George Hill “Expected” to Play up to 20 Minutes off the Bench vs Heat

George Hill has missed 11 straight games with a left groin strain, but according to the team he is expected to get back on the court tonight as the Indiana Pacers face their biggest rivals in Miami.

Candace Buckner of the Indianapolis Star reported that George Hill has perhaps turned a corner in his recovery. He has been practicing to various degrees of intensity while he has been sidelined, but today was the first time he woke up feeling right after going through a hard practice.

"On Friday morning, Indiana Pacers point guard George Hill stepped out of his luxurious hotel bed and felt different. To be exact, Hill did not feel as much discomfort as he has in previous days. So after missing 11 straight games with a left groin strain, he is expected to return to the Pacers’ lineup tonight in Miami.“The past couple times I practiced, the day after practice I’m super sore and it feels like (the pain) is going to keep compounding,” Hill said after the team’s shootaround inside AmericanAirlines Arena. “Yesterday I had a really good practice and I woke up this morning (and felt) like I can go a little bit.”"

Also via Buckner, however, Hill will not be in the starting lineup.

Frank Vogel told her that he will come off the bench and be on a minutes restriction.

"Vogel said Hill would play 15-20 minutes against the Heat.“(Hill) is probable and expected to play,” Vogel said. “If he plays, we’re going to bring him off the bench. He’ll be on a minutes restriction, so we’ll manage it that way.”"

The team went 3-2 (.600) in the five games George Hill has played this season, including a New Year’s Eve win over the Heat in Indiana.

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Obviously this team will have a much better chance of winning games once Hill is back in the starting lineup, but just getting him back on the court will likely be a huge relief for Vogel.

The coach’s problem now will be deciding whether or not Donald Sloan — who has probably been outplaying starting point C.J. Watson — will still be in the rotation at all. Both George Hill and C.J. Watson have plenty of experience playing the two spot, so the decision will likely depend on whether Vogel wants to use more players in the back court for shorter stints or fewer players few long stretches.

My guess: Donald Sloan doesn’t take off his warmups tonight.