Hill to Become 3 Point Threat?!?!

[Covert Rain]

Just got done listening to the FAN. They were interviewing Mike about Grant Hill. He said that 2 things Grant will have to get used to is more running and taking the 3 point shot. He said Grant will have to work on that.

That's not exactly what I wanted to hear. How about utilizing Grant for his strengths? Is anybody else a little disturbed at the prospect of turning a player who had never really been a 3 point shooter and Mike trying to turn him into one?

Is this just a precursor to the fact that if Grant isn't successful he just ends up riding the bench because he is not a 3 point threat?

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

While I dont see the harm in adding a few more feet to your shot, this only solidifies the fact that dantoni is more stubborn than bush. He is so easy to read, I think the suns will struggle this coming year now that other coaches know he wont really change course now that stat is back in full swing.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Just an FYI - Shawn Marion attempted more 3 point shots last year than Hill has in his entire career.

 

[Cheesebeef]

does anyone else have a feeling that this is it for DA this year, win or else?

and before anyone chimes in with a "yeah, a guy who won 62, 54 and 61 games, yada, yada, yada", go look up Paul Westphaul's numbers his first three years with the Suns and notice when his tenure ended. this team has too much talent on it not to win the title next year and the only thing that can seemingly hold us back is philosophy, for good or bad.

 

[scotsman13]

guys before q rich came to the suns he wasnt known as a 3pt shooter, raja on 3s nope there to. in the end hill will end up being even better because he he is known as a slasher/mid range shooter.

 

[azirish]

While I dont see the harm in adding a few more feet to your shot, this only solidifies the fact that dantoni is more stubborn than bush. He is so easy to read, I think the suns will struggle this coming year now that other coaches know he wont really change course now that stat is back in full swing.

I would guess that the plan is to have Hill shoot just enough three pointers to force opponents to extend their defense to him to keep the floor spread. As someone said, it is not shooting threes that matters, just the threat of shooting threes.

 

[elindholm]

guys before q rich came to the suns he wasnt known as a 3pt shooter, raja on 3s nope there to. in the end hill will end up being even better because he he is known as a slasher/mid range shooter.

Uh, you might want to check your stats. It's not just that Hill hasn't shot many threes in his career, but that when he shoots them, he misses almost every time.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

I would guess that the plan is to have Hill shoot just enough three pointers to force opponents to extend their defense to him to keep the floor spread. As someone said, it is not shooting threes that matters, just the threat of shooting threes.

I agree.

But if hill has played the last decade as a slasher/midrange shooter, why hasnt he needed to add a 3 point attempt to his game to bring his defender out yet?

Wouldnt that help any offensive style?

 

[elindholm]

does anyone else have a feeling that this is it for DA this year, win or else?

and before anyone chimes in with a "yeah, a guy who won 62, 54 and 61 games, yada, yada, yada", go look up Paul Westphaul's numbers his first three years with the Suns and notice when his tenure ended.

Westphal was done in by the blood feud between Barkley and Johnson, which he wasn't a strong enough personality to resolve. Unless Nash and Stoudemire fracture, which I don't see happening, there's nothing to threaten D'Antoni.

 

[Cheesebeef]

guys before q rich came to the suns he wasnt known as a 3pt shooter, raja on 3s nope there to. in the end hill will end up being even better because he he is known as a slasher/mid range shooter.

in Q's three years prior to joining the Suns he was shooting an average of 4 threes a game, shooting at a 35% clip and Raja in his previous two seasons was averaging 2 three taken a game, shooting at a 38% clip. Grant Hill in comparison has averaged .3 threes a game, shooting at a 18% clip in the last three years and that's pretty much par for the course throughout his career so I'm failing to see the connection made above.

Both q and Raja shot the three, and were actually decent at it - did they shoot it at a Suns' clip? No - but no team shoots it at our clip, but it still doesn't mean they didn't already have that in their game as the above implies.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Westphal was done in by the blood feud between Barkley and Johnson, which he wasn't a strong enough personality to resolve. Unless Nash and Stoudemire fracture, which I don't see happening, there's nothing to threaten D'Antoni.

well, then I'll just make my call right now, if we don't win the title next year, DA's a goner. Westy was done in by the fact that he couldn't get the team over the hump IMO. The Barkley-KJ feud had very little to do with it IMO.

 

[Rab]

This isn't what I really want to hear from D'Antoni. We have enough players who will shoot the 3. There is NO USE for Grant if he's going to be launching 3's. That's not his game, and has never been his game. His slashing and mid-range abilities will be much more useful to this team than shooting the 3. Just him cutting and slashing and drawing defenses will be plenty to help create for players like Raja, LB, and Nash.

If Hill starts turning into a 3 point shooter, I'll lose it completely, and I will want D'Antoni's head. Why is he never open to change, not even in the least? I agree with cheese, I think this season will go a long way in determining Mike's future with the organization. I think he's a good coach, but he could be much better if he'd lose the stubborness, and work out his trust issues with the bench.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

well, then I'll just make my call right now, if we don't win the title next year, DA's a goner. Westy was done in by the fact that he couldn't get the team over the hump IMO. The Barkley-KJ feud had very little to do with it IMO.

I second that.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

in Q's three years prior to joining the Suns he was shooting an average of 4 threes a game, shooting at a 35% clip and Raja in his previous two seasons was averaging 2 three taken a game, shooting at a 38% clip. Grant Hill in comparison has averaged .3 threes a game, shooting at a 18% clip in the last three years and that's pretty much par for the course throughout his career so I'm failing to see the connection made above.

Both q and Raja shot the three, and were actually decent at it - did they shoot it at a Suns' clip? No - but no team shoots it at our clip, but it still doesn't mean they didn't already have that in their game as the above implies.

That doesn't mean anything, those 20 threes over the last two years could numbers just as easily have included 8-10 end of quarter/ half court buzzer launches, those count as 3pt attempts, the assumption these are all wide open threes that Hill just couldn't make is reading too much into the numbers at a raw value.

Now I am not saying he is going to suddenly turn into Dan Majerle, but it's huge leap to think Grant Hill doesn't have the capability to extend his jumper a bit when needed. I doubt he is going to put up 400+, it wil probably be more like 80 max.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

well, then I'll just make my call right now, if we don't win the title next year, DA's a goner. Westy was done in by the fact that he couldn't get the team over the hump IMO. The Barkley-KJ feud had very little to do with it IMO.

So if the Suns get to the finals and lose in 7, D'anotni is a goner? The Suns would have some balls to make a move like that, they better bring in someone pretty damn good and not the tools and retreds I see being suggested on this board. And I mean like stealing Pop.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

Bring on Billy Donovan!

 

[Treesquid PhD]

Bring on Billy Donovan!

say bye to the Atlanta pick.

 

[Rab]

So if the Suns get to the finals and lose in 7, D'anotni is a goner? The Suns would have some balls to make a move like that, they better bring in someone pretty damn good and not the tools and retreds I see being suggested on this board. And I mean like stealing Pop.

That's a little extreme. If he makes the finals, he's fine.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

well, then I'll just make my call right now, if we don't win the title next year, DA's a goner. Westy was done in by the fact that he couldn't get the team over the hump IMO. The Barkley-KJ feud had very little to do with it IMO.

Disagree. There is no way that our cheap (half- ) owner is going to pay for 2 coaches at the same time.

 

[Covert Rain]

in Q's three years prior to joining the Suns he was shooting an average of 4 threes a game, shooting at a 35% clip and Raja in his previous two seasons was averaging 2 three taken a game, shooting at a 38% clip. Grant Hill in comparison has averaged .3 threes a game, shooting at a 18% clip in the last three years and that's pretty much par for the course throughout his career so I'm failing to see the connection made above.

Both q and Raja shot the three, and were actually decent at it - did they shoot it at a Suns' clip? No - but no team shoots it at our clip, but it still doesn't mean they didn't already have that in their game as the above implies.

I agree. Those guys maybe didn't put up the number of 3's but they could shoot it. Grant Hill can't and D'Antoni wants Hill to chuck em up?

This isn't what I really want to hear from D'Antoni. We have enough players who will shoot the 3. There is NO USE for Grant if he's going to be launching 3's. That's not his game, and has never been his game. His slashing and mid-range abilities will be much more useful to this team than shooting the 3. Just him cutting and slashing and drawing defenses will be plenty to help create for players like Raja, LB, and Nash.

If Hill starts turning into a 3 point shooter, I'll lose it completely, and I will want D'Antoni's head. Why is he never open to change, not even in the least? I agree with cheese, I think this season will go a long way in determining Mike's future with the organization. I think he's a good coach, but he could be much better if he'd lose the stubborness, and work out his trust issues with the bench.

I agree with this. If your not going to use Grant Hill's skills then why bring him here? If your going to try and turn him into a 3 point shooter then why bother? Grant Hill is good at creating his own shot. Not spotting up at the 3 point line.

well, then I'll just make my call right now, if we don't win the title next year, DA's a goner. Westy was done in by the fact that he couldn't get the team over the hump IMO. The Barkley-KJ feud had very little to do with it IMO.

I am not sure he is a goner for that alone. I think D'Antoni probably has until Nash is no longer starting material. When the Nash era is gone (assuming the Suns have no titles) he is gone.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Just because Hill has to work on his running and three pointers, doesn't mean he wont be used to his strengths.

Obviously in our system, he'll get open three point looks. May as well work on making them!

 

[nashman]

Wow a little overboard! Dantoni simply said he needs to not be shy and if a shot is there take it, not Grant needs to chuck up hundreds of 3pt shot attempts. Wow we replace a scrub in JJ with freakin Grant Hill and people still bitch about this team...just wow!

 

[Covert Rain]

Just because Hill has to work on his running and three pointers, doesn't mean he wont be used to his strengths.

Obviously in our system, he'll get open three point looks. May as well work on making them!

Here is my problem. Look at D'Antoni's track record for making players doing things outside their comfort zone? You can't tell me a guy shooting 18% is going to be comfortable doing that. I am sure the Hill will get opportunities playing in a point forward role.

It just amazes me that D'Antoni continues to be stubborn about what he "thinks" players should be and then when it doesn't work out, they sit on the bench. THAT is what I don't want to see.

Wow a little overboard! Dantoni simply said he needs to not be shy and if a shot is there take it, not Grant needs to chuck up hundreds of 3pt shot attempts. Wow we replace a scrub in JJ with freakin Grant Hill and people still bitch about this team...just wow!

No he didn't. His exact words were that "Hill needs to learn to shoot the 3 point shot.". Also, we are not bitching about the team as much as basically stating that D'Antoni and his philosophy really worries people some time. Nobody is saying it's doom and gloom. Wow...I am amazed you got that out of this thread...just wow.

 

[nashman]

Look Grant Hill is not some freakin bench scrub people! The only way he is on the bench is if he is resting or injured period! Dantoni will be much more inclined to use his bench if they didn;t suck like last year!

 

[Covert Rain]

Look Grant Hill is not some freakin bench scrub people! The only way he is on the bench is if he is resting or injured period! Dantoni will be much more inclined to use his bench if they didn;t suck like last year!

Where did you see people calling Grant Hill a scrub exactly??