Cleveland Cavaliers: What each new player adds to the team
By Ryan Piers
George Hill
The combo guard is as steady as they come with lockdown defensive capabilities. Excellent at guarding the pick-and-roll, Hill has survived 10 NBA seasons in part because he’s adapted expertly to one of the league’s most popular plays.
Gritty and hard-nosed, he’ll often suffocate opposing point guards from baseline to baseline. This video is a perfect example of what Hill brings to the table. You know Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert and general manager Koby Altman envisioned him pestering Stephen Curry in the NBA Finals as they finalized the acquisition.
In this clip, Hill hawks his opponent from the play’s commencement. In a way, he’s the anti-Isaiah Thomas; lacking flash and pizzazz, but never short on hustle.
What the Cavaliers probably like most about Hill, however, is his reliability from the deep. He’s third in the league in 3-point shooting at 45.3 percent. Yes, he’s only averaging 10.3 points per game with 1.3 3-pointers per contest.
However, Hill was overly passive in Sacramento, with his minutes and shots per game nearing career lows as the apathetic Kings tanked by playing younger talent. In Cleveland, he’ll likely feel rejuvenated, hopefully resembling what he looked like in Indiana and Utah.