keine Panik auf der Titanic... :thumb:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/spor...magic0606jan06,0,2024994.story?coll=orl-magic
Doctor tells Hill he's OK
Grant Hill, who may be in the lineup tonight in New Jersey, has soreness from his hernia surgery.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Orlando Magic forward Grant Hill has been given medical clearance -- as well as a clear conscience -- and might play tonight against the New Jersey Nets.
The Magic also are hoping point guard Steve Francis makes an appearance -- the real Steve-O, that is.
Hill was reassured Thursday by the doctor who repaired his sports hernia Oct. 31 that he hadn't re-injured himself.
Magic Assistant General Manager Otis Smith, who spoke with Hill, said Dr. William Meyers told Hill that his post-surgery soreness was normal. It's normal, considering the seven-time all-star's choice of post-recovery activity: basketball.
"Grant's fine,'' Smith said. "He's more than likely to play [tonight]. He has a peace of mind now after seeing the doctor.
"He experienced some soreness. If he could have taken his sweet time and recovered in the offseason -- not during the season -- he would be fine. . . . The body could heal itself over the offseason.
"The concern for Grant was whether he'd hurt himself more [if he kept playing], considering everything he's went through,'' Smith said.
With the Magic in New Jersey, Hill made a side trip to see Meyers. Meyers practices in Philadelphia and has performed hernia surgeries on Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb and other top athletes.
Hill will make a game-time decision on whether to play against the Nets. The Magic (12-17) also play Saturday night at home against the Charlotte Bobcats.
Hill could sit out both games and rest until the Magic begin a four-game road trip Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Meyers had said that Hill's recovery would take six weeks, and he came back in exactly that time frame. He missed the first 19 games of the season and had played in nine consecutive games since returning Dec. 14.
Smith said he is as cautious as anyone when it comes to the health of Hill, who has had five left-ankle surgeries.
"But if the doctor says it's OK, we'll take it from there,'' Smith said. "Grant will see how it feels. The doctor told him that he was going to feel some discomfort, but not anything that will hurt him long term.''
Hill, 33, woke up sore Wednesday after playing 38 minutes against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night.
He missed Wednesday night's blowout loss in Toronto against the Raptors after leaving the floor gingerly during a warmup session.
It was Hill's chance to test his body in his first back-to-back games since returning to the lineup. The predicament for him now is that Orlando has four more back-to-backs to play in what looms as a critical month.
The Magic have to monitor Hill's injury situation again, but they also have to find a way to jump-start Francis, the heretofore mercurial point guard.
Francis is the Magic's leading scorer, but you wouldn't have known it his past two outings.
He attempted just seven shots in each game against the Pistons and the Raptors, scoring just nine and 10 points, respectively, far off his 17-plus-point average.
After the Pistons' game, Francis said not enough plays -- or the right kind of plays -- were being called for him.
Coach Brian Hill has bristled at the suggestion, joining Smith in saying that reserve point guard Jameer Nelson has had no trouble putting up shots.
In Nelson's past three games, he has attempted 17, 13 and 15 shots. He scored a career-high 31 points in the 121-97 loss to Toronto and hit a dozen of his 15 shots.
After the Raptors' debacle, Francis said it wasn't "the system,'' but that he was being double-teamed and forced to pass.
Smith said Francis "just has to be more aggressive.
"Steve is growing, and there are times he still is adjusting going from a running team [last season under Johnny Davis] to more structure under Brian [Hill].''
Brian Schmitz can be reached at
bschmitz@orlandosentinel.com.