monday now that the swelling has gone down. They hope he can play in the preseason finale against Miami on Friday.
Hill's injury is just a minor speed bump in what looks like a promising career for the No. 26 pick in last summer's draft.
Hill's work ethic and commitment to improve every day has earned him a lot of praise.
"I've been impressed," Popovich said. "More than anything, he's obviously an absolute NBA defender. He does a great job defensively. He's got a knack for steals, deflections, getting a piece of the ball here and there. He really understands that side of the court. Secondly, I'm really impressed with his mental toughness; he's not intimated by anything. He's got a great demeanor about him."
Hill is going through a transition period as all rookies do. His transition, however, is a little steeper than some because he didn't play at a major Division I program and he's also learning how to play point guard after predominately playing off the ball at IUPUI.
"I was mainly an off guard in college," Hill said. "Trying to run a team and remember everything is the toughest part. The game is a lot quicker with a lot more possessions because of a shorter shot clock."
Hill couldn't have a better mentor to learn from than veteran Tony Parker, one of the league's elite point guards, and Jacque Vaughn, who has never been flashy but has been a very consistent player throughout his career.
Hill, who passed up his senior season at IUPUI to enter the draft, is averaging 8.0 points, 3.3 assists, 2.3 steals and 2.0 turnovers in 19 minutes a game in the preseason. He's competing with Vaughn for minutes backing up Parker this season.
"We're turning him into (a point guard) and that's a tough transition," Popovich said. "That process will take time. In certain situations we've gotten on him a little bit more and tried to get him to focus and tried to get him to understand that the position is a bear to learn and it comes with a lot of responsibility.
"That's a lot to throw on a guy that hasn't played the position, really. He's really improved leaps and bounds since the summer time."
Hill said he doesn't lean on just his fellow point guards. He prefers to pick the brains of every player on the roster because the Spurs are a veteran team that is a title contender on a regular basis.
"This is a very first class organization," Hill said. "Every teammate is a great person on and off the court. . . . It's a team, it's a family."
