LA Clippers: Paul George will need to play a vital role in championship
By Todd Dudas
LA Clippers need Paul George to rise up
It seemed as if the LA Clippers made all the right moves this past offseason in acquiring all the pieces needed to compete for an NBA title. The two biggest and most meaningful moves centered around acquiring both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.
For the Clippers to emerge as champions this season, you could make the argument that Paul George will have to be the second-best player on the floor on any given night. If the Clippers win the championship, George will be the Finals MVP.
Due to injuries and load management, George and Leonard have only played together in 32 games. George had only appeared in 42 games before the hiatus. If healthy, he could be the ultimate game-changer for the Clippers.
More from Sir Charles In Charge
- Dillon Brooks proved his value to Houston Rockets in the 2023 FIBA World Cup
- NBA Trade Rumors: 1 Player from each team most likely to be traded in-season
- Golden State Warriors: Buy or sell Chris Paul being a day 1 starter
- Does Christian Wood make the Los Angeles Lakers a legit contender?
- NBA Power Rankings: Tiering all 30 projected starting point guards for 2023-24
When the playoffs start, superstars have the tendency to take over and rise to the occasion. No matter what sports, what level, or what the situation may be, that’s often what happens. Superstars have a different gear that is shifted when it is all on the line.
Before the hiatus, George was averaging 21 points, six rebounds, and four assists per game. He was on pace for another great season, and now that he’s completely healthy heading into the NBA’s restart, you can’t help but expect a strong performance from George.
Kawhi will put up great numbers. It will be George that will be the ultimate game-changer for the team in the playoffs.
Everyone – or no one – has a homecourt advantage in this year’s playoffs. That could only help a team like the Clippers, who focused more on health than seeding during the NBA’s regular season. Talent and depth-wise, this is a team that could go toe-to-toe with any other team in the NBA.
The biggest hurdle that potentially stands in the way of the Clippers is the Los Angeles Lakers. They will likely face-off in the Western Conference Finals. It could go down as one of the biggest (and best) series in NBA history.
Next. NBA: Resetting the East team rosters heading into the restart. dark
If the Clippers win the NBA championship, expect Paul George to play a big part in the team’s success.