8p9s Roundtable: How Good Does Paul George Look So Far?
By Jared Wade
On a scale of Sam Young to Peak Paul George, how would you rate his offense so far?
Medworth: He’s back to 2013 Paul George. Shooting pretty well but he is scared and/or doesn’t know how to attack the basket. Just before Paul got hurt last August, he was finally attacking the basket hard and had stopped looking for the fancy layups. He looks like that old 2013 Paul again. But, once he gets his strength back, I think he’ll be O.K.
Ochoa: This is a large scale of ratings I have to work with. I would say PG’s offense is is at a Mike Dunleavy-level right now. The fundamentals look great right now, but the speed and explosiveness are lacking tremendously. He can still score, make smart plays and fit into the offense, but his playmaking ability is far from the Peak Paul George we know and love.
Lukach: Mike Dunleavy. Nothing is worse than Sam Young, and definitely not this version of Paul George, whose TS% in two games is higher than Solomon Hill’s. George’s 4-point play against the Knicks was vintage PG — or should I say vintage Dunleavy? — with the smooth shot and coolness to complete the play. Obviously, his fast breaks haven’t been heavy with the elevation, but overall his jumper looks O.K., and everything else will come in a matter of time.
Bishop: He’s playing like 2011-2012 Paul George without the explosiveness. He’s made some spectacular shots from distance at standstill and off-the-dribble, but he’s botched all four of his shots inside of the restricted area. Once he gets comfortable elevating underneath the rim and putting the right touch over defenders, he’ll be good. 44-percent at the three-point line on 4.5 attempts is encouraging. We’ll know he’s comfortable as soon as he starts attempting to split a pick-and-rolls.
Washburn: 2000 Jalen Rose. Jalen Rose was a fantastic player for the Pacers from 1999-2002, but he really started showing what he was GOING to be in 2000. During that season, Rose showcased his playmaking skills on a team full of guys that couldn’t really do much with the ball. PG has already infused some more excitement and variety into the Pacers’ offense with his ability to create his own shot, all while providing floor spacing around the 3-point line. Rose would continue to get better in subsequent years, and it’s clear that PG has seen and will see better days, but he’s already providing tangible results for Indiana’s often stagnant offense.
Next: Paul George's Defense?