Now Is the Time for Jordan Hill to Seize Chance with LA Lakers

Based on Jordan Hill's recent performance as a starter for the Los Angeles Lakers, it's safe to say that Hill is beginning to live up to the potential he showed as the eighth overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft. 

There have been flashes of greatness throughout his career. Known as a player who plays with a lot of energy and effort, Hill's career averages of 13.9 points, 11.2 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per 36 minutes shows that he has the ability to step up to the plate if given the minutes. 

Throughout his career, Hill has never been given a fair chance at playing decent minutes as a starter. His injury woes during the first few years of his career didn't help his case.

With the New York Knicks, Hill played behind David Lee and Al Harrington, who were deemed better fits in Mike D'Antoni's system. D'Antoni was really pushing to implement his run-and-gun system on the Knicks at this time, and Lee and Harrington were both big men who could stretch the floor. 

With the Houston Rockets, Hill had to play behind Luis Scola and Carl Landry, who were more productive and experienced than Hill at the time.

However, the fact that Hill averaged roughly 16 minutes per game during his two years in Houston, while Chuck Hayes averaged well over 20 minutes in each of those two seasons is something to take notice of. Not to discount the toughness that Hayes brought as an undersized center, but Houston could have made use of Hill's energy as a larger option at the five. 

Ironically, the man who mitigated his progression in New York ultimately gave him his break this season. D'Antoni turned to Hill for energy and rebounding out of desperation, and this ultimately resulted in Hill breaking out. 

In four starts this season, Hill has exceeded those per 36 minute numbers while only playing 30.7 minutes per game. Hill has averaged 18.8 points, 12.0 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game and is a big reason the Lakers have been as competitive as they've been without Kobe Bryant on the court.

The biggest surprise from Hill has been his offense. According to NBA.com/Stats, Hill has converted on 45 of his 65 attempts from within eight feet of the basket. He has shown great touch around the rim and the ability to finish in a crowd of defenders.

Hill has also made three out of the six shots he has taken from beyond 16 feet of the basket. While that sample size is too small to consider Hill an improved jump-shooter, adding a mid-range shot to his game could do wonders in continuing his high level of efficiency.

Hill is also shooting an astonishingly high 89.5 percent from the charity stripe in his four starts this season. This means that teams can't negate his effectiveness in the paint by being physical with him and sending him to the line. If he can keep up this percentage, teams may have no choice but to start consistently sending doubles his way whenever he gets deep position. 

If Hill can start drawing in two or more defenders to him, he can really open up the floor for the guards around him to take open shots or utilize clearer lanes. While his offensive game isn't polished enough to draw these doubles from the post, he can do so if he continues to bang for position and hit a high percentage of freebies from the line. 

While it wouldn't be unexpected if his offensive efficiency begins to taper off once defenses adjust, the return of the Black Mamba should help Hill more than it should hurt him. Despite the fact that Bryant will definitely command a high number of shot attempts, Hill should see less doubles with Bryant being the focal point of the opponents' defenses rather than himself. 

Although his current offensive production may not be sustainable in the long run, there is no reason he can't continue to dominate on the glass. He is clearly the best rebounding presence on the team and is responsible for gathering 20.8 percent of all possible rebounds when he is on the court, per Basketball-Reference.com.

In order for him to take full advantage of this opportunity that he has rightfully earned, he has to continue to dominate the glass on both ends of the court while also being a defensive pest in the paint. While his 1.8 blocks per game as a starter are impressive, he is also a good help defender and alters a lot of shots that go up in the paint. 

Despite these impressive numbers, Hill is currently considered a player putting up monster numbers on a poor team. The only way Hill can truly validate his production and prove that he can be productive on any team would be for the Lakers to start winning.

With two wins and two losses in the four games that Hill has played in for over 25 minutes, the Lakers are on the right track, considering the fact that their superstar, the Black Mamba, has yet to play a single game.