Coach Frank Vogel and the Pacers are preparing to head to camp in just a few weeks. Everyone has been giving their guideline and expectations for the season. One thing that’s a bit different are the Pacers’ plans for Paul George. George is ready to go and at full strength after suffering a broken leg last summer during a TEAM USA scrimmage and George’s strength will be tested right away. Coach Vogel spilled the beans on the team’s projected lineup and Paul George will be spending lots of time in the paint.
“An idea on paper is to have a starting lineup of George Hill, Monta Ellis, C.J. Miles, Paul George and Ian Mahinmi.”
Seems to be a very athletic lineup but will it be effective and how does Paul George feel about this move?
“I’m not thrilled on it,” said George. “Um, you know it’s, uh, I was open for – to try it out. It’s definitely a change. It’s something new. We’ll see how it goes. As the season goes, it might be better for me to just be at my regular position. But I told them I was open to the situation and (we’ll) see where it goes.
[…]
“It’s just being outmatched strength-wise with guys at the four spot is really the only concern. It’s not really the concern for one game. It’s the concern just over the course of a season just how my body would take it, especially coming off the injury that I had and a whole year of rehabbing. Just not sure of how it’s going to take it. (We’ll) start camp, see how camp goes. Again, I’m not too thrilled on it, but it could change the more comfortable I get at the position. But we’ll see. But again, I could very much end up loving it, so it’s all up in the air. I’m open to the position.”
I don’t know if this is a wise move. George has played mostly shooting guard and small forward for most of his career. Now at power forward he will be matched up with the likes of Kevin Love, Chris Bosh, Blake Griffin and Zack Randolph. Offensively, I have no doubt he can hold his on but on defense George will have his back against the wall. Let’s see how this experience works out for PG and the Pacers.
HT: BleacherReport