The Pacers think Paul George playing power forward is a good idea, largely because of the success the Warriors had going with small lineups in the postseason. George, however, seems lukewarm at best on the concept.
Upon hearing head coach Frank Vogel had told media he is looking at George as the starting power forward, George gave some pushback.
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"That's kinda new to me,” George said. "I don't think I'm at that point in my career where I should be changing positions. I think guys do that later in their career. They put on weight, (begin) lacking physical attributes as far as being quick, so I don’t necessarily feel the need to play a different position, especially coming back into a new season and starting fresh again.”
George suffered a horrific knee injury last summer but made it back for six games before the season ended. George was one of the premier swingmen in the NBA at full strength, and says he’s now feeling like he has returned to that level.
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In other interviews, George has tried to project openness toward the idea, but can barely conceal his uneasiness.
“I hope my happiness comes first in this whole ordeal but, again, I'm not someone that's going to kill a locker room. I'm open to it so I just want to see how it goes.”
George might have to suck it up whether he’s unhappy or not. He is signed through 2019 with Indiana, and the idea of him playing power forward came from NBA legend Larry Bird. Good luck winning a war of wills with Indiana’s foremost basketball icon.
“I’m the one who thinks he can play the four,” Bird told NBA TV in July. “I think the mismatches on the offensive end are greater than the defensive liability he’ll have. I think he can handle it.”
Offensively he may be a mismatch, but playing him at the four also minimizes the impact George has shutting down opposing teams’ top wing. He has even given LeBron James fits during the Eastern playoffs during Indiana’s multiple clashes with the Heat.
If the move flops, the Pacers did sign big man Jordan Hill from the Lakers in the offseason and draft center Myles Turner.
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