Nothing about last night’s game was surprising. I believe this is the third time we’ve beaten the Clippers handily. The Clippers aren’t a bad team, and they certainly have a lot of talented players. But they have just never been able to coalesce into a functioning unit, and we have their number.
Perhaps the most interesting subplot of the night was George Hill going off for 17 points in the first quarter. Since being put into the starting line-up as our 2 guard, he has been playing extremely well. I love him in the role as starting 2 and back-up PG. His PG skills still aren’t natural or instinctive, though certainly satisfactory for a back-up. But his value to the team is too important to not have him on the floor more. He was a 2 in college; let him be a 2 in the NBA.
A thought occurred to me while watching last night’s game: Is George Hill turning into what we hoped Richard Jefferson would be? As Jefferson continues to be mired in mediocrity, Hill is rising. He is averaging around 15 ppg since being put into the starting line-up, but can easily go for 20+; he has a much-improved and reliable jump shot; he is quick and athletic and is not afraid to attack the basket or get out in transition; and he is a tenacious defender who can defend multiple positions.
Granted, there are differences, mostly size and position. But aren’t these the things we were hoping to get from Jefferson. Maybe, just maybe, as Parker and Ginobili and McDyess continue to round into form, Hill will fill that vital 5th spot on the “closing” team.
Looking Forward:
We were expected to beat the Clippers, and we did. Next up, the other LA team. We play the Lakers on Monday. Kobe did not play last night in a Lakers’ victory in Portland. There’s a chance that he won’t play again Monday. Either way, the Lakers are a tough out. This is one of the 3 games I pegged as the most important of the Rodeo Road Trip. We already lost the first; I don’t want to lose the second.
