Milwaukee Bucks: George Hill’s durability will be critical
George Hill has shined in his sixth man role for the Milwaukee Bucks all year long and that will have to continue going into Orlando for the 2019-20 season restart.
All throughout the 2019-20 season, George Hill’s performance and impact hasn’t gone unnoticed within the league-best Milwaukee Bucks.
Having locked down the team’s sixth man role since his arrival to the Bucks in December of 2018, Hill has maximized his minutes on the floor as the team’s quiet, stable floor general off the bench while literally shooting the lights out.
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That latter fact can be seen by Hill leading the NBA in 3-point percentage (48 percent) as things currently stand with the season suspension, and leading the Bucks in true shooting percentage at 66.8 percent.
The instant offense and sharpshooting Hill has routinely been able to offer the Bucks this season has been incredibly impactful to their formula for success this year.
The same goes for his ability to rise in big games and moments and he’s long stood as the Bucks’ security blanket of sorts since his amazing individual run throughout the team’s playoff run last spring.
For as prominent as Hill’s role has been for the Bucks and he’s on track to play the fewest minutes since he first entered the league as a rookie with the San Antonio Spurs, he hasn’t been able to avoid the injury bug throughout the year.
In fact, the last time we saw the Bucks in action over their tough road swing out West, Hill had been limited due to a nasty groin contusion suffered not long before this lengthy layoff. While Hill eventually made a return to action less than a week later, his injury certainly got lost in the shuffle, especially in light of Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo’s knee injury.
Just like Antetokounmpo’s injury, this lengthy layoff may have been a blessing in disguise in terms of Hill being able to heal from his injury without the stresses of having to play through pain in order to stay ready ahead of the team’s now-delayed playoff run.
Of course, that’s been replaced with a long layoff and having to get back in the rhythm that he was for the majority of the season, though Hill has kept in shape while staying busy opening his own charter school in Indianapolis and living large on his 850-acre ranch during this time.
Ramping up back into action with the Bucks’ first seeding game now three weeks away increases the urgency for the team’s veteran-laden players such as Hill to look as crisp as he has been throughout the season, given that the playoffs will come in short order.
While the Bucks have very dependable role players within their rotation and on their roster, there simply isn’t a player that can match Hill’s firepower and quiet leadership that will only be leaned on as the Bucks’ chase for championship kicks back on in full gear.
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For as imposing as the Bucks have been all throughout the season, the truth is we’re hoping that all of the players’ play will easily convey over into Orlando after four-and-a-half month break. Anything short of that and that’s where uncomfortable questions will start to be asked, given what’s at stake.