The purple and gold may not be blazing a path to the playoffs at present, but Hill is posting solid numbers as their second-leading scorer, averaging 14.1 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 blocks per game.
Moreover, he has added something to his arsenal. The big man has become a bit of a shooter of late—often stepping out beyond his traditional painted territory and sinking mid-range set shots with aplomb.
It doesn’t always work. With 29 seconds left and a three-point deficit against the Memphis Grizzlies on Nov. 11, Hill fired one off instead of passing to Kobe Bryant, who was riding a hot streak late in the game.
Hill missed, and the face of the franchise favored him with a death stare. The narrative isn’t always clean and simple—the Lakers lost the game and dropped to 1-6.
Hill won't be dethroning the Mamba as the team’s points leader anytime soon, but he is trying to lend a needed element of balance.
After a recent practice, per Joey Ramirez of Lakers.com, head coach Byron Scott spoke about the need to lighten Bryant’s offensive load: “It’s one of those things where there’s no specific formula just because every game has its own personality. So tomorrow might be Jordan Hill’s night or whatever.”
The 6’10” center may actually have more than the occasional good night if recent efforts are a reliable indicator. He’s decimating his stats from the previous five seasons, and it's not only in the scoring column. On Nov. 9, Hill added seven assists to his 12 points during the team’s first win of the season, beating the Charlotte Ho...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
