Paul George returning to the Indiana Pacers’ rotation this season may be a bonus, but isn’t a guarantee. That comes from the man himself, as Matthew Glenesk reported for the Indy Star.
Paul George says "this week's Paul George is blowing the Paul George of 2-3 weeks ago out of the water." pic.twitter.com/BWqHsbldeh
— Matt Glenesk (@MattGlenesk) March 13, 2015
Paul George though was much more hesitant to say he'll play this season for #Pacers.
— Matt Glenesk (@MattGlenesk) March 13, 2015
#Pacers' Paul George calls soreness "minimal" : "I think I push through those days. It’s getting better."
— Matt Glenesk (@MattGlenesk) March 13, 2015
#Pacers' Paul George on how return may affect tean chemistry: "I don’t want to be that guy that destroys what these guys have going."
— Matt Glenesk (@MattGlenesk) March 13, 2015
More from Paul George: "These guys are playing at the top at their game right now & the last thing I want to do is slow them down.” #Pacers
— Matt Glenesk (@MattGlenesk) March 13, 2015
This is a big departure from the Paul George that just a few weeks ago wanted to play today against the Boston Celtics.
Perhaps this may just be reality setting in. It has been about 7 months since PG’s injury, but this isn’t just a broken bone. This was an injury that could have derailed his entire career. While Paul George avoided doing damage to his knee like Shaun Livington did in his traumatic injury, George is still trying to come back from a major broken bone, one he says it is still sore at times. That can understandably rattle your confidence in your own body.
He also has a point about disrupting the current chemistry the team has on the court. It was something that had crossed my mind, but I wasn’t sure if that were a reasonable thing to think about Indiana’s franchise player. If the win streak continues Paul George may hold off his return, but if things return closer to normal he may feel more comfortable jumping back into the rotation.
Both are valid reasons for not wanting to return too soon. The Pacers aren’t going to win an NBA title this season, so there isn’t the need to force his way back. If Indiana looked like they had a shot I imagine it could be gamble worth taking for him and the team, but there is little upside now in rushing the process.
Paul George will return, it just may take longer than some Indiana Pacers fans want.
Update 5:45 p.m.: Frank Vogel thinks the chemistry notion is laughable.
Frank Vogel called @Yg_Trece concerns about disrupting Pacer chemistry "laughable," said he was just being unselfish.
— Mark Montieth (@MarkMontieth) March 14, 2015
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