Indiana Pacers: Paul George Should Play When Ready

After a 2012-13 season in which he rose to stardom, Paul George took his game to another level in 2013-14. Thus, even after the Indiana Pacers endured something of an implosion, the expectations were high for he and his team entering 2014-15.

Unfortunately, a compound fracture in George’s lower right leg ended the Pacers’ dreams of winning big. Or did it?

No matter how hesitant he may be to disrupt team chemistry, when George is physically ready to play, he should.

The Pacers have won seven of their past eight games and are 15-5 in their past 20 outings. Since February 1, they’ve taken 13 of 16 and have gone from an afterthought in the postseason hunt to the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference.

According to Matthew Glenesk of The Indianapolis Star, George fears that he might, “Destroy,” what the Pacers have built by returning to the rotation.

"“I’m on the fence,” said George, who was injured playing in a scrimmage for Team USA on Aug. 1. “Part of me is (thinking), they’re playing so well, they’ve come together, to shake up the chemistry and add another body, another player in there … I don’t want to be that guy that destroys what these guys have going.On the other hand, there’s a part of me that’s like, ‘I can definitely help.’ It’s a difficult point in my role right now, but we’ll take it day-to-day.”"

It’s a fair concern, but if any player can return without disrupting chemistry, it’s George.

Without jumping to too many conclusions, George could be alluding to the 2013-14 mid-season acquisitions of players such as Andrew Bynum and Evan Turner. Bynum was expected to backup Roy Hibbert, while Turner was traded for locker room leader and fan favorite Danny Granger.

Both moves coincided with the previously alluded to implosion.

The Pacers entered the 2015 NBA Trade Deadline with a record of 41-13, but soon entered a downward spiral. Only so much blame can be placed on Bynum and Turner, but chemistry was an issue once Granger was traded and Indiana closed out the season with a 15-13 run.

The difference between 2013-14 and 2014-15: George would be returning to a team that’s attempting to reach the postseason, not one that’s competing for the No. 1 seed.

For as rational as his concerns may be, George is a two-time All-NBA Third Team member with extraordinary value. He’s one of the better scorers in the NBA, an elite defender coming off of an All-Defensive First Team nod from 2013-14 and a proven postseason performer.

Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

If Indiana is going to win big with its current group, it needs George.

Indiana is No. 3 in the NBA in scoring defense and No. 23 in scoring offense. They’re only down by .7 points scored per game as a team from 2013-14, but the flaw for the Pacers is the absence of a go-to scorer.

Fortunately, as George told reporters, the Pacers’ defense has picked up the slack.

"“Defensively, these guys have been special the past month, so that’s where I think the confidence will have to come from, where I can be thrown out there and not miss a beat with these guys,” George said."

Unfortunately, having a player who can be trusted to score in big moments is of the utmost importance in the playoffs.

To be clear, George’s realistic return date was the beginning of the 2015-16 NBA regular season. He’s called both March and April, “Optimistic,” possibilities for his comeback.

As the postseason nears, however, temptation will come knocking.

"“If it gets to the point where these guys are in the playoffs, and I’m thinking about coming back, I think at that point, I might as well let these guys finish the year out,” George said.“It’s different if this was the beginning of the year and we were still trying to find our way. But these guys are playing at the top of their game right now and the last thing I want to do is slow them down.”​"

George is clearly a team player, but his team needs him to be a little more imposing.

George has career postseason averages of 17.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game. He upped his numbers to 19.2 points per contest in 2013 and 22.6 points per game in 2014, holding his own against LeBron James in both deep runs.

In other words, George knows how to get it done when the lights are shining bright. Thus, if he’s physically and mentally ready to return, there should be no hesitation; the Pacers can only improve him him back in the rotation.

Per Candace Buckner of The Indianapolis Star, that isn’t happening yet.

"The image of George looking like a basketball player again in a No. 13 practice jersey — still equally parts alien and astonishing after his traumatic broken leg seven months ago — makes for an encouraging storyline. George topped his goal of returning to full practice by early March and has continued his own restoration routine without any setbacks.However, even as George has practiced for three weeks, Pacers’ teammates, while highly supportive, see a player who looks good for someone who broke his leg while noting that he is still on the mend. One teammate declared that George is “not even close to 100 percent” while expressing strong skepticism about a return this year."

Patience is a virtue. So is having one of the 15 best players in the world, as his two All-NBA honors distinguish him as.

When George is ready—and no sooner—the Pacers will be a better team because of it. Potentially a contender.