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ICYMI: Paul George will have the ‘best season of his career’

By Scott Stewart

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When Indiana Pacers head coach Frank Vogel says Paul George will have the best season of his career, he means it, and it’s a massive confidence boost.

Frank Vogel has never been shy. He appeared on Letterman as a boy, worked his way up from Kentucky video coordinator to head coach of one of the best small market teams in the league, and even got to coach the All-Star game.

Now, he’s making the papers for few words that may have meant very little, but are very telling nonetheless:

It’s entirely possible that Frank was just saying this in passing without context. Like, “Hey Coach, what have you liked about Paul so far this season?” and Vogel rattles off some combination of offensive excellence and forcing teams to switch on him from the perimeter to inside, followed up by that comment.

Either way, it’s very clear that the Pacers have high expectations for George this season in the new offense. Vogel once referenced “position-less” basketball in a press conference, but his team very much plays positionally, it’s just that George tends to fluctuate on offense and defense. The Fresno State grad turned just 25 in May and has had a year plus a couple of months to recover his game from the horrific leg injury suffered on Team USA in August of 2014.

What’s crazy is how much he has already “returned” in the sense of his play. I remember the night he broke his leg like it was yesterday, and yet I found myself Googling the date just to make sure it has really only been one year. He’s been that good in the preseason. But there’s that word again – preseason.

Oct 15, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) drives between Cleveland Cavaliers guard Joe Harris (12) and guard Dionte Christmas (33) in the third quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

What we have seen so far does not equate with the pace and grind of an 82 game season. Fortunately, I don’t think there are many trying to make the point that #13 will look like this consistently from November to June. However, Paul George has said more than once that he wants to be MVP, and if his head coach thinks it’s possible than so do I. One thing you can’t knock, he has the confidence.

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