While many thought the Philadelphia 76ers would make a splash during this year’s trade deadline, instead they chose to play it safe. The safety net they did acquire came in the form of veteran guard George Hill, who brings both a high basketball-IQ and a playoff track record to the Sixers squad.
Hill finally made his debut as a Sixer when the Warriors came to town on Monday. The team figured to need extra guard depth anyway as Ben Simmons sat out of the contest with an illness (non COVID-19 related). Hill provided the Sixers with 18 minutes of play off the bench during their loss to Golden State 107-96.
The bad news is that the veteran’s contributions were few and far between. His +/- was a horrific -13 during his 18 minutes on the court as he only shot 1-5 from the field. All told, he tallied just 2 points, 2 assists, and 2 rebounds (coincidentally his box score also includes 2 turnovers and 2 blocked shots; you can’t fault this man for consistency). Those looking for good news can repeat the mantra “It can only get better from here” and hope at the very least that his locker room presence is a positive for those who can provide more efficient on-court production.
Steph Curry, meanwhile, absolutely stole the show in this game as he continued the scorching scoring pace he’s been on for the entirety of April. His 49 points propelled the Dubs to a much needed victory as they attempt to secure a spot in the play-in tournament. Perhaps Steph was especially motivated in this contest as he was often guarded by his younger brother, Seth Curry.
The Sixers, on the other hand, still sit at the top of the Eastern Conference, though their lead over Brooklyn is just one game at present. I’m still of the opinion that the top seed in the East is extremely significant as it all but guarantees the chance to miss one of Brooklyn and Milwaukee.
George Hill likely won’t get anything beyond slices of bench minutes moving forward. He will have his next opportunity to impress Sixers fans this Wednesday when the team hosts the Phoenix Suns.
