Jordan Hill Ready To Play His Role

Cary Edmondson-US PRESSWIRE

Every part-time Lakers fan knows you can’t win titles without the likes of Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. Every one of us that eats, sleeps and drinks the Purple and Gold Kool-Aid knows you don’t hang banners without the Kurt Rambis, Rick Fox or Trevor Arizas of the hoops world.

That’s why seeing Jordan Hill’s emergence at the end of last was a refreshing as cool breeze blowing through Woodland Hills in late August. No matter how many Nashes and Howards you bring in you’ve got to have just as many Hills and Jamisons.

For Jordan Hill this season represents the best opportunity yet to define is otherwise disappointing NBA career. Not that Hill was ever expected to be in the hoops Hall of Fame but when a big man is selected in top 10 of an NBA Draft much more production is expected than 5 points ad 4 boards a night.

That said what Hill can bring to the Lake Show and their title chances this season can’t be measured in the stats. Hill’s athletic ability, tenacious rebounding and boundless energy is exactly what Mike Brown needs from his bench.

Thus far the reports coming out of Lakers camp would suggest that Hill is already poised to announce himself as the poor man’s Dennis Rodman this team so desperately needs. Last night Hills put together a solid effort in his preseason debut that only confirmed all the early hype.

He truly is ready to take to the task of playing his role off the bench. Every championship team needs someone to do the dirty work by banging on the block, cleaning the glass and running the floor. By all accounts this is something Hill can and should excel at during the season. Let’s be honest, in order for the Lakers to have any chance of winning it all he’s going to have to.