Milwaukee Bucks: George Hill is a silent assassin having a career year

George Hill is enjoying a career year for the Milwaukee Bucks and has been one of the team’s consistent veteran forces off the bench

It’s not often that you see a point guard having a career-best year at the age of 33. In his 12th year in the NBA, George Hill has taken the league by storm, shattering expectations and playing the most efficient basketball of his career for the Milwaukee Bucks.

The experienced guard has seemingly revitalized his game with the Bucks, helping to pave the way to their 45-7 record. The shooter has cut down on the volume of shots taken while accepting a lesser role in the offense.

Coming off the bench and playing 21 minutes per contest, Hill has found a groove with the new unit without having to force his offense. Hill’s versatility makes him a tough matchup for defenders. The 33-year-old guard can still use his athleticism to attack the paint, but the real threat comes from Hill’s 3-point stroke.

Hill is currently leading the NBA in 3-point percentage, shooting a career-high 51 percent from deep. Not only is he leading the league, but he has increased the gap between himself and the competition to .050 percentage points, separated himself as an elite shooter this season.

Hill’s ability to spread the floor and create his shots with and without the ball is part of the reason behind his productivity this season. When bringing the ball up the court, the veteran point guard brings the threat of a pull-up 3 on every trip, making defenses get up and guard the arc when the ball is in his hands.

When the ball gets passed into the post to a big (ahem Giannis Antetokounmpo) and a second defender comes to help out, Hill’s basketball IQ helps him find the openings around the 3-point line for a kick-out shot opportunity. On catch-and-shoot 3-point attempts, Hill has thrived, shooting the lights out and hitting 53.6 percent of them.

The high percentages Hill has been able to produce may prove to be crucial for the Milwaukee Bucks come playoff time in April. Along with his accomplishments this season, Hill has something many of his fellow teammates on the Bucks do not have; NBA Finals experience.

https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1004555328409751552

Despite not playing major minutes during the regular season, the Bucks may turn to the dependable veteran shooter when playing against playoff defenses. If he can keep up these stats, look for the Bucks to keep rolling and be a force to be reckoned when competing for the Larry O’Brien.

Hill and the Bucks get back into action Monday night when the team looks to build on their four-game win streak against the Sacramento Kings.