Paul George dropped 29 points in his most recent game, coming against the Cleveland Cavaliers, only adding to an already career-high scoring season. For George, it marks his seventh game in a row where he has scored at least 20 points. It’s impressive, but nobody should be surprised by this; George is averaging 23.4 points per game this season, a career high.
Another very impressive thing about PG13’s season is how many games he has played in. The Indiana Pacers have played 78 games this season, George has played and started in all of them. This is important, because George only played in six games last season following a gruesome injury during a USA Basketball exhibition game in advance of the 2014 FIBA World Cup.
Nobody knew how George would come back and play this season, but he has answered everybody and most importantly, he has silenced any critics that were left. Along with averaging 23.4 points, he is averaging 7.1 rebounds and four assists per game this season; both are very close to his career highs.
It’s looking like the Pacers will be able to make the playoffs, probably coming in as the seventh or eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. For George, he is averaging 17.2 points and 7.1 rebounds per game for his career in playoff games. He has made the playoffs four times, but the last time the Pacers were in the playoffs they were the No. 1 seed.
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A lot has changed since then, but one thing remains the same; the Pacers can count on PG13 to lead them.
How far he will be able to take them still remains up in the air, but there is no doubt that whoever gets matched up with the Pacers in the first round better be careful of George and his career high season in scoring.
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Although George is having a great season and the Pacers are playing well as of late, winning six of their last nine games, neither likely matchup for the first round is favorable.
The first option could be the team they just beat, the Cleveland Cavaliers. Yes, the Pacers did just beat the Cavaliers, the best team in the East, but it was the Pacers’ first win against them all season, as they finished 1-3 against the Cavs. The Cavaliers also played without LeBron James, who obviously has a huge impact on any game he plays in.
As tough as a matchup as this would be for the Pacers, George has done pretty well against them this season. He is averaging 23.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in the four games against the Cavaliers, but the playoffs are another beast.
The second option for the first round is the Toronto Raptors. The Pacers have a similar story against the Raptors. They are 1-2 in the season series, with one game left to play on Friday. It also gets worse for the Pacers if they face the Raptors. George has struggled in the three games against the Raptors, only averaging 17 points, but a much better eight rebounds, per game.
He is only shooting 29.6 percent from the field against the Raptors, and that could be worrying for the Pacers if they do get matched up against the Raptors.
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No matter who the Pacers have to face in the first round of the playoffs, one thing will remain the same; Paul George will need to continue to play at career-high levels. It is a little scary to rely so heavily on one player, but it has worked for the most part this season for the Pacers and they will need to continue to do the same in the playoffs.