Grant Hill's Injuries Benefit Suns, Extended Time and Desire Come to Light

The athleticism and speed were back. The fundamental talent was back. Heck, even the hair was back.

In the Suns' 109-107 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers last night, Grant Hill looked and played like it was 1999 instead of 2009, scoring 19 points and grabbed a team-high 13 rebounds.

If Amare Stoudemire learns one thing from Hill in this pivotal contract year, hopefully it will be the desire to put his complete and unselfish effort in every aspect of the game (apparently the lesson is still unlearned; Stoudemire managed five rebounds when he and everyone in Phoenix knew rebounding would be essential against the Clippers' big front line).

Back to Hill, who apparently has gone back in time (get this) thanks to the injuries that ravaged him. Doesn't make sense? It will by the end of this.

Out of the possible 593 games (regular season and playoffs) Hill could have played during his time in Orlando, only 270 of them actually featured number 33. Ankle injuries and a sports hernia decimated what should have been his prime (not to mention the Magic's would-be contender status with Hill and a once-healthy Tracy McGrady).

Remember, this was a guy who averaged 20.2ppg, 9.8rpg and and 6.9apg his second year in the league - basically a less-imposing, better mid-range shooting version of LeBron a decade before King James showed up.

Fans in general were sympathetic over Hill's plight, while Orlando fans were enraged (they'd invested over $92 million over 7 years for a guy who'd play less than half the games for a team that never got out of the first round. Can you blame them?).

Phoenix fans now, however, should be grateful . While Hill's injuries dented his athleticism and robbed him of 323 games, it also saved him a couple years of meaningful play in his late thirties, which the Suns are now taking advantage of.

It's not just the tangibles of fresh legs and better-than-decent stats, either. Hill's forced absence from the game motivated instead of depressing him. He simply wants to play while he still can.

This was evident in the Suns' final regular-season game last season. The Suns were already eliminated from playoff contention. Coach Alvin Gentry wanted to take Hill out to safeguard against injury in a meaningless game, but Hill asked to play it out. He doesn't want to miss any more time.

That desire to give a complete effort for the love of the game is invaluable for this year's team. Young players (Earl Clark, Goran Dragic, Robin Lopez) and older (Jason Richardson, Stoudemire) alike should benefit from Hill's working example.

Hill may have asked "why?" to every bad turn in Orlando. Phoenix, meanwhile, will just quietly say "thank you."