Jordan Hill, forward for the Los Angeles Lakers, played in Friday night's ball game against the Washington Wizards. Mr. Hill hadn't played in the last several ball games for the Lakers. In fact, for the team photo the other day, Mr. Hill was absent.
But that certainly is very far from what he was in Friday's ball game (March 21, 2014). Mr Hill was very present. And the opposing Center, Marcin Gortat, felt his presence in the ball game. At the 2 minute and 14 second mark in the fourth period, F Drew Gooden for the Washington Wizards ended up getting tangled with wing man Nick Young of the Lakers.
Nick Young took exception of this and approached Drew Gooden, who was actually sitting on the hardwood floor at the time. Gortat, the Center for the Washington Wizards, saw this and started approaching Nick Young. Meanwhile, Jordan Hill saw this develop and very quickly approached Mr. Gortat. Mr. Hill immediately removed Gortat from the area nearest Nick Young and got him away from all the other players on the floor. As he was doing this he adjusts himself to where he could wrap Gortat up and basically diffuse the situation from escalating any further.
In reviewing the film it was an absolutely brilliant maneuver on Jordan Hill's part and an absolute class act as a teammate.
After the game, Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni, commented on Jordan Hill's actions.
D'Antoni said this, "Jordan shouldn't have been doing any of that, you know?"
Earlier in the season there was a scuffle between Nick Young and several of the players of the Phoenix Suns. During that scuffle, although that happened extremely rapidly, there were no Lakers that came to Nick Young's aid. Nick Young commented on that after that game. Mr. Young had said that he felt all alone out there that it was, "one on five."
Well, Mr. Young, say hello to Mr. Hill. Hill, who wasn't on the floor during that previous skirmish in Phoenix, engaged in a different version of 1-on-5 in Hollywood Friday Night's Action at Staples Center. Jordan Hill did the right thing. Jordan Hill did what any good teammate should do. He did what any man should do and any friend should do. He also did what any conflict resolved her or any peacemaker should do. Jordan Hill stood up for his teammate, his friend, and his team.
I have no doubt that words were exchanged when Mr Hill wrapped up Gortat. You could easily see by the hold that Mr. Hill had on Gortat that he could actually very easily throw him to the floor.
Instead, he caught his balance and he held Gortat up.
I have no doubt that Gortat felt the hold that Mr Hill had on him and each of these players had a mutual respect for one another at that moment in time.
The scuffle ended. As Chick Hearn would say, "no harm no foul."
That wasn't exactly the case as both Drew Gooden and Jordan Hill were ejected from the ball game with double technical fouls. Order was restored. Jordan, "King of the" Hill kept the Peace and Nick Young was able to finish the ballgame. Jordan Hill's last significant PT (Playing Time) came on February, 23rd, 2014, when he played 29 minutes 34 seconds vs the Brooklyn Nets. Mr Hill logged 11 points, had eight rebounds (four of which were offensive) and shot 5 for 8 from the floor that game.
In the next three games that followed, Mr Hill logged 10 minutes 6 minutes and five minutes in playing time. That ended the month of February for games and Friday night represented the first time that Jordan Hill played during the month of March.
After receiving three consecutive DNP CDs, did not play coach's decision, Mr Hill had five consecutive DNDs (Did Not Dress- Knee).
Hill certainly showed no signs of any soreness in his knee Friday night. Mr Hill played 26 minutes, had 14 rebounds 5 of which were offensive, and had nine points and four blocked shots.
It has been reported that Jordan Hill will start in tonight's ballgame (Sunday, March 23, 2014) against the Orlando Magic.
I see you Mr Hill.
-Chauncey BigUpps
