In the closing phases of Thursday morning’s shootaround at Cleveland Clinic Courts, Cavs assistant coach Damon Jones and newly acquired point guard George Hill enjoyed a friendly game of “PIG.” Although he’s been retired from the NBA for a few years now, coach Jones still has a smooth shooting stroke.
Before anyone starts slamming Hill for losing, remember the fact that coach Jones — a former Cavalier — was one of the best three-point shooters in NBA history. In fact, Jones (941) is ranked 117th on the NBA’s all-time three-point field goals made list.
Although he was defeated on the practice court, there is no doubt that Cleveland’s acquisition of Hill was a win. The former 26th overall pick (2008) has played in six games with the Cavs thus far, averaging 11.8 points, 2.5 assists, and 2.3 rebounds.
Hill set a new season-high point total in Tuesday’s 129-123 win over the Brooklyn Nets, scoring 26 points on 9-17 shooting from the field (3-4 from beyond the arc), five assists, three rebounds, and three steals in 37 minutes of playing time.
“George, what got you going individually, especially in that third quarter?” a reporter asked Hill after Tuesday’s game.
“Just my coaches and teammates saying stay aggressive and take my shot,” Hill replied. “Just trying to find that rhythm and that balance. It was that ‘we need to win’ situation.”
The new-look Cavs have won four of their last six games. They’ll look to keep their momentum rolling on Thursday night, as they’re scheduled to host the Philadelphia 76ers for the third contest in a five-game home stand. Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m. EST with TNT and FOX Sports Ohio having live broadcast coverage.