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Why The Indiana Pacers Shouldn’t Let Paul George Play This Season

By Sam Richmond

Dec 20, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) before the game against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) before the game against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /
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When Indiana Pacers forward Paul George broke his right leg in gruesome fashion during a Team USA scrimmage this season, many believed there was no chance we would see the young superstar suit up during the 2014-15 NBA season.

However, George has been recovering quickly enough that Pacers president Larry Bird wouldn’t rule out the possibility of the forward playing this season when speaking to reporters on Tuesday.

From ESPN:

"“It seems like every week Paul is getting better and better,” Bird said. “So if we do have an opportunity to get into the playoffs and [George] can get some games under his belt and get ready to go next year … I always say if a player is ready to play, they gotta play.“We’re not going to hold him back if he’s able to go out there and play. When you’re out like that, you lose something. … I still think it’s important if he’s able to play, he should be out there.”"

George even seemed to suggest that his return could come as early as March on Twitter.

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In a perfect world for the Pacers, George would return 100 percent healthy and in enough time to help the Pacers (18-32, 4.5 games behind the No. 8 seeded Miami Heat) sneak into the playoffs and be a tough out while there.

But that’s simply not realistic for a multitude of reasons.

While George appears to be recovering extremely well, he won’t have played in live NBA action in almost a year by the time he returns. It’s simply unlikely George would play up to his normal standards immediately upon return — from a physical standpoint and because he hasn’t played with his teammates all season.

To play George in that state, this deep in the season, in the midst of a playoff race, and ask him to the carry the team seems like a mistake.

Also, even if George comes back in March and plays at a high level, it won’t be easy for this team to make the playoffs, assuming they remain about 4.5 games out of the playoffs until he returns. And even if we were able to miraculously lift this team to the postseason, it’s not worth rushing back one’s franchise player in order to earn the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Furthermore, the Pacers, with George, aren’t doing anything substantial come playoff time. This team has too many roster holes that George’s presence wouldn’t alone solve.

This is a lost season for the Pacers — It’s understandable why that might be difficult for Bird to come to grips with, considering it was just last season that Indiana earned the No. 1 seed in the East and reached the conference finals — but that’s this team’s reality.

The smart move for the Pacers is to pump the breaks on talk like this in order to not pressure George into rushing back from injury. George’s goal should be to become fully healthy so this team can rebound next season, not to pointlessly help them earn a No. 8 seed this season eight months after he so terribly broke his leg.

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