[QUOTE="What is George "missing" that guys like Lillard, Wall, Hayward and Butler have? Aside from a 2nd solid scorer and/or elite big man: Lillard has McCollum. Wall has Beal. Hayward has Hill and Gobert. Butler has Wade and before that had Rose/Gasol. I also don't get this idea that PG "coasts" or takes a back seat. Yeah he isn't putting up 25ppg but 2013-2014 he averaged 21.7ppg and no one else topped 14ppg; Last season he averaged 23.1ppg and no one else averaged 14ppg and this season he is at 21.7ppg and no one else is at 16ppg. If he was truly coasting, he'd be closer to the pack rather than far and away the offensive leader. PG's lack of help in recent seasons seems to get glossed over. I noted the scoring above. How about in the frontcourt? The leading rebounders the last 2 seasons have been Mahinmi at 7.1rpg and M. Turner at 7.2rpg. George himself was at 7rpg and is now at 6.1rpg. Forget Gobert, he'd probably kill for a Marcin Gortat and his 11.3rpg right about now.[/QUOTE] I think he's missing that killer instinct, the fire or finisher mentality. I think he settles for long 2's and tough permiter shots, and should attack or get in the post and to the line more often. I think he has the skills..he just doesn't assert them. He should be a 27ppg game and have the Pacers with about 5 more wins than they have. Maybe he needs to be more selfish and "alpha" and play like a #1. Right now I think he's playing like a 1B- or 2+ player. You mentioned certain players have the 2nd punch..and PG doesn't..I agree 100% he needs that #1A or #1B to go with him to take it to the next level.
I don't know. PG has been in the top 10 for FTA in two of the past six seasons. Those above him aren't all first options (from last year): Harden, Cousins, DD, Jordan, Drummond, Westbrook, Wiggins, Thomas.
Agreed...but he shoots a poor FG% and he's a great FT%. He needs to stay less off the perimter and 3's and long 2's and get in closer like Derozan. As a 6'9 wing he should use his post game and get better shots..and he's at the 27-28ppg plateau.
His FG% is a legitimate knock. I don't think anyone should disagree with that. We'd do well to surround him him with some good shooters - like Russ - and a legitimate stretch 4.
http://www.nbaminer.com/clutch-time-stats/ Paul George has the 10th most points with 5 minutes left in the game of close games. His eFG% is over 54 percent. His FT% and FG% both increase by about 5% but his 3PT% drops by about 5%.
Let's not overthink this: Paul George is a very good basketball player. The Lakers should be in the business of adding very good basketball players to their team.
My point has always been, the pacers are going to ask for more than we should be willing to give up, especially because we are so far away from competing. Paul George alone doesn't make us a contender in the west with so many superior players than him here. In my opinion, trading for PG probably involves losing 2 of Russell/Ingram/Top 3 pick and maybe 1 of randle/nance/Clarkson. Rather wait for FA...
In this case though I take my chances we can't get him for ONE of our main core plus JC or Nance (not Ingram though) and a pick. If we have to trade our entire core then George has no teammates and we still suck and he might walk in the 2018 summer. If that happens we are right back where we were before drafting Randle, absolutely no assets and completely screwed. If he doesn't come here in free agency like those other guys, at least we still have our entire core to make other trades with if we want to, if not sticking with them as they develop. I was for trading for him at the deadline, but only giving up so much.
Well idk if it's possible, but say we end up with the second pick in the draft. The Kings may end up with 2 top 10 picks. We trade the #2 for their 2 top 10s. Then we give Indy those 2 top 10's plus JC for PG13. That's a lot that needs to happen, but idk it sort of sounds good on paper.
That's an unusual clause to put that much power in the hands of the media. No potential conflicts of interest there.
