NBA Off Season: Paul George’s Ceiling
Gianna M asks: “What’s the ceiling for Paul George?” and I am happy to turn this into it’s own article as I feel like there’s a high ceiling for George to break through. I’ve stated a few times that I do believe if George can improve his game all around, he’s got that chance to be the best Pacers player the franchise has seen. Sorry to Reggie Miller, who will always be that fan favorite, and hard to imagine he would be knocked off that perch. But if we’re just looking at straight up playing ability and what not, George might get that edge over time. He might even become that fan favorite if he ends up playing his career as an Indiana Pacer thanks to a max deal next season. That’s a whole other post, but the word is that George should be one to stick around, and I for one hope that to be true.
But looking at this ceiling for George, and how can he even make it higher, there are those areas where he will have to improve his game. Turnovers are the big one I see. He was able to get some high assists games, but there were those times when he couldn’t make the simple pass, and he knew it as soon as it happened. You cut that out, and you have someone who can be a threat with shooting, dribbling, and passing. What more would you need to add to your game to get even better? Maybe the dribbling could improve. But George off a screen for an open shot is like Miller anymore, where I always feel like it’s going in. You go to a home game, and you can just feel the crowd anticipating that George is going to make it every time.
Of course, Paul George can finish at the rim. How many times we can watch that dunk over Chris Anderson, and not just love it every time?
That finish is what makes Paul George so special in the hightlight reel. And what might be the even better part about that move, he got a step on Lebron James, who is one of the best defensive players.
Speaking of defense, I feel like Paul George has made plenty of strides in there, which is all part of that all around game. He even received some defensive player of the year award, and he’s always out there guarding the best player on the court. Talk about the playoffs, and look who he had to deal with Josh Smith, Carmelo Anthony, and Lebron James. All guys that each have their own unique offensive skill set. That’s plenty to ask of a guy only in his third season. But that goes to show the work George put in and will continue to put in.
His ceiling is high as you can tell by my gushing over Paul George, and I want him to become that “superstar” that people think the Indiana Pacers don’t have. Part of me likes that about this Pacers team, but I also would love to have a guy in that Lebron James, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, and others discussion. Paul George has that time to become special, and fans are starting to see that.