Solomon Hill hits buzzer-beater, confidence soars as he finally feels part of the team

Solomon Hill was reserved to rookie duties last year on a team that advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. Guys were healthy, unlike the start of this season, and there was quality depth ahead of him. That typically left him as the team’s designated inactive player.

He’s far from that this season.

In Wednesday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets (4-8), where ex-Pacer Lance Stephenson’s return dominated the headlines, Hill defended him well throughout most of the game — Stephenson shot 4-of-12 — and was the story by night’s end.

[VIDEO: Lance Stephenson returns to a mix of cheers, boos]

It was Hill’s put-back, which came off of his lone offensive rebound of the night, that secured the 88-86 win for the Pacers (5-7). It was their fourth win in five games after losing six of the first seven.

The final play set up like this: Knotted at 86 with 18 seconds left and out of a timeout, Pacers guard Rodney Stuckey got the ball and pounded the ball at the top of arc waiting for seconds to tick off before making a move. (Coach Frank Vogel emphasized in the timeout not to leave any time for the Hornets to even throw up a prayer at the other end.) Kind of odd that they designed a play for Stuckey, who returned to the court after missing seven games due to a foot injury.

“You put the ball in the hands of your best isolation player,” Vogel said afterwards. Stuckey wasn’t surprised, either. Those two have discussed how he’s going to be looked upon late in critical situations.

Stuckey threw up a shot short on the right elbow and it hit absolutely nothing.

“I actually tipped the ball,” Stephenson claimed. “I should’ve said ‘Tip’ and my guys behind me ain’t know.”

Hornets’ Gerald Henderson had just entered the game for Al Jefferson in response to Chris Copeland being on the floor and Roy Hibbert taken out. Henderson was guarding Hill, followed the ball like the rest of us, and turned his back on him.

“Usually in a situation like that, everybody is kind of ball watching,” Hill said. “It’s the last shot of the game, a potential game winner. Guys turn their head. I took advantage when he turned his head and just tried to get to the rim. … I don’t think [Henderson] really knew the physicality in which I try to play with and when that ball went up, he turned his back and it was a prime opportunity.”

It was Hill’s first buzzer-beater in quite awhile. He was sure he’d had one before but couldn’t immediately recall when. He was sure that he didn’t have any in four years at the University of Arizona. It was the Pacers’ first buzzer-beater since Mike Dunleavy had one on Dec. 20, 2010 — also against the Hornets (of New Orleans).

“It feels good to get another game-winner but we got another game coming up,” Hill continued. “It’s not like it was for the Eastern Conference Finals or something like that.”

A mature approach for someone who is still trying to prove himself in basketball’s most competitive league.

What makes Hill’s put-back even more impressive was that he did it so quickly — he wasn’t sure in the moment how many seconds remained — and finished even after getting a shove from Henderson. He believed he got fouled but knew officials wouldn’t call something like that in a tight game. In turn, Hill said the shove may have actually helped him.

“I think that probably propelled me to throw it up a little bit more and felt like he helped me. So we both got a game-winner,” he said, garnering laughs.

The Pacers trailed by as many as 15 points in the second quarter. They outscored the Hornets in both the third and fourth frames by a total of eight points and that was just enough. It was Indiana’s 10th straight win over Charlotte on their home floor.

Luis Scola, who scored eight of his 15 points in the third quarter, tied the game at 86 with 1:28 to play as he finished on the left side of the rim and was fouled. He then stepped to the line and completed the three-point play.

Stephenson then missed a 3-point try, much to the Pacers’ fans delight. At the other end, Hill drove the ball and missed a runner in the lane.

The Hornets had the ball with 36.5 seconds left and out of the timeout, but they got absolutely nothing. Guard Kemba Walker dribbled most of the shot-clock out so when Marvin Williams on the left baseline, he had to launch a long 2-pointer and it wasn’t close. For the Pacers, it was a great defensive possession as they prevented a bucket and were able to have a say to close the game.

“Indiana prides itself on playing defense,” said Stuckey. “We got some stops at the end of the game and came out with the victory.”

Hill’s go-ahead bucket spoiled Stephenson’s return. Kind of fitting, however, that Hill, who is playing the minutes of his former teammate, was the difference. Even Stephenson, who was guard by Hill often in practice last season, took notice.

“Solomon Hill has been playing incredible this season,” Stephenson said.

After Hill’s shot went down, he ran down towards their bench on the opposite end and celebrated with teammates. What a moment it was for him, and the team. Plus, on the 10th anniversary of the worst thing to happen in franchise history, The Malice at the Palace, it was a perfect feel-good moment that’ll could bring the team even closer because of it.

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The Pacers won the battle of the boards by 10, with 33 coming from their frontcourt players. Roy Hibbert led the way with 11 boards, to go along with 18 points for his fourth double-double of the young season.

Last season, Hill was Hibbert’s “rook.” Hibbert, probably more than anyone, assigned tasks as simple as getting him a towel in the locker room to as difficult as heading to Wal-Mart at midnight to pick up a video game when it is immediately released. Now, the two are doing work together on the court and the veteran Pacer likes the development he’s seeing in the second-year guard.

“He didn’t have a good shooting night (3-for-8) but the play right before that shot,” Hibbert explained, “he said, ‘Next play. Next one’s good.’ I heard him say that. He wasn’t talking to anybody. He was talking to himself. That shows growth right there.”

Players are asked about confidence all the time and it’s so hard, I think, for anyone to get a strong handle on it or at least put a percentage of what they are at. Hill came to the Pacers last June with a good head on his shoulders and pretty mature for a 22-year-old. What I also know from observing Solo over the last year and a half he’s been with the team, is that he finally appears comfortable and is fitting in.

Prior to games, he’s wearing headphones like most and zoned in on both video of their opponent and the scouting report that’s placed on their chair. On the court, he’s knows where he needs to be. Former Pacer Rasual Butler told me that even last year, Hill knew right where to go and sometimes put him in the right stop. Hill’s key area of growth will be at the defensive end where he’s now getting his first cracks at guarding the opponents’ best wing. He has taken over what was previously Paul George’s role.

Frank Vogel says with David West out, Hill is like their middle linebacker out there. He’s the one barking out a lot of the calls, making sure others are in the right spot.

You know what else … “He just has great toughness,” Vogel said. “That’s the best way to put it with Solomon Hill. He’s just a tough character.”

After games, he now speaks confidently to reporters and is thoughtful in his answers. Last year, he appeared a little nervous, as expected from any newcomer, and often mumbled as he hurried through the few interviews he had.

“I just feel like I’m a part of this team,” he said. “I have a role and I’m out there and I can make the difference.”

His basket to end the game is getting all the attention, but his defense, not only in this game but games prior, deserves some attention. While it’s certainly not perfect, he’s making great strides and becoming more comfortable in the process.

I asked Hill to evaluate where he’s at defensively just 12 games in.

“It’s getting better,” he replied. “I definitely have to learn. Some guys have the advantage of guarding guys multiple times, they kind of know [their tendencies and such]. Right now is my first go around with guarding some of these guys and I just have to learn from experience.”

Recently, Hill has picked up the new nickname, Sabretooth, after the comic character. As C.J. Miles explained, they didn’t want to call him Wolverine so it’s Sabretooth, a mutant who possesses superhuman abilities.

We saw some of that on display Wednesday.

Paul George emerged when Danny Granger was injured throughout much of the 2012-13 season. Lance Stephenson’s game grew the next year as Granger once again was sidelined. Now, as George rehabs a broken right leg, it’s Sabretooth who’s making the most of a grand opportunity.

Stephenson made sure his AAU team was on hand to see him play Wednesday night.

Stephenson Hosts AAU Team

I was shocked when Lance said he had just eight people coming to his first game basck at Bankers Life Fieldhouse — and those were the kids on his Born Ready Elite AAU team. He has one team in Indianapolis, where he played his first four seasons in the NBA, and that group has had great success.

They are an incredible 52-7 led by coach Adrian Redd. The team plays most of their games at the Fieldhouse in Fishers, Indiana. Lance’s dad, Lance Sr., was the coach before he followed his son to Charlotte.

[VIDEO: Lance Stephenson discusses his return to Indy]

Stephenson visited with the kids Tuesday night after arriving in town, and then gave them all post-game passes so he could say hi one more time before catching the team’s flight out of town.

George Hill and David West are a few of the Pacers that also have their own successful AAU programs.

At the end of the game, even though his team just lost in a heartbreaking fashion, Stephenson made his way to the Pacers’ bench and hugged most of his former coaches and teammates.

“It’s all love,” he explained. “I ain’t got no hard feelings for the Pacers. I just went over there and showed love, tell them good luck and I’ll get you next time.”

Stuckey Progressing

Stuckey may be back, but he’s still working to get his legs completely underneath him and into game shape. A sore foot kept him away from game action since November 4th.

“I only played 26 minutes, but it felt like I played 35,” he said after showering. “It’s all about getting my legs back underneath me and getting my wind back up. Here within the next week or I should be back to normal.”

Stuckey said his foot feels fine and did not bother him. The biggest thing that aided to his recovery over the last three was rest.

“Right now I’m feeling good,” he said. “Just glad to be back out there.”

Zeller Getting More Comfortable

Cody Zeller didn’t start but he played almost 21 minutes off the bench for the Hornets. It’s always special for him to return home and play in front of family and friends.

“4 degrees has never felt so good!” he tweeted on Tuesday. “It’s always great to be back in Indiana!”

Zeller visits with friends and family after the game.

For the second straight year, the Washington, Indiana native’s parents got a suite for 14 and then Zeller secured another 15 tickets. In all, he also gave out 50 post-game passes.

Zeller’s performance was so-so, as he finished the game with seven points (3-of-6 shooting) and two rebounds. Prior to the game, he assessed where his game is at a little over a year into the pros.

“I think I’m more and more comfortable, and more confident in my second year,” he said. “I kind of know what to expect throughout the season. I know defensive principles, and I’m not making as many mistakes. I’m definitely feeling better about my second year.”

Hornets head coach Steve Clifford excitedly talked about Zeller and noted how through their tough 4-7 start, Zeller has stood out.

“I think that he’s been, through 11 games, one of our real bright spots,” Clifford said. “I think the work he did this summer on his shooting … he’s shooting the ball very well from like 18-, 19-feet. I think also as he gets more comfortable shooting the ball, I think his feel for the ball, which is exceptional, is starting to come through. And I think his ability to help his teammates play better at both ends of the floor as he gets more comfortable is improving also.”

A Check on Noah Vonleh

The other former Indiana University player on Charlotte, Noah Vonleh, dressed Wednesday but he did not take off his warm-ups. The rookie had a hernia injury in the offseason that cause him to miss all of September off-season work, plus training camp.

Though he did make his NBA debut last week in Golden State and then played seven minutes against Dallas on Monday, both blow-outs, Clifford said prior to the game that Vonleh would not play on this stop. He’s simply not ready and still has a ways to go.

“I love Noah and I love his potential of what he could do,” said Clifford. “He just hasn’t had nearly enough practice time. He doesn’t have a grasp of what we’re doing at either end of the floor. It wouldn’t be fair to throw him out there for any length of time.”

Noteworthy

• Referee Ron Garretson, who officiated The Brawl 10 years ago today, was coincidently assigned the Pacers game that night…
• During team introductions, the Pacers video board displayed the names of the Hornets starters when their name was called. While Lance was introduced, Kemba Walker’s name remained. (The Hornets’ logo was the New Orleans one, too.)
• Tonight was the first home game that I can remember where Heather Denton was not there. She’s worked for the organization for 16 years and had been the team’s Director of Player Relations. She, however, recently received an offer she couldn’t refuse, so her last day with the team was last Friday, the 14th. We’ll miss you Heather.
• Pacers owner Herb Simon was in attendance, as was mega-agent David Falk, who is Roy Hibbert’s agent. Official attendance was listed as 14,748.

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