Pacers Finalizing $90M Extension For Paul George

[winter_mute_13]

i noticed him being pitiful in the first half of the season and marginally better the 2nd half

Then you must watch only one side of the court. He was a defensive star all year.

[bondom34]

Hate to chime in late, but Hibbert was definitely a great defensive presence, and at least not a large negative offensively. He posted a top 10 finish in defensive win shares and was great with RAPM too, I think its just a matter of him playing for a small market team that's not on TV much. He was really good last year, just not noticed. He ended 4th in blocks, 2nd in d rating, and 3rd in offensive rebounds. Not a bad season by any stretch.

[ibraheim718]

RealGM where field goal percentage should dictate how much money a player is paid.

[bledredwine]

hes actually a lot better than both of those players, especially batum. like comparing him to batum is borderline insulting to george.

No he isn't a lot better than any of them, he just a volume shooter and a crappy one at that.

Well you obviously don't know anything about George because he's arguably the best perimeter defender in the league, as well as a pretty decent play maker.

hell no. Butler Thabo Brewer and Allen are obviously better perimeter defenders. One could argue Iman as well.

[Nuntius]

I think it's ridiculous to give this guy Rose, Durant, Lebron type money on "potential"

He isn't going to get Rose, Durant, LeBron type money if he doesn't make another All-NBA team or earns the MVP.

He will only get them if he meets the requirements. If he meets the requirements then he will be worth his contract.

[Nuntius]

What's next for the pacers? what about West futur?

West is already locked up for the next 3 years.

[CousinOfDeath]

Dude getting paid.. To be expected after that playoff run

Sent from my Galaxy S4

The playoff run he wasn't even that good during?

He led them to the conference finals and was a game away from the finals. He gets alot of credit for that and he did go toe to toe with Lebron.

"Leading" and "going toe to toe" aren't things I put much stock into.

Let's not act like game 7 was a close game either.

[CousinOfDeath]

That 13 mil/yr steal for Josh Smith is looking even better than it already was...

George: 17.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists on 42% FG = 18 mil/yr

Smith: 17.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists on 47% FG = 13 mil/yr

Playoffs:

George: 16.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists on 43% FG

Smith: 17 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists on 43.3% FG

The main difference?

George helped lead his team to the 7th game of the ECF against the eventual champions.

Smith helped lead his team to a first round exit against George's team.

So...you're saying flip George and Smith and the Hawks play against the Heat and the Pacers are a 1st round exit?

[CousinOfDeath]

Somebody's gonna have to explain to me where this "potential" lies. He's already a top perimeter defender. He can already shoot the 3. Yet he still isn't a top player. In order to become a top player he'd have to drastically increase his ball handling skills. That doesn't just happen. That doesn't have a higher chance of happening because he's 22 years old. He's already played 3 years, and usually players have shown the level of play they're capable of by the end of their 3rd year. If that's the case with George then this contract is awful.

[Nuntius]

offensive slump? he's never been any good offensively

Actually, he wasn't in an offensive slump. He was playing through a wrist injury that no one knew until December.

As for the "he's never been any good offensively" part. I guess that being in the top 3 in accuracy in hook shots for the past 3 years is not an offensive skill.

i noticed him being pitiful in the first half of the season and marginally better the 2nd half

15.7 PPG on 50.8 FG%, 8.2 RPG, 2.5 BPG and 1.3 APG is "marginally better" I guess

[Nuntius]

So...you're saying flip George and Smith and the Hawks play against the Heat and the Pacers are a 1st round exit?

Not really. I'm saying that there is a difference between George and Smith as team leaders. Josh Smith was pouting in the first 2 games of the IND - ATL series and appeared as disinterested one could appear. He picked it up later in the series. Paul George was busting his ass on both ends of the floor from day one.

[dice]

As for the "he's never been any good offensively" part. I guess that being in the top 3 in accuracy in hook shots for the past 3 years is not an offensive skill.

if players were required to take nothing but hook shots you'd be onto something

[CousinOfDeath]

So...you're saying flip George and Smith and the Hawks play against the Heat and the Pacers are a 1st round exit?

Not really. I'm saying that there is a difference between George and Smith as team leaders. Josh Smith was pouting in the first 2 games of the IND - ATL series and appeared as disinterested one could appear. He picked it up later in the series. Paul George was busting his ass on both ends of the floor from day one.

Do you have proof of this?

[dice]

He's already played 3 years, and usually players have shown the level of play they're capable of by the end of their 3rd year. If that's the case with George then this contract is awful.

that's nonsense. he's already a very good player and elite defensively. joe johnson's contract was awful

[Nuntius]

As for the "he's never been any good offensively" part. I guess that being in the top 3 in accuracy in hook shots for the past 3 years is not an offensive skill.

if players were required to take nothing but hook shots you'd be onto something

The point is that this is an offensive skill that we're talking about. Having a post-up game is essential in the playoffs because it's much harder to contain a post player than it is to contain a simple PnR. That's why PnR bigs tend to fade in the playoffs while post-up bigs lead their teams in deep runs.

Just look at last year's playoffs. 3 out of 4 teams that advanced to the CFs had a great post-up big to lead them. The Grizzlies had Marc Gasol, the Spurs had Tim Duncan and the Pacers had Roy Hibbert. Miami didn't have a great post-up big but they had the best player in the planet currently.

[Nuntius]

So...you're saying flip George and Smith and the Hawks play against the Heat and the Pacers are a 1st round exit?

Not really. I'm saying that there is a difference between George and Smith as team leaders. Josh Smith was pouting in the first 2 games of the IND - ATL series and appeared as disinterested one could appear. He picked it up later in the series. Paul George was busting his ass on both ends of the floor from day one.

Do you have proof of this?

Did you watch the series? I did. Feel free to ask Atlanta fans.

[Nuntius]

RealGM where field goal percentage should dictate how much money a player is paid.

It really is ridiculous at times.

[CousinOfDeath]

He's already played 3 years, and usually players have shown the level of play they're capable of by the end of their 3rd year. If that's the case with George then this contract is awful.

that's nonsense. he's already a very good player and elite defensively. joe johnson's contract was awful

If Luol Deng was making $18 million a year would you consider that awful?

[dice]

As for the "he's never been any good offensively" part. I guess that being in the top 3 in accuracy in hook shots for the past 3 years is not an offensive skill.

if players were required to take nothing but hook shots you'd be onto something

The point is that this is an offensive skill that we're talking about

the point is, having a hook shot doesn't make one a good offensive player. you need a lot more than that. this is not a conversation about whether he has ANY offensive skills. we're talking about his total offensive game

[CousinOfDeath]

Or how about Realgm, where if my favorite young player isn't good on offense let's overrate his defense to justify my man crush.