Grant Hill vs. the Three-Ball

by TexSUN on Nov 11, 2007 3:53 AM MST

We needed a new poll since the old one was already horribly out of date. So, here's a question to mull over while we're waiting for the mini-homestand to start on Tuesday:

After seven games, Grant Hill is hitting the three-pointer at about a 21% clip, making just five of his 24 attempts. Before the season started, I predicted that he would set new career highs for three pointers made, attempted, and percentage. So far, he's looking good to set a career high in attempts, but not so good on the other two. Still, the season is very young, and he has plenty of time for the old "practice makes perfect" approach. So, here's the question: Should Grant continue to take the three when it's open, or should he get back to the slashing/midrange game that has been his modus operandi his entire career? For now, I'm going with "give it some time". I still think he will be nailing those three-balls at a reasonable percentage by the end of the season, and adding that shot to his game would be huge in opening up the floor for the entire team. I personally think it's a gamble worth taking, but what do ya'll think? Should the Grant Hill as a three-point shooter experiment end immediately, or should we give him a few more games to get used to taking that shot?

Poll

Should Grant Hill keep shooting three-pointers?

Yes, whenever he's open

54 votes

Yes, but limit his attempts to two or three per game

36 votes

Yes, but only as a last resort

15 votes

No, he should stick with what he does best and avoid the three whenever possible

18 votes

123 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Wow, Tex - Up late or up early?

I keed, I keed. :D

Grant definitely needs to cut back on the 3-point attempts - not so much because he's shooting just a hair over 20% from there, but because it's clearly bogging down the rest of his game. I mean, he's putting so much focus on trying to line up a 3 shot that it's taking away from his natural court awareness on offense.

Less Grant 3's = more court vision and playmaking. If it's there (read: if an open shot falls into his lap), take it, but don't work so damn hard to get a 3 shot that it takes away from the rest of the floor game - of which Hill's is superb.

As long as we're on the subject of Hill though Tex, have you been as pleasantly surprized as I am by his perimeter D? Starting vs. Cleveland on LeBron and continuing in Charlotte against Richardson - taking a break in Atlanta, of course. But, impressive and suffocating scrambling down the stretch in Miami and holding Turkoglu - a guy who's ALWAYS given us fits - last night in Orlando.

Unexpected, but certainly appreciated nonetheless. ;)

Always remember to keep one foot in the groove

by SwingMan on Nov 11, 2007 4:27 AM MST reply actions

i agree

funny thing, like Marion, great defense tends to get
over shadowed a bit by our offense on this team. But, couldn't agree with you more, we're lucky to have him on defense. To have another 6ft 8+ guy who can guard like that, awesome! On three ball, I also want him to slow down on the number of 3 point shots, but do understand the idea, that if he shots a few hundred this year, improves his form from that far, that having him shoot that shot well, on top of his driving can only help us. Imagine having Nash, Barbosa, Bell, Marion, and Hill all shooting well from the 3. I know Bell goes hot and cold, as apparently so does Barbosa (not as much cold).

I really think the Suns and Hill know they have the best attacker of the basket in the league (when he's healthy), and are saving him like a secret weapon for the playoffs (as far as attacking the rim). It makes some sense to wait, given Hill's history of injury. Helps decrease his chance of injury (just think of Wade attacking the hoop all the time and always getting nailed).

I'm praying that we play the Spurs in the playoffs, so our improved team can beat them 4 games to 1! Until then, the ups and downs aren't too big a deal, as long as they figure out why its happening, and how to prevent it.

by jasonsuns1 on Nov 11, 2007 8:38 AM MST up reply actions

No more than a couple..

Hill will on occasion get open in the corners and in the Suns system I think he has to take at least one or two 3-point shots a game to prevent defenses from playing only is drives to the basket, but no more than that. he's never been a shoote, nor will become one after 13 years in the league.

by Son of Steve Nash on Nov 11, 2007 9:49 AM MST reply actions

Keep firing

I say keep shooting. We are barely into the season and this is a whole new thing for him. According to the coach and other's who watch him shoot in practice his stroke is good and there's no reason to think that he won't get to a solid 40% clip from 3 within a few weeks or even months.

This early season time is about experimenting, growing, getting better, yadda yadda..

So, I say keep firing away Grant. If in Jan or Feb its still not falling then sure maybe then cut back. But our offense is totally built around spreading the floor and having viable 3 pt threats. For Grant to maximize his value to the Suns he needs to be hitting those shots and I am more then willing to give him a few months to see what he can do. I think he's earned that right.

Now - what I am most concerned about is the tight rotation. Even w/ Amare not playing much or well we aren't seeing Marks or Banks enough let alone an occasional DJ sighting.

Hopefully, w/ LB and Raja heating up Nash can scale back and maybe the coach w/ open up the rotation a bit more.

by Seth Pollack on Nov 11, 2007 10:27 AM MST reply actions

Going to the rack

I don't know if there's a stat for # of times the player goes to the rack and ends up on the floor but I think Grant Hill would be right up there w/ Gerald "Crash" Wallace.

Do we really want Grant putting it all on the line each and every night in November?

To quote Green Day - let's take the Longview on this one...

by Seth Pollack on Nov 11, 2007 10:46 AM MST up reply actions

I love the nod to Green Day

I never would have guessed that the day would come when a Green Day refrence could be used on a Phoenix Suns discussion. Thx srp and long live East Bay punk!!!
On Hill though, it's early in the season, so there's enough time for him to work his shot in. But this team has a tendency not to exploit its low post abilities. If the time comes when we need a boost, I expect him to drive it to the lane or pull a mid-range. There will always be bad shooting days, but that doesn't mean those games are beyond winning. This team can win if they attack the basket and get to the line.

If ya can't jump 'em out, then box 'em out!

by PurplePinoy on Nov 11, 2007 5:27 PM MST up reply actions

Wait until garbage time.

Hill has never had to shoot threes so he never made it a part of his game. Let him shoot all the threes he wants to when the Suns have the game in the bag. If he improves, great, no harm. If he doesn't, back off.

by OneSunsFan on Nov 12, 2007 7:10 PM MST reply actions