Let’s meet the man that single-handedly changed the MVP race and the season for the Los Angeles Lakers!
Up until Saturday, 75 percent of the NBA fans would be hard-pressed to know who Solomon Hill was much less who he played for in the Atlanta Hawks. By 6:30 PM Eastern Standard Time, the entire world probably knows who he is.
After Hill’s collision with LeBron James, forcing the four-time MVP to leave the game with an ankle injury with talks for a possible fifth, you would be challenged to find anyone that doesn’t know him.
After the game, Montrezl Harrell and Dennis Schroder suggested that it may have been more than a freak accident and more of a questionable basketball play. Here are both quotes via Dan Woike of the L.A. Times.
"“We didn’t feel like it was a basketball-type of play,” Montrezl Harrell said of Solomon Hill. “…He had to go through his leg to get through the ball.” Said he didn’t think it was intentional but it was the kind of play “that we need to go look at.”"
Dan Woike quote on Dennis Schroder’s take:
"Dennis Schroder said it was an “unnecessary play” for Solomon Hill to dive at his leg. Also said what Rondo did “was not competing.” Said he’d leave it at that. “That’s not basketball.”"
To be clear on the Rajon Rondo thing. Like anyone is surprised in Lakers Nation…
https://twitter.com/ESPNNBA/status/1373381854888259586
After the backlash from many that included threats of violence, Solomon Hill put out a statement on Twitter.
would never disrespect the game and take a player out purposely... he knows that. that’s all that matters to me. praying for a speedy recovery. #riptothementionstho #moredmsthansaweetie
— solomon hill (@solohill) March 20, 2021
Good luck selling that statement to the Lakers fans, but this writer is not buying much of it either. Notice the hashtag #moredmsthansaweetie. Most people don’t issue apologies while linking a female hip-hop artist who just broke up with her man this past week. If LeBron James wasn’t irritated by the senseless injury, his social media savvy will pick that up and really get upset.
But oh, by the way, Solomon Hill scored 9 points.
Enough about Solomon Hill. The aftermath is the major part of this discussion. Now it’s time to look at the immediate effects of having two Los Angeles Lakers superstars out for at least the rest of March into the middle of April at best. Read on to see what Lake Show Life sees.
Spoiler Alert: It’s not good.