Hill’s big steal was an illegal play

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Last we heard from former San Antonio Spurs guard George Hill he was settling in to becoming the Indiana Pacers’ sixth man. Now, Hill is the center of a controversy that cost the Golden State Warriors a victory.

Rusty Simmons with the San Francisco Chronicle writes that the NBA says George Hill intentionally kicked a Monta Ellis pass, leading to a steal and a three point play. The refs didn’t catch it, they thought it was an unintentional deflection.

“Pacers guard George Hill intentionally kicked the ball away from Warriors guard Monta Ellis during his crossover dribble,” the statement read. “According to rule No. 10, Section IV.b, kicking the ball or striking it with any part of the leg is a violation when it is an intentional act. The officials missed the kicked ball violation which should have resulted in a dead-ball situation and Golden State inbounding the ball on the sideline nearest the spot of the violation.”

Who doesn’t know number 10, section IV.b of the NBA rule book? Get your heads out of your asses, refs! Either way, Hill seems to be settling in to his role with Pacers nicely. His minutes are down from where they were with the Spurs last season, but he’s having a career year shooting and rebounding so far. Spurs fans waiting to see Hill back in San Antonio still have a way to go. The Pacers visit San Antonio March 31.