As the Milwaukee Bucks look to continue their hot start to the season, it’s time to look at George Hill, one of the underrated reasons why they are this successful.
Giannis Antetokounmpo will get the majority of praise for the success of the Milwaukee Bucks, and rightfully so as he is having another MVP caliber season. However, an underrated piece is the Bucks’ bench, particularly Sixth Man George Hill , who has significantly contributed to the team’s success to start the season.
Hill, 33, was acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers last December and has been a valuable piece for the Milwaukee Bucks ever since. Formerly a starter, Hill was set to come off the bench behind Eric Bledsoe as the backup point guard, a role he has meshed into nicely.
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The veteran guard brings playoff experience to a team that is ready to win now, and having him as the team’s Sixth Man makes them even more of a threat. Over half of the teams in the league could use George Hill as their starting point guard, so for the Bucks to have him available off the bench is a luxury.
After a disappointing finale last season for the Milwaukee Bucks, Hill was set to become a free agent and test the market. The Bucks would not let him walk, however, as both sides agreed on a 3-year, $29 million deal for Hill to remain a member of the Bucks. A move that went somewhat under the radar with all of the commotion of this past free agency. The signing has paid off so far into this season, as the Bucks are 13-3, and Hill has been a key contributor.
Coming off the bench, Hill is averaging 9.2 points per game. On November 6, Hill scored a season-high 24 points in a 129-124 win over the LA Clippers. This was Hill’s best game of the season so far, as he hit several clutch shots and finished as the team’s second-leading scorer only behind Antetokounmpo’s 38. Hill has also had strong performances in wins versus the Chicago Bulls and his former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, scoring 18 and 19 respectively.
However, Hill has also had occasional quieter games this season. These games show promise as well as uncertainty, but Hill can go off for 20 points on any night, if the opportunity is there. The highlight of Hill’s season to date is that he’s shooting 46.7 percent from three-point range on the season, something the Bucks can never get enough of.
The Bucks’ Sixth Man’s season has been overshadowed thus far by Antetokounmpo’s run at another MVP, Eric Bledsoe’s recent dominance, and Donte DiVincenzo‘s stunning play since becoming a starter. However, Hill isn’t a player who demands that the spotlight always be on him, but rather he strives for team success, which continues to speak volumes to why he is ideal for the Bucks.
Though Hill hasn’t always been scoring prolifically early in the season, the Bucks continue to play well and win games. So, how are they doing this without their Sixth Man being a guaranteed offensive catalyst?
This kind of question comes from a misconception that’s inspired by Lou Williams. When someone uses the term Sixth Man, Williams’ name is always synonymous. Williams, a three-time Sixth Man of the Year award winner, is a scoring machine who plays starter-like minutes and has been a massive part of the LA Clippers’ success in recent years.
Williams has changed the idea of what a Sixth Man is supposed to be. There is a difference between guys like Williams and Hill of the Bucks because while both are the Sixth Man on their teams, they both play quite different roles. The Clippers need Williams’ scoring off the bench as their third option behind Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in order to succeed. The Bucks do not require this from Hill, however, as they have Antetokounmpo, Middleton, Bledsoe, Lopez, and now DiVincenzo all ahead of him for scoring purposes. The team is not dependent on Hill’s scoring, but it is undoubtedly an added bonus. This Milwaukee Bucks team does not need Hill to come out and average 22.7 points like Lou Williams, they need him to come out and be George Hill consistently.
That means not only do the Bucks get solid scoring and three-point shooting and steady playmaking from their Sixth Man, but they often get lockdown defense too, which is something Williams has never offered the Clippers. In many ways, a Sixth Man is simply an extension of the starting five, and the system and philosophies a team looks to play by.
As long as George Hill continues to come off the bench and play to his role, the Bucks will be very good.
Hill’s veteran experience and leadership have proven to be a luxury off the bench. They have made a substantial contribution to the team’s sensational 13-3 start to the season. Though his numbers may not always be the most eye-catching, Hill is doing his job as one of the better Sixth Men in the league.
As things stand, Hill is certainly proving himself worthy of the contract he signed in the offseason.