Why It’s Good that Paul George Fell Down Hard – And Got Up Smiling

By Jared Wade | Apr 9, 2015

Apr 5, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers fans hold up signs welcoming back forward Paul George (13) as he checks into the game for the first time against the Miami Heat in the first quarter at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

Paul George said the Indiana Pacers need to “win out” in their final five games if they want to make the playoffs. Well, after an emotional day for the team in which forward Chris Copeland got stabbed early in the morning outside of a club, the team was able to dedicate itself to playing high-level basketball with a sense of urgency.

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They dominated the New York Knicks in the World’s Most Famous Arena, and in his second game back Paul George again showed he is recovering well from his broken leg.

He scored 10 points in just 16 minutes, and as with his 13-points-in-15-minute performance in his debut, George showed several glimpses that he may soon be back to his old self.

This was the best example: a slick turnaround jumper in space.

There were also a few scary moments, however — and I’m not talking about missed layups.

Paul George took two hard tumbles in the first half. Fortunately, neither was serious, but many fans on Twitter reacted as if they had just seen their newborn bounce its head off the floor for the first time.

Here is the first fall

And the second.

George popped back up, smiling, both times. The second time, he even got a hand back to his feet from a friendly fan in the MSG crowd, which gave him a great ovation when he entered the game midway through the first quarter.

After the game, George said “that was really the first time I’ve been hit in the leg,” and that “the more and more I get hit there, the better I feel,” per @Pacers.

PG: “That was really the first time I’ve been hit in the leg was tonight. The more and more I get hit there, the better I feel there.”
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) April 9, 2015

While the falls made fans nervous — and coach Frank Vogel, too, it seemed — this was a big step for the recovering star.

There is only so far that Paul George can go in his comeback in practice and the weight room. By now, his leg is sturdy and the muscles supporting the healed bone might even be stronger than they were when the injury occurred. Doing physical therapy for eight months will do that.

The healing is all done.

Well, there's ur first test of 'Will The Leg Hold Up?' George wiped out by own teammate, his unprotected right leg took the hit. He got up
— Candace Buckner (@CandaceDBuckner) April 9, 2015

But getting back to his old form can only occur when George realizes that his leg is fine. Intellectually, he knows this already. He has been pining to get back into real games for weeks, and he knows that he is ready.

But subconsciously, his body is still protecting itself. His brain is still keenly aware that this part of his leg was hurt and it has been in this mode of constant vigilance and self-protection ever since he took off his walking boot.

So to truly start moving freely and without even subconscious concern, he has to re-teach his brain that everything will be fine even when he falls.

Naturally, neither the Pacers nor George want him hitting the ground hard on a regular basis. Nobody wants a repeat of when suffered a concussion after smashing his head into Dwyane Wade’s knee in last year’s playoffs.

But getting a few lumps under his belt is big. Really, him learning that he can fall down a few times — then get back up and be fine — was the best reason for him to come back this year. Now, after he has a few awkward moments while playing full speed, he will be able to enter the offseason with the confidence that his leg is healed.

He already knew that. And now his brain is starting to re-learn it, too.

And now he and his brain can start to focus on more important things — like doing a happy dance on the bench as you destroy the Knicks on their home floor.

Next: Paul George Wears Handband as Copeland Tribute

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