<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">DENVER -- Too many turnovers, too slow defensively and two guys they never had a chance against all added up to another painful loss for the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night. The Denver Nuggets avenged an early-season loss in Orlando by pounding the Magic 111-101 behind all-stars Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony, who had 34 and 23 points, respectively. It was the fifth loss in six games for the Magic (28-31) since the all-star break. Coupled with Miami's victory over Washington, the Magic dropped to No. 9 in the Eastern Conference and out of the playoff picture. Adding to the problem was yet another injury to Grant Hill, who left late in the second quarter and never returned because of a sore left foot, a problem that has lingered through much of the season. Dwight Howard led the Magic with 23 points and 12 rebounds, but he also contributed to the downfall with four turnovers. The Magic were hurt by 25 turnovers and the inability to cope with the quickness of Iverson and Anthony. "It just didn't look like we had anything in the tank,'' Magic Coach Brian Hill said. "We were a step behind defensively, all night long. I don't know why.'' Hill missed seven games in February with a sprained right knee, and he missed three games from Dec. 30 to Jan. 5, also with that sore left foot. He skipped three games early in the season -- all on the second half of back-to-back nights -- as a precaution against possible injury. He missed most of his first four seasons with the Magic because of multiple surgeries with his left ankle, and he played only 21 games last season because of a hernia. "It's sore on the top of my midfoot. A couple of days rest and it should be all right,'' Hill said as he limped out of the locker room. "It was bothering me before the game, and I tried to get it loose. It's actually been bothering me, and I've been getting treatment for it most of the season. Hopefully, I can get it ready for the weekend.'' The Magic will play Friday in San Antonio and Saturday in Dallas. Although the team said he is questionable, it's likely that he won't play again until next week when they return home Monday against Milwaukee.</div> Source Which raises the question, What to do with Grant Hill? <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">No one has been a bigger defender of Grant Hill than yours truly. I've always said that the snake-bit Hill could have always sat on his fat wallet all these years instead of going through an unfathomable process of recovering from every injury. Wednesday night in Denver, Hill reinjured his left foot, and there's no telling when he will be back in this playoff drive. Which begs the question: What do the Magic do with Grant next season? They want to re-sign him to a minimum contract ($1.5 million is the veteran's exception). But when he is in and out of the lineup so often, how good is that for a young team that is trying to find itself and become a perennial playoff participant? Is it better to cut ties and find younger blood who don't have a history of injuries? Is it better for GHill to come off the bench -- that way any future injuries don't impact the first team as much and cause a chain reaction in the rotation? And how about Hill himself: How can he keep playing through all these disappointments? Hill missed seven games in February with a sprained right knee, and he missed three games from Dec. 30 to Jan. 5, also with that sore left foot. He skipped three games early in the season -- all on the second half of back-to-back nights -- as a precaution against possible injury. He missed most of his first four seasons with the Magic because of multiple surgeries with his left ankle, and he played only 21 games last season because of a hernia. "It's sore on the top of my midfoot. A couple of days rest and it should be all right,'' Hill told our Tim Povtak. "It was bothering me before the game, and I tried to get it loose. It's actually been bothering me, and I've been getting treatment for it most of the season. Hopefully, I can get it ready for the weekend.'' Hill, for all his Duke pedigree and monetary blessings, is a tougher guy than anybody knows. I'd always want him on my team. One leg --- or two. The thing is, Grant still can play. He just can't stay on the floor for long stretches. For the future of the franchise, maybe for the good of the franchise, what do you do if you're the Magic? </div> Source So what are your opinions? I'll post mine after a few others respond.
Swap him and Ariza like I've been saying for the last month. Bring him off the bench to give good offensive support to the 2nd team, put Ariza on first team to give good defensive support and play Hill 20-25 mins max and preserve him. How many injuries does it take for us to realize that we can't play him 30-35 minutes a game? You would think that after the first 20 injuries we would realize that we need to play him less and that will help save him for a playoff run.
If the Magic can resign him cheap, they should definetly do it. Although his injuries are a concern, the guy can still produce when given minutes. Grant Hill is getting up there in age, so it would be wise for the Magic to limit his playing time. Again, like I said, if the Magic can resign him cheap, they should definetly do it. Grant Hill has been there and done that. I'm sure he's a great leader and a great veteran presence for this team. The youngsters all need guidance, so why not have a former All-Star, and one of the most humble guys in the NBA on your roster?
