Hero of the playoffs so far: Grant Hill

[JCSunsfan]

Grant Hill's defense has been key to these playoffs. His D in the first round was a series changer and his work on Ginobili made him virtually a non-factor.

So, now its Kobe. I wonder how he will do there. The key to the Lakers series will be how well G Hill can slow Kobe down. If he can limit him a little, we have a chance.

 

[Chaplin]

Grant Hill's defense has been key to these playoffs. His D in the first round was a series changer and his work on Ginobili made him virtually a non-factor.

So, now its Kobe. I wonder how he will do there. The key to the Lakers series will be how well G Hill can slow Kobe down. If he can limit him a little, we have a chance.

Sure, but I'd say we've had several heroes of the playoffs so far. Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire, Goran Dragic, JRich, Channing--they all can share a little bit of that title.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Grant Hill's defense has been key to these playoffs. His D in the first round was a series changer and his work on Ginobili made him virtually a non-factor.

So, now its Kobe. I wonder how he will do there. The key to the Lakers series will be how well G Hill can slow Kobe down. If he can limit him a little, we have a chance.

If Grant Hill can do to Kobe what he did to Ginobili, then he should deserve DPOY. I don't care if Kobe gets 30 every game, if he has to take 25+ shots to get it. The free throw line is where Kobe makes a living.

Lopez coming back AND playing well, and Amare getting Pau/Bynum in foul trouble are two other big keys to the series.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Sure, but I'd say we've had several heroes of the playoffs so far. Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire, Goran Dragic, JRich, Channing--they all can share a little bit of that title.

That probably wasn't intended to be an all-inclusive listing but I think Dudley deserves some credit also.

Steve

 

[Sunburn]

If Grant Hill can do to Kobe what he did to Ginobili, then he should deserve DPOY. I don't care if Kobe gets 30 every game, if he has to take 25+ shots to get it. The free throw line is where Kobe makes a living.

Lopez coming back AND playing well, and Amare getting Pau/Bynum in foul trouble are two other big keys to the series.

I think Grant will do a fantastic job on Kobe. A lot of Kobe's game is outsmarting opponents, getting them up in the air, drawing fouls. Like you said the free throw line is where Kobe makes a living. Grant is a very, very smart defender. I think he'll stay down, won't be drawn in by the pump fakes. Actually, I pretty much guarantee it. Grant will force Kobe to have to make the jumpers. I have a good feeling about that match-up.

 

[Michael]

After nearly everybody agreed on Richardson being MVP of Round 1, I just wondered whom we'd consider Round 2 MVP. My vote would be for Hill for just the reason JCSunsfan stated.

Overall in the playoffs, though, they're ALL heroes.

Two-time for having MVP-like performances
Amar'e for being Mr. Consistency
J-Rich's for his scoring and incredible outside shooting
Hill's defense for making me realize that I overrated Marion's defense
The Dragon for burning San Antonio in Game 3
Dudley for doing everything
Lou for bringing energy
Barbosa for stepping up big in Game 3 and showing signs of passing the ball
Freye for finding his aim
Collins for making sure that five guys are on the court

 

[Michael]

The biggest hero might be the Team Chemistry, actually.

Just read that on ESPN:

The Suns open the series against the reigning NBA champions Monday night in Los Angeles.

Steve Nash, Grant Hill and Jason Richardson sat out Tuesday's practice, mostly for the rest. Nash had a black right eye but most of the swelling was gone from the elbow he took from Tim Duncan in Game 4.

The atmosphere was loose, with a few players taking shots while wearing a black eye patch to try to emulate Nash in his remarkable one-eyed performance in the fourth quarter on Sunday night.

"Air ball," Goran Dragic said after his attempt missed everything. "I don't know how he did it."

In one of the more memorable episodes in Suns history, Nash got six stitches to close the cut above his eye, then returned. With the eye swollen shut, he made a 3-pointer and two crucial runners and handed out five assists in the fourth quarter as Phoenix pulled away for the victory.

Being from hockey-mad Canada, Nash said he wasn't about to let a little cut on his face keep him out of the game. Gentry said they would have taken his citizenship away if he hadn't returned.

"Certainly with my friends I had no choice but to get back out there and play," Nash said. "They watch basketball games and say `Are you kidding me?' ... My friends want to turn off the TV sometimes when they watch basketball, so I had no choice but to get back out there or that would have been the end of it for basketball in my hometown."

Lopez slipped out without talking to reporters, and Gentry cautioned not to make too much of the big second-year pro's probable return.

"This is not the cavalry, guys," Gentry said.

Lopez averaged 11.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocked shots in the 31 games after he became a starter on Jan. 18. Gentry expected defense and rebounding from Lopez, but was surprised with the offense he provided, including a career-high 30 points against the Los Angeles Clippers on Feb. 28.

 

[cly2tw]

Grant Hill's defense has been key to these playoffs. His D in the first round was a series changer and his work on Ginobili made him virtually a non-factor.

So, now its Kobe. I wonder how he will do there. The key to the Lakers series will be how well G Hill can slow Kobe down. If he can limit him a little, we have a chance.

I agree. It's the mindset of playing defense in which Hill led us by example. JRich has been playing better and smarter defense after the 1st Portland game disaster, though maybe particially due to his confidence in his off. production. From the 3rd or 4th Blazers series on, Gentry truly started to trust the bench and the defensive ability of the whole team. He no longer would rush Nash back the very moment the bench failed two offensive possessions in a row. That's contagious. But the snowballing effect all started with Hill shutting down Miller, and kept alive with him really bothering Manu/Parker. It's fair to say Hill has been the catalyst for the transformation of the Suns, and thus central to their success so far.