Philadelphia 76ers: 5 things to look for down the stretch

4. What can the Philadelphia 76ers get from George Hill?

Is George Hill a real person? No one’s completely sure, since he hasn’t suited up for the Sixers yet as he recovers from a thumb injury. There’s also no timetable on his return, per Doc Rivers, leaving a dark cloud over the team’s sole trade acquisition. If he misses another, say, two weeks, he’ll have no more than 10 games to (1) play himself back into basketball shape, (2) get integrated with the team, and (3) gear up for the playoffs.

Good thing it’s Hill we’re talking about. As a versatile guard who can either run the offense or space the floor for a bigger playmaker, play above his size defensively with good length, and brings all kinds of playoff experience to the table (127 postseason appearances), he’s the definition of plug-and-play. Reliability and malleability are the best ways to describe him. Of all the guys Embiid and Simmons have played with, Hill is one of very few that have been a clean fit with both.

And because Hill is useful in several different roles, he’s a clean fit in the rotation without taking away from the incumbent players. He can be a super-sub and lighten Milton’s playmaking load, replace Curry or Green to add an extra dimension to the best lineup, and even be the second guard in Simmons-led units. The possibilities open up quite a bit with Hill at the helm.