The biggest topic of conversation during the NBA Finals has been Tyrese Haliburton‘s Achilles tear, with numerous players and commentators offering their own perspectives on how the Pacers should have responded to the point guard’s injury. Former Pacer Paul George has now weighed in with his own thoughts and offered a somewhat unbiased viewpoint.
The former 10th overall pick stated on “Podcast P” that the player, and no one else, has the last say over whether to play through an injury.
He did, however, add that the player must have a positive relationship with both the team and his medical staff in order for him to make an informed choice. He also said that the Pacers most likely ought to have rested Haliburton in Game 3.
Paul George breaks down Tyrese Haliburton’s injury
George thinks the Pacers might have taken the chance of resting him for their opening home game, though, because he was seen hobbling following Game 2.
He stated: “I think at the end of the day, it falls on the player,”. “But I do think there needs to be a better relationship among the player and the training staff, and the front office. But in this situation, you not gonna hold nobody out of a Game 7. I was like Indy should probably sit him Game 3.”
He makes a valid point, but it’s difficult to determine if the Pacers would have prevailed in Game 3 if Haliburton hadn’t been in the game.
PG also mentioned Kevin Durant’s Achilles injury during the 2019 Finals, saying that while no player would voluntarily miss a Finals series, it is up to the player and the team’s conditioning staff to decide whether to play if injuries are predictable.
