Paul George makes the All-NBA 3rd Team

[chube]

Congrats, PG. First of many, I hope.

[Boneman2]

Well deserved!

Paul is everything Bender was supposed to be.

[Grang33r]

Well deserved!

Paul is everything Bender was supposed to be.

As Ron Artest said, PG is a top-5 talent in the NBA. Not sure Bender was ever going to be that good.

[Boneman2]

Well deserved!

Paul is everything Bender was supposed to be.

As Ron Artest said, PG is a top-5 talent in the NBA. Not sure Bender was ever going to be that good.

We just never got to see Bender put it all together because of legit health issues, but of course there were flashes of greatness. I remember when he'd play 8-10 minutes in a game and finish with 12pts/6rbs/2blks. His per minute impact was gaudy, I always thought he'd be amazing if he could play 30 mpg.

We're talking a legit 7 footer with handles, vision, and athleticism that would make PG jealous. He was listed as a sg because his range was sick (out to 26'). Not too many 7' sg's.

Regardless, I guess what I am saying is that Paul George has excercised my demons when it comes to Bender.

[Scoot McGroot]

Well deserved!

Paul is everything Bender was supposed to be.

As Ron Artest said, PG is a top-5 talent in the NBA. Not sure Bender was ever going to be that good.

We just never got to see Bender put it all together because of legit health issues, but of course there were flashes of greatness. I remember when he'd play 8-10 minutes in a game and finish with 12pts/6rbs/2blks. His per minute impact was gaudy, I always thought he'd be amazing if he could play 30 mpg.

We're talking a legit 7 footer with handles, vision, and athleticism that would make PG jealous. He was listed as a sg because his range was sick (out to 26'). Not too many 7' sg's.

Regardless, I guess what I am saying is that Paul George has excercised my demons when it comes to Bender.

Eh, he had amazing pure talent, but he just wasn't a great basketball player. He didn't have the mindset for it. He was a hard worker and an athlete, but ultimately, he may have been a basketball player only because he grew to 7 feet tall. It never seemed like he loved basketball.

He also had range, but no consistency on his shot.

[Jake0890]

The first of many.

[xBulletproof]

This could hurt us in the long run. He makes an All NBA team next year and he qualifies for the Derrick Rose exception where a player coming off his rookie contract can get 30% of the cap instead of 25%.

Either way you still pay it and smile while doing so, but I selfishly hoped he didn't make it this year so we could save that money. Oh well.

[Grang33r]

This could hurt us in the long run. He makes an All NBA team next year and he qualifies for the Derrick Rose exception where a player coming off his rookie contract can get 30% of the cap instead of 25%.

Either way you still pay it and smile while doing so, but I selfishly hoped he didn't make it this year so we could save that money. Oh well.

We finally have a star on the team, i think it's ok to embrace it. I get what you're saying though.

[23artest23]

Bender...he brings back memories, both good and bad. A healthy Bender would've been something of a PG24 and KD mix. Never came to be though. He was a helluva prospect that just didn't work out long term because his health didn't allow it. A Bender whom stayed healthy would have quite plausibly been one the NBA's elite talents.

[xBulletproof]

Bender never had the basketball IQ or instincts to be Paul George.

He looked like a deer in headlights except when he had the ball in his hands. He had a TON of work to do if he ever wanted to sniff being an elite player. I don't think he ever would have made it without the health issues.

[Grang33r]

Bender never had the basketball IQ or instincts to be Paul George.

He looked like a deer in headlights except when he had the ball in his hands. He had a TON of work to do if he ever wanted to sniff being an elite player. I don't think he ever would have made it without the health issues.

Not that I disagree with your assessment, because I don't, I feel George is the better and more complete player then Bender was, and Scoot wrote it very nicely in another thread, but, to give Bender a bit of slack, he was much less developed when he joined the Pacers because he jumped from high school. George was more developed and more mature as he spend two seasons at Fresno State.

[xBulletproof]

Bender never had the basketball IQ or instincts to be Paul George.

He looked like a deer in headlights except when he had the ball in his hands. He had a TON of work to do if he ever wanted to sniff being an elite player. I don't think he ever would have made it without the health issues.

Not that I disagree with your assessment, because I don't, I feel George is the better and more complete player then Bender was, and Scoot wrote it very nicely in another thread, but, to give Bender a bit of slack, he was much less developed when he joined the Pacers because he jumped from high school. George was more developed and more mature as he spend two seasons at Fresno State.

Last year Paul George was 21 years old. Benders most healthy season was when he was 21 years old. He played 78 games that year and didn't sniff what Paul George did even though it was only his 2nd season in the NBA. Comparing seasons of equal age, even with more NBA experience Paul dwarfs what Bender did. Not to mention Bender was on a 42 win team and Paul was on a team with one of the top records in the NBA. So I don't even really find the age issue a quality excuse.

Paul has made major strides between seasons. Bender never looked any different and I'm not sure he ever would have, particularly on defense.

[GeneralNash]

Paul George is the best thing since Gary Payton. He can do it on both ends. I still feel his confidence level is just not there. He should explode more to the basket...but he turns it over a lot because he is not confident enough.l

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[Scoot McGroot]

Paul George is the best thing since Gary Payton. He can do it on both ends. I still feel his confidence level is just not there. He should explode more to the basket...but he turns it over a lot because he is not confident enough.l

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More than anything, I think he gets worn down having to defend the best players in the league, and still puts up 17+ consistently.

[Boneman2]

From Melo' to LeBron he is competing against the very best this league has to offer, and doing a pretty damn good job of it. PG's mindset and maturity is of a 10 year veteran.

If the Pacers somehow make it to the finals Paul will see a huge drop-off in his head-2-head matchup. I'd even consider putting him on Tony Parker just to shut him down.

[xBulletproof]

From Melo' to LeBron he is competing against the very best this league has to offer, and doing a pretty damn good job of it. PG's mindset and maturity is of a 10 year veteran.

If the Pacers somehow make it to the finals Paul will see a huge drop-off in his head-2-head matchup. I'd even consider putting him on Tony Parker just to shut him down.

George Hill knows Tony pretty well. I would start with Hill on him just because of the familiarity. He should do pretty well after seeing him in practice for years.

However that's putting the cart before the horse.

[Boneman2]

Oh sure I'd start with Hill too, but with TP's penchant for scoring and Hill's lack of defense we'll have to rotate some.

I base PG's ability to limit DRose on applying him to Tony. Parker is no DRose.

Then throw Lance or Young at manu, thus allowing Hill or DJ to guard their weakest wing camped at the three.

The bigs will also help TD realize his age.

I love this possible matchup and feel that if we beat the best team (Heat), then we should stomp the Spurs, who got swept by the Thunder last season, and as we all know the Thunder were no match against the Heat.

Of course, like you said, I should not get ahead of myself.