Indiana Pacers: 5 Keys To Completing The Upset

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Apr 16, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) keeps the ball away from Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) in game one of the first round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Indiana defeated Toronto 100-90. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

1. George Being The Best Player In The Series

This is similar to No. 3 and No. 2 on the list, but after a master Game 1 performance, Paul George’s status as the best player in the series needs to continue for however long it takes to close out the Raptors.

On the one hand, it’s completely unreasonable to expect him to average 33 points, six assists, four assists, four steals and two blocks per game for a whole seven-game series, especially if DeMarre Carroll is able to play through injury and lend his defense to Toronto’s cause. It’s also highly unlikely he outscores the entire Raptors’ All-Star backcourt by himself again.

But in watching George go off for 27 second half points on 10-of-13 shooting, it became blatantly obvious that as long as PG-13 continues to go NC-17 on the competition, the Pacers have a chance of pulling off this first round upset. The Raptors are the better team (even in their current deer in the headlights playoff state), but if Indiana has the best player, they’ll have a shot.

Lowry and DeRozan will try to throw their names back into the conversation, so it won’t be easy. It’s unfair to expect George to be the PG-13 we saw in November, a two-way MVP candidate who posted 27.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game on .458/.451/.850 shooting splits, but without another star-caliber player on the roster to back him up, that’s just how it has to be.

Paul George is one of the finest two-way players in the league and his comeback season has been a joy to watch. Even if he and the Pacers fall short and don’t win another game this season, it’s been incredible watching him play at such a high level again so soon.

More hoops habit: 2016 NBA Playoffs: The Deciding Factor In Each First Round Series

In order to extend that season and add yet another memorable benchmark to it, PG-13 has to continue to play at the highest possible level on both ends of the floor, locking down DeRozan on defense and decimating Toronto as long as they continue to throw woeful defenders like DeRozan and Terrence Ross at him.