After two serious injuries this season, George Hill has fought back to be part of the Bucks' playoff push

Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer keeps a poker face when it comes to player injuries and the potential timelines for returns from those injuries. He’ll offer up whatever may be relevant, or new, but little else.

The mandatory league injury report or team statements on medical updates usually suffice.

Except this year, there was one player Budenholzer continually expressed optimism about when it came to returning to action – George Hill.

Perhaps it was the fluid nature of Hill’s injuries that allowed for optimism, or perhaps it was the fact that there is such an affinity for the veteran point guard and what he could bring to the team and its defense.

First, Hill missed 17 games from Jan. 30 through March 12 with what was called neck soreness but he clarified as an injury between his T6 and T7 vertebrae, an injury he said he will have to have addressed in the offseason.

He played the next 13 games, averaging about 16 minutes off the bench. Though Hill didn’t find his outside shooting touch, it did allow Budenholzer to extend his rotation and build Hill’s basketball conditioning up for an expected playoff role.

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But after playing 16 minutes in Detroit on April 8, Hill exited with an abdominal strain that he said was a rip in an oblique muscle which triggered back spasms. It sidelined him yet again for an extended amount of time. Hill didn’t practice during the Bucks’ bye week, but Budenholzer felt he could be back for the first round series against the Chicago Bulls.

Only he wasn’t. The recovery period crept into the start of the Eastern Conference semi-finals against Boston, and Hill was able to finally get back on the court against the Celtics during Game 3 on Saturday afternoon.

“We’re looking for the long haul, not for something temporary, so just making sure it’s fully healed and get back to 100% and try to take it one day at a time,” Hill said Sunday.

“Confident I’d come back. I’ve always had little, small things here and there but nothing so far that’s kept me out for long, long periods of time besides probably one time in my career. It’s how I’ve been my whole life and happy to recover and get back out there with the guys.”

In 11 minutes off the bench in the win over the Celtics, Hill attempted one shot and had one assist – but he drew two offensive fouls. And despite having not played in 29 days, he was on the floor to defend for the last possession of the game as the Celtics had hoped to tie it.

“Just a freak accident but you get frustrated because you want to be there for your team and this is the most important part of the season. It’s the playoffs,” Hill said. “This is what you work hard for all year, to be ready for these moments. And to not be there round one with those guys and a couple games in round two, thank God I’m healthy enough to get back out there with these guys and try to do a good job in this series.”

Before Game 3, Budenholzer said Hill would have a minutes restriction but the 36-year-old would not be out there if he wasn’t mentally and physically ready for the toll playoff basketball takes.

“His work ethic, his professionalism, his desire to be there for his team – he’s just an amazing teammate,” Budenholzer said. “If you hear him in the film sessions, hear him in the timeouts, hear him in the locker room. But at some point, you want to be able to do it. If you’re just talking, it maybe just lessens your impact.

“So I think his desire to be out there on the court, physically participate and having given what he’s gone through, it’s a credit to him and his toughness and the way he’s built.”

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: George Hill part of Bucks' playoff push after neck, abdominal injuries