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Healthy Hill preparing for role as supporting player

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 30, 2001

ORLANDO -- Two offseasons ago, as Doc Rivers began to mold the Magic to his liking, the team agreed to two sign-and-trade deals for small forwards Grant Hill and Tracy McGrady.

Though both had seven-year, $92.8-million contracts, at the time Hill was the perennial All-Star, the real catch.

A multifaceted player, Hill was considered one of the game's elite, and from the Magic's perspective he was ready to be handed the keys to the future.

But a broken bone in his left ankle kept Hill in the shop for all but four games last season, and the relatively unknown McGrady, barely old enough to drive, took the wheel.

McGrady averaged 26.8 points and 7.5 rebounds, started the All-Star Game and drove the Magic to the playoffs. Which brings us back to Hill.

Recovered from ankle problems, Hill, 29, faces a challenge seldom experienced by a player of his pedigree. Entering his eighth season, the former Duke star must learn to adapt his game to McGrady's while accepting that he won't need to take every critical shot.

"I expect my role will be a little different," Hill said. "I think everybody's role will be a little different."

But will Hill and McGrady mesh over an 82-game season?

"That probably will be the least of our problems," Hill said. "Tracy, as physically gifted as he is, is also one of the smartest players in the league. And I would like to think I am an intelligent player too. We don't have agendas. We just want to win."

To outsiders, the return of Hill, along with the addition of veteran big men Patrick Ewing and Horace Grant, signals the Magic's move into the Eastern Conference's upper echelon.

But to the Magic, Hill's presence in the lineup has three important implications:

Scoring.

The Magic now has two bona fide offensive weapons who can score in the open court and in halfcourt situations.

Though rookie Mike Miller had spots of brilliance last season and veteran point guard Darrell Armstrong left everything on the floor, there were times McGrady was option No. 1, 2 and 3.

Hill's presence will change that.

"I don't know how teams will be able to stop us," said Hill, who has averaged 21.5 points and 7.8 rebounds for his career. "Tracy is one of the top players, if not the top player in the league. And I think with me healthy and being able to do what I can do out there, we have a nice duo out there on the basketball court. It's scary."

Tipping off his 15th season, Grant said the Hill/McGrady combination has sparked memories of other impressive duos.

"I've played with some of the best," Grant said. "As in Michael (Jordan) and Scottie (Pippen), Shaquille (O'Neal) and Kobe (Bryant), but guys like Tracy and Grant can be just as good. If we can keep everybody healthy, the sky is the limit."

Ball handling.

When Miller returns from a broken bone in his foot, the Magic plans to frequently go with a giant backcourt featuring Hill at the point, Miller at shooting guard and McGrady as the swing forward. All will handle the ball, but the offense will be initiated through Hill.

Hill played the point-forward position at times with Detroit, but with the role likely to expand in Orlando, the presence of assistant coach Paul Pressey, the NBA's first point-forward, should help.

"It's such an advantage for me to have Paul here," Hill said. "We talk all the time, and we did a lot last year when I was hurt. Paul has seen things that I see out there now. He has been in those situations before.

"At Detroit, they wanted me to score, and I did that. But I like to pass. I like to play the complete game. I feel like if one guy is scoring 30 or 40 each night, that means you've got a bunch of unhappy guys with him."

Chemistry. While rehabilitating his ankle, Hill remained in Orlando the entire season. He missed very few games, sat in on nearly all practices and meetings and remained as visible as possible.

The franchise has had stars leave town during rehab before, Penny Hardaway coming to mind. So Hill's commitment to the Magic did not go unnoticed by teammates and coaches.

Moreover, the time spent sitting and watching gave him an appreciation for the game and for the talents of his teammates.

"I understand that not everybody can do the things I can do or maybe Tracy can do," Hill said. "Sometimes, you learn to appreciate what it's like to be someone who's not a starter, someone who has to work hard to struggle to try to survive.

"It just gave me a greater sensitivity toward my teammates, and hopefully that will help me be a better teammate and a better leader in the long run."

-- Times researcher John Martin and information from other news sources was used in this report.

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