NBA: It's The Best Time To Let Grant Heal

Here's a NBA question for you. How do you take a guy who gives you 18 points and 9 rebounds one night in a tight loss to Philadelphia, and bench him for a minimum of two weeks beginning with the next night's game against an inferior Hawks squad?

Answer: Because if you are Doc Rivers - you can. And at this point you should. Grant Hill  came out to play in 2 of the Magic's early games and contributed to the efforts on both occasions. It's not the All Star caliber Grant Hill that has been the center of free agency hopes over the past year. Despite that reality, fans need to remember that Hill signed a contract for 7 years, not 7 months.

Magic fans, famous for pushing the fair-weather panic buttons when the team does anything not resulting in a win, are already expressing nervousness and "fanxiety" over the potential of Hill's absence from the line up. It's reckless and absurd to believe that the Magic were "rooked" by anything regarding Hill's rehabilitation. He arrived in Orlando on crutches and signed his contract while wearing a light cast.

The fact is that Doc Rivers can afford to make this decision, despite Hill's desire to be in the thick of things on his new team, in his new NBA home - because the Magic are good enough to remain in the thick of things until he returns. There are a number of factors to support this, the least of which is that the best teams in the East are all going through a combination of chemistry transitions and adjustments. The teams that aren't, like Philadelphia, are faced with the inner turmoil and pressures from trade rumors and innuendoes.

But the most apparent reason that Doc can afford to allow Hill to rehab at a conservative pace is Tracy McGrady. Make no mistake; this man-child is about ready to explode into a major NBA superstar and a force to be reckoned with. (That is as long as he doesn't explode into anybody's face and get ejected and suspended too often) He has set his standard high already this season and he is out to show the world that he is the real deal.

Grant Hill, at 70% makes the Magic much better. But T-Mac can carry the load until his return. A bonus could be found in several other aspects of Orlando's roster. Mike Miller can emerge as a high impact rookie, something the Magic have not seen since Penny Hardaway. He has shown, ever so brief, flashes of brilliance and seemed to shoulder the role of a scoring option with the confidence of a seasoned veteran. It is apparent in the early goings that Miller has Doc Rivers' confidence and that of his teammates.

Recently the win at Atlanta was a perfect example of what can be expected from the Magic, without Hill and for that matter McGrady. Darrell Armstrong revived the 99-2000 season and took command of a game that began to slip away in the later stages. Bo Outlaw stepped up on defense and some much-needed offense. John Amaechi woke up and put the ball in the hole, while Pat Garrity and Monty Williams gave some significant points off the bench.

That is the core of last year's success and it could be the piece that makes the difference in this years success. So it means that with Tracy McGrady and Mike Miller aboard, the Magic have the tools to change close wins to solid margins. To pull ahead and not look back. When Grant Hill returns to form, without the risk of further damage - it's an unstoppable bullet train to the Eastern Final.

Probably the hardest part of this is the feelings and emotions of Grant Hill himself. It's apparent in the way he has handled the ball thus far, and apparent on his face as he sits on the sidelines - he wants to be a part of the game. The desire to win, to compete and to give Magic Fans a taste of what will come in the next 7 years. And more than likely, before this season's over - you'll get a good helping of it as well.

This was the right move at the right time. Orlando has a tough schedule in the early goings, but it also has the tools to win every game on that docket. Maybe the wins won't come as easy as it would with Hill in the game - but it's not like this is new for many of the guys that can make the difference. If two weeks is what is needed than so be it, if longer than it's also fine.  Now is the time to get Hill healthy - not in the midst of a playoff run.