Red Auerbach had a saying when he was building championship-caliber Celtics teams as a coach and executive for 29 years:
“Never trust any plan that hinges on Jordan Hill.”
It was a remarkably forward-thinking slogan, considering Hill was not born when Auerbach gave up his general managing duties. Knowing Auerbach’s legendary foresight, though, it is not impossible to think he may have envisioned the 6-foot-10 forward out of Arizona, and the ill that would befall any team that bet too heavily on him.
If any team were going to break this totally made-up commandment, Auerbach would be happy it was the Lakers. With last week’s news that Hill will miss the rest of the season with a serious hip injury, the fundamental flaws present in this team’s roster construction from the very beginning were on full display.
Do not misunderstand. Losing Hill by itself does not doom the Lakers’ season, nor was he a drain on the team when healthy. This has less to do with Hill himself and everything to d...
Found January 14, 2013 on
NESN.com:
PLAYERS:
Jordan Hill,
Red Auerbach,
Mitch Kupchak,
Dwight Howard,
Pau Gasol,
Steve Nash,
Steve Blake,
Tyson Chandler,
Paul Pierce,
Kevin Garnett,
Robert Sacre,
Earl Clark,
Antawn Jamison,
Jim Buss,
Kenyon Martin,
Kobe Bryant
TEAMS: Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers
TEAMS: Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers
Original Story:
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