Ouch! Grant Hill Out for Two Weeks

by TexSUN on Jan 9, 2008 2:15 PM MST in Phoenix Suns News

Remember that post about bad news always following good news a few months back? Well, looks like it's happened again. Fresh on the heels of one of their biggest wins of the season, the Suns were hit with the other shoe dropping this morning. Grant Hill is expected to be out for two weeks following an appendectomy this evening. AZCentral has a few more details. I guess the silver lining of this is that it should provide more opportunities for Marcus Banks to continue building on his recent improved play, and it gives Boris Diaw another opportunity in the starting lineup. I'd also think D.J. Strawberry will be brought back from Albuquerque to fill the vacant spot on the bench, but there's no official word on that yet.

Get well soon, Grant!

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God Speed Grant!!!!

Man that's bad new. Hopefully he'll be back to true form in two weeks. We'll just have to see.

"Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle, but in defeating your enemy without ever fighting." Sun Tzu

by Turambar on Jan 9, 2008 2:54 PM MST reply actions

Rats

Not that I'd wish it on anyone, but couldn't it have happened to one of the guys that sits at the end of the bench rather than a starter? Oh well, I'm just glad it's not Nash out for 2 weeks because that would really be painful!

by TwinnerA on Jan 9, 2008 3:02 PM MST reply actions

Whew!

I had to re-read it a few times because I kept blanking and couldn't figure out was wrong.

This is just a nice rest for him. A blessing in disguise. Finally something goes right for the Suns.

Also, we'll get to see more of Banks.

Why is Doris getting the starting nod, though? That lineup never worked last year. Let The Principal start.

Mmmmm ... Guinness

by JSun on Jan 9, 2008 3:08 PM MST reply actions

Tonight Boris makes sense

if you look at the Indy line up. They aren't big inside so Boris is the better option.

Against Utah, the Lakers and maybe Minni we will likely see Skinner start.

by Seth Pollack on Jan 9, 2008 3:11 PM MST up reply actions

"That lineup"...

...is the same one the Suns used last year on both of those long winning streaks last year as best I recall.

by TexSUN on Jan 9, 2008 3:16 PM MST up reply actions

That Lineup

Wasn't JJ in and out of it?

If not, I'd bet the winning streaks could've been longer ... only because I'm argumentative.

Mmmmm ... Guinness

by JSun on Jan 9, 2008 3:46 PM MST up reply actions

I may be mis-remembering...

...but I think the JJ experiment came after the two really long streaks.

by TexSUN on Jan 9, 2008 3:51 PM MST up reply actions

Ok looks like...

...the JJ experiment was longer than I thought (went all the way into the playoffs before D'Antoni started mixing it up some more with KT in there occasionally). However, the Nash+Bell+Diaw+Marion+Amare lineup was the one that started during the two long streaks just like I said. :)

by TexSUN on Jan 9, 2008 3:55 PM MST up reply actions

Sucks for Grant but....

...this should be an opportunity for the Suns to use more bench players and that will either show Coach D something or prove him right to only play an 8 man rotation.

The timing doesn't hurt right now and Grant will be totally fine in plenty of time to recover and be ready for the playoffs. It would have hurt in March but not now.

Let's see what Banks and maybe AT, DJ or Marks can do with the extra minutes. There was always going to be a point - and there likely will be more - when a starter is down for a few weeks. It always happens. Now we can see what our bench really can do. I'm kind of excited about it actually even if it costs a game or two in the mean time.

by Seth Pollack on Jan 9, 2008 3:10 PM MST reply actions

Phew!

Well we all should be glad it wasn't his ankle or somethin...

by whatisboxhappening on Jan 9, 2008 4:07 PM MST reply actions

thats exactly what I was thinking

THANK GOD,

by jasonsuns1 on Jan 9, 2008 5:43 PM MST up reply actions

Atleast this will

allow 1 or 2 other guys to get some run. I think the rest will only help Grant. And as good as he has been, I really think he would be better off the bench. As he would play less minutes and have more energy to spare later in the year and especially come playoff time.

by Aluminum Foyle on Jan 9, 2008 10:29 PM MST reply actions