There are no real signs anyone cares all that much. Even with today's inflated crowd counts -- remember, the NBA counts tickets distributed, not fannies in seats -- and Orlando ranks 24th in the league with an average of about 13,500.

Would Hill make any difference? Probably. But it may be next season before anyone knows for sure.

Hill is in limbo, rehabbing as best he can, hanging out at home for the holidays. "There's no need (to go anywhere)," he said Saturday. "The pictures have been sent to every doctor in the country -- well, not that many -- but we're still gathering information, and the holidays have slowed down the process."

The ankle may be immobilized in a light cast for at least a month. Surgery is a real possibility after specialists study the structure of four screws that hold two small ankle bones together.

Rivers admits he is confused.

"We've been playing a waiting game with him, and that's been difficult on the other guys to get them ready," Rivers said. "I already know too much about ankles now, way more than I wanted to know. Pretty soon, they'll be calling me doctor, and it's going to be true."

Meanwhile, general manager John Gabriel isn't conceding that Hill can't play. He told the Orlando Sentinel last week, "Maybe this time we look at Grant keeping active by playing, taking pictures (X-rays) every week and playing minimal minutes. Maybe from the recovery standpoint, we could get a good blend there. Better than Grant watching TV and lifting weights and just doing nothing basketball-wise ... It's not an exact science."

Maybe they could get a few minutes a night out of Hill. Maybe, like a thoroughbred he'd go out there and work through the hurt. Maybe, he'd reach for that little extra something. Maybe like so many thoroughbreds, he would go too hard and do serious damage to the ankle or a knee or a foot.

With a talent like Hill, would you take the chance?

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"I'm not a good guy to talk personnel with right now," Karl said. "I'm so angry that I don't know if I can see my team fairly. You have to be real conservative with in-season trades. You have anger, you have depression and it clouds your ability to make decisions.

"There are 100 trades that I walk in on a Monday and say, '(Expletive), get that (expletive) out of here.' I'd trade him for anybody. Then a week later, he's my best player. So for me, the best way to go is coach them, make them better and not blame it on the players or change players."