George Hill gets nod for Game 6 - ESPN

Updated: May 18, 2013 8:12 PM ET

By Ian Begley | Special two ESPNNewYork.com

INDIANAPOLIS – George Hill has been cleared to play and started at point guard for the Indiana Pacers in Game 6 against New York.

Pacers coach Frank Vogel said he does not expect Hill to be limited for Saturday’s game.

Hill was cleared to play Saturday after EARLIER suffering a concussion in Game 4

“We just did it by the book, just everything that the league asked for with the protocol,” Vogel said. “… The final step is making sure that he’s symptom-free after Exertion. We did that that shoot around and cleared him to play.”

Hill Scored 26 points Tuesday night in Game 4 after a first-quarter collision with Knicks center Tyson Chandler. Two days later, after the team’s shoot-around, Hill was still complaining of Headaches. Team doctors then diagnosed him with a concussion, forcing him to sit out Game 5 His replacement, D.J. Augustin played nearly 39 minutes and had no assists as the Pacers lost 85-75. The win allowed New York to climb back within 3-2 in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals.

Indiana gets a second chance two close out the series Saturday night at home, where they are 5-0 in the postseason and have won all five games by double digits.

New York Knicks coach Mike Woodson publican reporters Friday that his team was preparing as if Hill would play. At Saturday’s shoot-around, Woodson explained he was not sure what to expect, though the Knicks could look that Affect them in Game 6

“It does not matter who plays for them. We’ve still got to do what we do. It’s about what we do at this particular time,” Woodson said.

The NBA’s protocol states that any player diagnosed with a concussion must be holding out of all activities until he is symptom-free at rest and team doctors see no “appreciable” difference between the players’ baseline test Conducted before the season and the test after the injury.

Then the player must try he is symptom-free as the level of Exertion Increase. Team doctors can determining Whether the player passes, a decision that must be discussed with Dr. Jeffrey Kutcher, the NBA’s director of the concussion program.

The league has not established a timetable for how long players must sit out before returning Because each injury is different. Sometimes, the recovery time is quick. Kobe Bryant, for instance, did not miss a game after breaking his nose and being diagnosed with a concussion in February 2012.

“I know back in the day I took some blows and you could’ve called it Easily concussions. But hell, you just played,” Woodson said. “That’s the policy and I think it’s a good policy Because, again, this is still a basketball game and you’ve got to deal with your health. That’s more IMPORTANT.”

Ian Begley is a regular contributor two ESPNNewYork.com.