Jordan Hill Doesn't Sound Too Interested In Defense Or Rebounding
by Tom Martin on Jan 14, 2011 10:01 AM CST
in Random Commentary
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Happy Friday, folks. How about some pot shots at Jordan Hill to start things up?
Actually, no, we don't have any pot shots here. But we do have picky collegiate editors who show interest in quotes such as this one:
"I feel better working with all those guys," Hill said of the second unit. "I know (with) the second group, I get my opportunity to put the ball up. The first group, when I started, wanted me to basically defend and rebound, with Luis Scola getting all the buckets for the big man."
I think you see what I'm getting at here. Can't blame Hill for wanting to get as many touches as possible, but I think this quote epitomizes exactly what is wrong with Jordan Hill. He can't defend and he can't grab defensive rebounds, and it doesn't sound like he is too concerned about it.
I don't want to crucify the guy for a brief quip to a reporter. I'm sure he pays attention to these areas of his game during practice. But given the amount of times I've seen Rick Adelman and Jack Sikma look visibly distraught after a Hill miscue (this happens about twice per game), it appears to me that they've relayed information to him that has yet to sink in.
You know what? If Jordan Hill could relish his new role as a starter -- that is to say, if he could play good defense and grab defensive rebounds (or at least look dedicated in attempting to do so) and do all of this without adding much on the other end -- I would like him much, much more. Maybe this is just a post-rookie phase or something. But should he somehow pull a 180 and develop into the aforementioned type of player, I'd go so far as to buy myself a Jordan Hill jersey. It would mean that much to me.
We'll leave this here -- it's not really a huge deal -- but it would be nice if Hill could actually buy into the idea that there is more to basketball than putting points on the board. He has yet to show an interest in anything else thus far, and then on top of that, he went out and effectively stated it publicly.
By the way, I found this to be amusing. Thanks, Kelly Dwyer:
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I saw that on the Chron earlier
BD34 isn’t going to be too happy about this.
GO ROCKETS, GO TEXANS, GO ASTROS (EVEN THOUGH THEY SUCK)!!!
it reinforces what I already was thinking
this guy is young and not dedicated like we need. Yes he may work out…maybe…eventually, but do we necessarily need to take up a roster spot for a guy who should play for Golden STate or Dantoni. And to think DAntoni didn’t want him.
Thank god 2Pat is there instead. Maybe he all around game and work ethic can rub off.
Maybe it is the Arizona program…as Bud isn’t great on D either.
Good write up
And honestly, with this comment to light, it sucks to hear as a Jordan Hill believer but if that’s what’s out of his mouth so be it. I’m with you if he could hold dear to the idea of being a defensive guy and make that progress he would be a very good player. I guess for me I’m also recalling a post-game interview when he said he wanted to do anything possible to help the team win no matter what was asked of him. I feel as though these two comments weigh each other out a bit.
I do lose a little bit of faith in him with defensive miscues but I also acknowledge that when he says defense might not be his favorite thing we have to think about the teams that he has played on in his professional career. He was mired on the bench in the D’Antoni Transitions and then he came to Houston which was just The Adelman Transitions. Neither team played a lot of defense and neither team seems to place a huge emphasis on it (We’ve covered defensive woes of this team time and time again in the last two years and no one in the organization seems to have made a concerted effort to change that).
I see this issue to be one of mentality and a bit of maturity. The upshot is he’s young, he’s in an environment that can change it, and if not, he could be an asset to another team if they want him. I would prefer to see this issue corrected. He hasn’t been playing basketball for too long in life anyhow and I think we can all agree offense is WAY more fun and we don’t start knuckling down defense until we have someone drill it into our heads how crucial it is.
I’m willing to chalk this up as a gaffe and an area in need of improvement for Jordan. I think it’s mutually beneficial in trade value, personal development, and organization growth if the staff really hammers home defense to Jordan.
The flipside of that is if he knuckles down and starts really working on defense the offense needs to reward him. He does have a valid point that the main goal of the offense without Yao is to get Scola the ball. If I’m out there and I manage to get a blocked shot and sprint the floor with a guard, I want to be rewarded, I’ve seen quite a few plays where Jordan did get the block and not get rewarded on the other end and I can see that as disparaging.
I don't usually plan out my days because the word "premeditation" gets thrown around a lot in courts today.
Honestly
he is best as sort of a garbage man. Take the open shot and just clean up everything around the rim. Doesn’t look like he wants to do that though. Don’t think I’ve ever heard a player complain about starting before, except for Arenas
by twinkilling0303 on Jan 14, 2011 10:53 AM CST reply actions
Also
Upon further reading, he said he liked working with the second unit (Which he has done since he got to Houston) and didn’t say he didn’t like his role as a starter, he just explained what is expected of him. I think there is a case of reading too deep but also being able to understand it for what it implies. At the end of the day reading closer, he doesn’t say he doesn’t want to rebound or defend, just he liked the second unit for what it offered.
I don't usually plan out my days because the word "premeditation" gets thrown around a lot in courts today.
Getting beat on by first team centers might have something to do with it
He has had to guard some monsters lately. When you give up as many pounds as he has, it has to get old. I don’t know when the idea of playing the 5 was put to him, but I don’t think he has had the time in the gym he needs to really get bulked up for this. If he has the desire and will do the work I think he can get there. Amare is not a true 5, but he gets away with it pretty well. Best I can tell there is 10lbs of muscle and a lot of attitude separating them.
He played some Center in Summer League
but that’s the extent of it. It’s a big transition to make and it’s basically like a rookie season all over again.
I don't usually plan out my days because the word "premeditation" gets thrown around a lot in courts today.
Not just Hill...Defense is just not in our DNA with this crew
Yes, we do have a few good defensive players but the overall tone I get from the team is that defense is not high on the priority list.
IMO..this lack of defensive will starts and ends with Kevin Martin. He is our most gifted player, but he is also a rather nice gift for the opposing team’s offense as well. There’s no way a player with his talent and basketball IQ cannot atleast be an AVERAGE defensive player.
KMart sets the defensive tone (or lack of one) for our team and a youngster like Hill is affected by this. I’ve read all the excuses about his slight frame, to his lack of lateral quickness etc. I don’t buy into them.
If you are going to say our lack of defense starts and ends with Kevin Martin
Would you say the same about some of those top 5 defensive teams we had with T-Mac?
Me against the world is a mismatch in my favor.
Read what he's saying
As a starter all the team wants is for him to defend and rebound. On the second unit he also gets to shoot a little. Evidently Jordan Hill is the only young basketball player in the world who like to get a shot up every now and then. We must tar and feather him for not understanding that it’s okay to rip Battier and Hayes for not scoring,but it’s a crime if Hill wants to take a shot every now and then.
mmm...I never rip either player because they play great D...
That is their role on this team. They know their role and they do it well…considering their genetic limitations. Hill needs to gain some work ethic or dedication or something if this quote is carried to its extreme conclusion.
Regardless of whether he wants to play D or not, he isn’t getting it done yet.
which is why I began the response with this.....
Can’t blame Hill for wanting to get as many touches as possible
The Dream Shake ...on Twitter.
"I think girls are probably just better shooters." - Steve Novak
Mutual misunderstanding?
Tom,
I read your post as strongly implying Hill doesn’t care about D or rebounding.(Maybe because you wrote “…this quote epitomizes exactly what is wrong with Jordan Hill. He can’t defend and he can’t grab defensive rebounds, and it doesn’t sound like he is too concerned about it.”)
I read his comment as being he understands his role w/starters and like most young players prefers the role where he gets to shoot the ball some.
Unfortunately for Rockets fans,whatever he may understand or prefer,he’s just not very good at the defense,rebounding or scoring thing right now. We see glimpses every now and then,but not the consistency the team needs.
On the offensive end I’ve seen huge improvement just this season in his offensive arsenal. At the beginning of season his offense consisted of the jump hook to his right-and that was it. It was pretty hilarious how no matter where he got the ball he moved into that jump hook.Now he’s showing up-n-unders,jumpers and some rudimentary post moves.
On D he shows little situational awareness,but even there we are starting to see him try to offer help D-too late most often,but at least he is showing some rudimentary knowledge of the Rockets defensive principles.
Personally,I think his ceiling is solid third rotation big,but he is another yr or two away.(And he’s a prime candidate for one of my pet peeves. The Rockets should hire a personal basketball tutor for him,just to work w/him every day. I cannot understand why pro teams are willing to invest millions of dollars in young players who need lots of development and do not hire personal tutors-former players who’d come pretty cheap and would be willing to stay in the game helping youngsters. Instead it’s usually some assistant coach who oversees several players as well as having other coaching duties. For example,every minute Sikma spends alone w/Hill,he’s not spending one w/Patterson,or helping Chuck or Scola or Miller or Jeffries w/their games. End of tirade.)
I must say I’ve been very impressed w/Patterson so far. And his polish makes Hill’s rawness stand out even more.
Patterson’s shot looks so much better than I remembered from SL. Or it could just be Patterson is a very smart player who knows his game and doesn’t try to go outside of it,a very rare trait in a young player. Of all the Rockets I see him as learning the most from Shane as far as understanding the game.
I don’t think he’ll become a star,but a solid starting PF who’ll get 14-16 points,9-10 rebounds a game and anchor the D.
As an observation to the Hill comment as it pertains to the Rockets overall. Many fans want the team to add a scoring SF to the roster-whether it’s Carmelo,Granger,Iggy,etc-yet we have Hill basically saying there are no shots w/the starters for him. Scola gets the bigs shots and Martin and the PG get the smalls. There’s no room for another scorer on the starting unit-unless one of the heavy shot takers is removed.(Mainly Scola or Martin-yes Martin takes @20 shots a game,he is incredibly skilled at getting fouled on 4-6 shot attempts each game.)
all good points...nice post...
In particular I would like to point out that if PP got 15 pts a game and 9 to 10 rebounds per game AND anchor the D, he would be pretty close to star material if he did all things consistently. KG comes to mind as someone who does all those things these days.
And on your last point, this is why we don’t necessarily need an huge offensive threat at center since we have Brooks, MArtin, Scola, Bud, and even Lowry these days making tons of shot. If we had a great defensive young center….not good but great…who wasn’t an offensive liablity it would be perfect for this group…oh yeah and he had to be a decent passer.
yea not exactly the kind of quote you ever want to read
he still a yungn dont hold it against him. “he is best as sort of a garbage man” thats a good thing cleaning up the boards is becoming a lost art with some teams, my own included.
by cheers from manhattan on Jan 15, 2011 8:49 PM CST reply actions
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