LA Clippers: Why Paul George is the new Scottie Pippen

Scottie Pippen is one of the greatest players of all-time. The LA Clippers’ Paul George has a chance to be even better than Pippen was.

The LA Clippers dynamic duo of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard is what has driven them to the second-best record in the Western Conference this season. This team plays team defense and is deep offensively, but they would be nothing without the efforts of their two All-Stars.

Leonard and George are the superstar players that give this team the chance to win night in and night out. Both can score at a high rate and can play defense with the best of them.

In terms of defensive rating among active players, Kawhi Leonard is second with 100.02 and George is seventh with 102.23. In terms of offense, Leonard is far superior to Paul George. Among active players, Leonard is ninth with 117.85 in offensive rating. George is 65th with 109.00.

These two players are remnant of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. Jordan (Leonard) was the high potent scorer that could play defense equally as well. Pippen (George) was the player that could hold his own on the offensive end and complement Jordan on the wing with his defensive abilities also.

Leonard is not athletically as skilled as Jordan but they have some similarities. They both have big hands, won Defensive Player of the Year early in their career and have an efficient mid-range game in the post.

George to the LA Clippers is the second coming of Scottie Pippen with a 3-point shot. Their career numbers are similar. George averages 19.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game. He shoots 43.3 percent from the field and 38.0 percent from three.

Pippen averaged 16.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 2.0 steals per game. He shot 47.3 percent from the field and 32.6 percent from three.

Pippen was a better all-around player while George is having a better individual career. George was an MVP candidate and almost a Defensive Player of the Year with successful years leading the Indiana Pacers.

While Pippen did not ever win a Defensive Player of the Year award, he finished with a better defensive rating than MJ. Pippen was relied on to shut down the best wing player on the other team.

He could do it all on the court and he was a better defender than George is now. In terms of all-time defensive rating, Pippen is 67th with 101.51 and George is 88th with 102.23.

Both players can light it up in transition. Pippen has had many highlights of him dunking on people in the fast break. The dunk on Patrick Ewing is one of the most legendary dunks of all-time.

George has had some special dunks in transition of his own. His favorites are the 360 and windmill slam.

The LA Clippers are 10th in fast-break points per game this season. Leonard and George with their ability to turn defense into offense are big reasons for that. The Clippers are eighth in points off turnovers as well.

That was Jordan and Pippen’s bread and butter. They could cause havoc on the opposing team’s offense and that would lead to more chaos on the defensive end for the other team.

For Leonard and George to truly channel their inner Jordan and Pippen, they would have to be a top-five team in fast-break points per game. Defensively, they are already there but they have to convert in transition better.

Leonard and George are 29th and 31st in fast-break points per game respectively while the team is eighth in points off turnovers per game. Paul George is the second coming of Pippen because of his ability to play defense and play in transition.

For his team to succeed if the season resumes, PG will have to be better than Pippen. He can do that. His individual success has already shown that. If he can get more efficient from the field (more specifically in transition) then he’ll take his game to the next level.