INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Pacers prepared for the worst.
But it worked out for the best.
George Hill, who missed Game 5 with a concussion, was cleared to play last night’s Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Knicks here. The team released a statement roughly an hour and a half before the start of the game proclaiming that Hill was “symptom-free” of the concussion.
“Over the last two days under the care of the Indiana Pacers’ medical staff, George Hill has participated in each step of the NBA’s Return-to-Participation Exertion Protocol as part of the NBA’s Concussion Policy,” the statement said.
“During the process, George remained symptom-free after each step including his workouts earlier today. After consultation with Dr,. Jeffrey Kutcher, the NBA’s Director of Concussion Management, the Pacers team physicians have cleared George to play in tonight’s game.”
Hill went through the morning shootaround and “looked fine,” according to Pacers coach Frank Vogel. That was just one part of the process of his return.
But Vogel was ready to go once again with D.J. Augustin.
“I’m preparing for him not to play. If he plays we’ll be very happy about it,” Vogel said.
Suffice to say Vogel was happy. Both sides were keenly aware of Hill’s importance.
“He’s pretty much the key to their team. Every starting point guard pretty much is. You’re used to running their offense a certain way, through a certain person and used to normally getting certain shots from certain persons you don’t get,” said the Knicks J.R. Smith.
“It’s just his leadership on the floor, his smarts on the floor,” said Pacers guard Lance Stephenson.
“He’s been our starting point all year and obviously it just solidifies our front five,” echoed Pacers forward David West.