Paul George Says Chemistry is Still an Issue for the Indiana Pacers

Paul George told Kevin Garnett that the Indiana Pacers are in a good place, but still are working on chemistry.

For some Indiana Pacers fans, the sky was falling a few days ago when Paul George was hesitant to sign his extension — which is something he said two months ago, too. Throw in a few rough games recently, and some people are ready to see what he can fetch on the trade market.

But during a segment with Kevin Garnett’s Area 21, Paul George sounded much more positive about the Pacers and their future together.

“I think we good, I think we good,” Paul George said. “We got an All-Star point guard in Jeff [Teague]. We got an underrated player in Thaddeus [Young], who has been hurt for us. It’s been causing us problems right now. Al Jefferson, one of the best bigs off the bench. Monta [Ellis] is finding that fountain of youth again. Rodney Stuckey is coming off injuries. C.J. Miles is one of the best shooters in the league.”

“We got a team, man. I think the toughest part about it is, as you know man, is chemistry. Chemistry,” George said. “And You putting a new team, a new nucleus together. We are trying to learn one another, we are trying to get comfortable with one another. We facing teams that have been together for some time now. That’s the battle we are fighting right now. Everybody wants to do well, wants to play well, we just don’t know how to do it.”

PG went on to say he has a good relationship with Larry Bird, and that he is someone he leans on when he needs advice.

While actions speak louder than words, this certainly doesn’t sound like Paul George hates everyone and everything in Indiana. Unfortunately, it seems his words after the loss to the Washington Wizards were taken out of context or at least interpreted by some in the worst way possible.

Here is that quote, as transcribed by Nate Taylor of the Indianapolis Star after the game.

"“We’ve got to learn how to playing with one another,” George said. “You don’t have to like somebody or like something, but you’ve got to learn how to work together and learn how to play together. I’m not saying that’s the case in this locker room, but that’s how we’ve got to approach it. Everybody’s got to like playing with one another on that court. It should show. Chemistry should definitely come out of that.”"

While his most recent comments could merely be a course correction after receiving some backlash, it also is easy to see what he said and think it was less about the team getting along and more about playing a team-oriented style of basketball. It had been just a few days before that he mentioned the team could do a better job setting screens for each other and be more cohesive.

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Now, we are at the All-Star break and you think chemistry wouldn’t be the issue, but at the same time, it is a theme we’ve harped on all season. This team has changed drastically over the past few seasons, and with that, comes a lack of stability. That isn’t to make an excuse for any of the problems Indiana has, but at the same time, this is still a weirdly constructed team that knows it needs help.

We saw during the Pacers’ winning streaks that this team could be very good, and in the losing streaks there was plenty of problems, but other than the loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, most of those losses were more about the other team winning than the Pacers losing.

The Pacers need to figure out their issues, and perhaps chemistry is to blame. A trade can complicate that, or it could create the equilibrium Indiana is looking for. Either way, trying to kick Paul George out the door because you aren’t happy about the last few games is incredibly shortsighted. He said in the same interview about his extension that he wants to bring the Pacers a title.

Next: Glenn Robinson III is Ready for the Dunk Contest

Now, if Indiana can’t get it together after the All-Star break — especially if a trade is made — then there won’t be too many more excuses for Paul George or the Pacers to make.