Would Paul George Returning Ruin Pacers’ Chemistry?
The Indiana Pacers are winners of seven in a row after defeating the Milwaukee Bucks 109-103 on Thursday night. The win moved the Pacers 3.5 games behind those same Bucks for the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference, and the team finally appears to be healthy and firing on all cylinders.
Enter Paul George.
The Pacers‘ franchise player had been rumored to be returning March 14th against the Boston Celtics. Those rumors were strengthen when NBATV decided to pick that game up nationally. However, head coach Frank Vogel quickly put those rumors out stating that George was “Still a ways away, and not going to play March 14th.”
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Paul George himself appears to be having doubt as well. George spoke to the media Friday, and the Indianapolis Star’s Matthew Glenesk writes that PG doesn’t want to ruin the puzzle, “I’m on the fence,” George said. “Part of me is, 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.”
I’ve felt the entire time that Paul George should sit out the entire season, but as he has gotten closer to returning, the thought of adding in “young trece” and making a playoff push has been intriguing. None of the East’s top seeds want to see this Pacers team, with a healthy Paul George in the first round.
“I’m on the fence,” George said. “Part of me is, 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.”
George does bring up an excellent point though. The Pacers are playing well, currently having the longest winning streak in the NBA. Guys are settling into their roles, and even though Paul George is clearly the best player on the Pacer’s roster, chemistry goes a long way. Many actually felt that Larry Bird trading away Danny Granger for Evan Turner at the deadline, ruined the Pacers chemistry last season.
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It’ll be a tough decision for George and the Pacers when that time comes, one that the Oklahoma City Thunder will also have to make when superstar Kevin Durant is back to share the load with MVP candidate Russell Westbrook.
Russell Westbrook is a one man show however, while this Indiana Pacers squad is coming together as a team. Should they roll the dice and bring back their superstar this season, or would Paul George returning jeopardize the team’s chemistry?