Jan

2010

How Bad Can Jordan Hill Be?

Written by BigC

(Big C) Seriously, how bad can Jordan Hill be? This season we knew that Mike D’Antoni’s rotation was going to be short. However, the thinking was Mike D’Antoni would still able to play Jordan Hill during blowouts or back to back games. If not Hill would get at least 10 minutes of playing time. However, it looks like Jordan might be handcuffed and glued to the bench for the year.

How slim are Jordan Hill’s chances of getting on the court? Very slim. It’s so bad that Jonathan Bender who did not play in four years, missed training camp, and missed preseason and the month of November got playing time over Hill.

Many will say that Jordan Hill is a rookie so he is not supposed to get playing time. My response is what do you call Marcus Landry who is also a rookie also that went undrafted. Yet he is getting more playing time over the 8^th pick in last year’s draft. In the last game against the Hawks there was no Jonathan Bender to take minutes away from Jordan Hill. Yet Jordan Hill still did not get the nod to get playing time. Is Hill getting 5-12 minutes on the court really going to hurt the team? Or is this really about who can knock down the 3 point shot and who can’t?

At this point who knows how good Jordan Hill is or can be. What we do know is that Mike D’Antoni does not have confidence in Hill nor does he see plans for Hill this year. From what I have seen from Jordan Hill in his limited playing time is a player that knows how to hit the midrange shot plus he is a player that goes up strong. What I have seen from Bender is a player that blocks shots but causes too many turnovers, and takes ill advised shots for a guy who gets limited minutes. If Hill can’t get experience on the court now then when will that day happen? It’s not like next year Hill will be able to turn things around. Especially if the Knicks resign David Lee or go after Amare or Bosh. Hill has to learn how to play in the system now.

If Jonathan Bender can learn plays in one month I would assume that Jordan Hill who played with this Knicks’ team since training camp can also. In the game against the Rockets Jonathan Bender played 17 minutes for only 2 points and 1 turnover. There is no way anyone can tell me that Hill would have done a worse job than that. Right now the only advantage I see that Bender has over Jordan Hill is the ability to hit the 3 point shot. What is the point of having a guy who is able to hit the 3 point shot if he is also turning the ball over and forcing ill advised shots? Mike D’Antoni, it is time to change up your rotation.

Jordan Hill mix