8p9s Roundtable: Are the Indiana Pacers Going To Make a Move?
By Ben Gibson
How much of the blame should be put on Paul George?
Furr: PG has struggled some with inconsistency this year, but 21 points/7 rebounds/3 assists/2 steals on 44/37/92 isn’t a problem by any means. It would be nice to see a bump in a few of those – few more points, another assist or 2, better than 44% overall – but you could say that for any player. PG isn’t this team’s problem.
Washburn: 5 percent? 10 percent? I’m not sure, but the answer is certainly not any higher than that. PG has sacrificed a lot this season while trying to implement new guys.
I’m honestly unsure what else should be expected out of George. Maybe score three more points? Earn one more trip to the free throw line every night? — Washburn
He’s taking less shots than he did last season, and his usage rate is lower than it’s been in four years. He’s shooting a higher percentage and turning the ball over less. He’s also been a destroyer in crunch time for the Pacers, all while defending the other team’s best wing player for every second that he’s on the floor. I’m honestly unsure what else should be expected out of George. Maybe score three more points? Earn one more trip to the free throw line every night?
Padmore: He has to play much better, but he shouldn’t be getting much so much of the blame. It’s the team as a whole that’s struggling. Paul isn’t the only one we thought would be doing better.
Gibson: None, really. He closes out exceptionally well and while some think he should be more of a leader, that seems somewhat of an unrealistic expectation. That’s not to say he doesn’t have a leadership role, but if he was expected to be some sort of Kevin Garnett like enforcer or a floor general of sorts like Chris Paul, that’s expecting something we’ve never seen from him. In a perfect world, maybe he would be that, but that’s just not something I’ve ever expected from him.