Remember that scene from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade when the bad guy “chooses poorly” and ages rapidly until he deteriorates into nothingness? Well, this kind of feels like that. Grant Hill managed to be amazingly healthy during the last five seasons with the Phoenix Suns, who just so happen to employ what many consider to be the best training and medical staff in the league.
But now Hill is with the Clippers, and despite the culture change, the Clips still employ a bare bones staff wherever possible, because the owner still doesn’t enjoy spending his money. That’s not to put Hill’s knee injury on the Clippers’ medical staff, but it isn’t exactly surprising that a 40-year-old with a medical file that warrants its own hospital wing is going to start the season in a suit, either. Here’s the news from Dan Woike of the OC Register:
Veteran forward Grant Hill will likely miss opening night on Oct. 31, and it could be weeks into the regular season until he returns. An MRI performed on Hill’s right knee showed a bone bruise, Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said Tuesday.
After the Clippers’ 88-71 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Monday, Hill said his injury will keep him out “at least a couple of weeks.”
Via Clippers’ Hill could miss significant time | Orange County Register
Now, I’m not one for curses, but this whole thing was really testing the basketball gods from the very jump, wasn’t it? The Clippers are pretty much the only franchise that can rival Portland for worst injury luck. Even with that said, it was a good decision for the Clippers to go after Grant Hill. He’s still a tough defender, and he’s the type of locker room presence you want to have around. With Caron Butler healthy again and Matt Barnes looking like a very sneaky pickup, Hill’s absence won’t sink the Clippers by any means. But, Grant? Going from the Suns to the Clippers? You may have chosen poorly.
