Player of the Day: Paul George

[Andre Roberstan]

As promised, I'm starting a Player of the Day series to tide us over through the long offseason. With weekend skips it should eat at least a little of the time leading up to training camp. Hope you guys enjoy.

SCHEDULE:
Week 1: Starters
Aug 28: Russell Westbrook
Aug 29: Paul George
Aug 30: Steven Adams
Aug 31: Patrick Patterson
Sept 1: Andre Roberson

Week 2: Bench
Sept 4: Enes Kanter
Sept 5: Alejandro Abrines
Sept 6: Raymond Felton
Sept 7: Jerami Grant
Sept 8: Doug McDermott

Week 3: Deep Bench
Sept 11: Terrance Ferguson
Sept 12: Dakari Johnson
Sept 13: Semaj Christon
Sept 14: Josh Huestis
Sept 15: Kyle Singler

Week 4: Odds and Ends
Sept 16: Daniel Hamilton
Sept 17: Billy Donovan
Sept 18: Sam Presti
Sept 19: TBD
Sept 20: TBD



http://www.nba.com/playerfile/paul_george/
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/georgpa01.html

27 years old
Drafted 2010 out of Fresno State with the 10th pick by the Indiana Pacers
6'9"
220lb
4x NBA All-Star
3x All-NBA 3rd Team
1x NBA All-Defensive 1st Team
2x NBA All-Defensive 2nd Team
1x NBA Most Improved Player
1x NBA All-Rookie 2nd Team

Questions for the upcoming season:

1: How do you think he'll fit into the team?
2: How will this be the same as during the KD years and how will it be different?
3: Do you foresee any friction over who closes out games, given PG13's comments at times through his career?
4: What likelihood do you foresee for him staying past this season?

and any others you want to add

[ThunderBolt]

Questions for the upcoming season:

1: How do you think he'll fit into the team?
2: How will this be the same as during the KD years and how will it be different?
3: Do you foresee any friction over who closes out games, given PG13's comments at times through his career?
4: What likelihood do you foresee for him staying past this season?
and any others you want to add

1: he'll fit great. Everything about his game will go well with he team.
2: it will be similar in that we have two legitimate threats to take over a game. It will be different because George doesn't have the offensive abilities of Durant but he can likely play better defense than KD played here. Also, I think it will be different because Russ is the clear number one option.
3: nope. I forsee plays being designed for Russ with the option to kick out to George. I also think Russ will be willing to share the moment with PG in an effort to build commradary.
4: not great. We have to offer him something he can't have in LA. That's why it would be ideal to have a third star who isn't an UFA. Someone who is good enough that Russ and George would rather stay here and play with than go to LA.

[Kizz Fastfists]

1: How do you think he'll fit into the team?
2: How will this be the same as during the KD years and how will it be different?
3: Do you foresee any friction over who closes out games, given PG13's comments at times through his career?
4: What likelihood do you foresee for him staying past this season?

1) He's the new bail me out late in the shot clock player for Russ. He replaces kd in position/role only as PG isn't as good on either side of the floor and he sure isn't going to put up a 50/40/90 season.

2) He'll get the ball late in the shot clock after calling for the ball for 10 seconds and jack up a lot of long 2s and 3s. He'll be inferior to kd on both sides of the ball. He will shoot below his career averages from the field, 43%, and from 3, 37%.

3) PG knows he came to Russ' team. There will be frustration when Russ drives to the rim against three guys instead of kicking it to PG when Russ doesn't finish or get the call. Overall PG knows his role and will figure out real fast the difference between Russ, who always wants to be the hero, and LeBron, who always wants to make the right basketball play.

4) None. PG will be going through the motions of a season on a team he doesn't really want to be on before he heads home to Cali.

[bondom34]

1. He'll fit in quite well (you've seen my article from WTLC).

2. He's a great offball fit with Russ and can defend similarly to KD with IMO more consistent effort. He's not as skilled offensively though.

3. Not really, he's never played with anyone as good as Russ.

4. 10 percent maybe? That's about as high as I can go.

[ThunderBolt]

1: How do you think he'll fit into the team?
2: How will this be the same as during the KD years and how will it be different?
3: Do you foresee any friction over who closes out games, given PG13's comments at times through his career?
4: What likelihood do you foresee for him staying past this season?

1) He's the new bail me out late in the shot clock player for Russ. He replaces kd in position/role only as PG isn't as good on either side of the floor and he sure isn't going to put up a 50/40/90 season.

2) He'll get the ball late in the shot clock after calling for the ball for 10 seconds and jack up a lot of long 2s and 3s. He'll be inferior to kd on both sides of the ball. He will shoot below his career averages from the field, 43%, and from 3, 37%.

3) PG knows he came to Russ' team. There will be frustration when Russ drives to the rim against three guys instead of kicking it to PG when Russ doesn't finish or get the call. Overall PG knows his role and will figure out real fast the difference between Russ, who always wants to be the hero, and LeBron, who always wants to make the right basketball play.

4) None. PG will be going through the motions of a season on a team he doesn't really want to be on before he heads home to Cali.

So now you've turned on Russ too? You've gone from "we didn't get better in the offseason" to "no player can make the team better". Im guessing if we rebuild it won't matter because we have Donovan. If we fire Donovan then it won't matter because Presti can't hire the right guys and keep star players. If Presti does everything right to keep a player then the city of OKC will fail to be a cool enough city for NBA stars. Why not just come out and say that nothing can be done in your mind to improve the team?

[hardenASG13]

1: How do you think he'll fit into the team?
2: How will this be the same as during the KD years and how will it be different?
3: Do you foresee any friction over who closes out games, given PG13's comments at times through his career?
4: What likelihood do you foresee for him staying past this season?

1) He's the new bail me out late in the shot clock player for Russ. He replaces kd in position/role only as PG isn't as good on either side of the floor and he sure isn't going to put up a 50/40/90 season.

2) He'll get the ball late in the shot clock after calling for the ball for 10 seconds and jack up a lot of long 2s and 3s. He'll be inferior to kd on both sides of the ball. He will shoot below his career averages from the field, 43%, and from 3, 37%.

3) PG knows he came to Russ' team. There will be frustration when Russ drives to the rim against three guys instead of kicking it to PG when Russ doesn't finish or get the call. Overall PG knows his role and will figure out real fast the difference between Russ, who always wants to be the hero, and LeBron, who always wants to make the right basketball play.

4) None. PG will be going through the motions of a season on a team he doesn't really want to be on before he heads home to Cali.

Do you like any players on OKC or what? If your not a fan of Westbrook, then why even follow the team? You're down on seemingly everyone, except occasionally Roberson (the one guy I hate) when you chime in with sarcastic "all that matters is offense" remarks. Also seem to think they are the only team where none of their players can conceivably improve, and that Paul George will sulk on a winning team, playing next to by far the best player he has ever been a teammate with?

[Ontario]

1: How do you think he'll fit into the team?
2: How will this be the same as during the KD years and how will it be different?
3: Do you foresee any friction over who closes out games, given PG13's comments at times through his career?
4: What likelihood do you foresee for him staying past this season?

1) He's the new bail me out late in the shot clock player for Russ. He replaces kd in position/role only as PG isn't as good on either side of the floor and he sure isn't going to put up a 50/40/90 season.

2) He'll get the ball late in the shot clock after calling for the ball for 10 seconds and jack up a lot of long 2s and 3s. He'll be inferior to kd on both sides of the ball. He will shoot below his career averages from the field, 43%, and from 3, 37%.

3) PG knows he came to Russ' team. There will be frustration when Russ drives to the rim against three guys instead of kicking it to PG when Russ doesn't finish or get the call. Overall PG knows his role and will figure out real fast the difference between Russ, who always wants to be the hero, and LeBron, who always wants to make the right basketball play.

4) None. PG will be going through the motions of a season on a team he doesn't really want to be on before he heads home to Cali.

If you didn't enjoy Russell's MVP performance last year and are already determined not to enjoy the 82+ game Westbrook/George experiment maybe being a basketball fan is just not your thing, (or at least a Thunder fan... have you tried Golf as a possible hobby?)

Russ & Paul are going to be fantastic together and I'll wager anything that if there is a team at the trade deadline stuck having to sell a quality asset cheap, (as tends to happen in this league) that Presti will swing for the fences there too... we're all in this year. I for one cannot wait.

[Kizz Fastfists]

If you didn't enjoy Russell's MVP performance last year and are already determined not to enjoy the 82+ game Westbrook/George experiment maybe being a basketball fan is just not your thing, (or at least a Thunder fan... have you tried Golf as a possible hobby?)

Enjoying watching Russ put on a great show and thinking the team is better than clearly superior teams is a mutually exclusive ideal. One can enjoy watching Russ, and the Thunder, and still accept that they are not a contender. Just like one can enjoy watching Cousins, Embiid, Porzingis, Lillard and several other entertaining and good players without thinking their teams are contenders. If you have to convince yourself that a team is better than they are to enjoy watching them or root for them that is your issue. I never want the Thunder to lose. I just maintain realistic expectations because I am a fan and not a cheerleader.

[retrobro90]

I'm in agreement with most of the answers to the already proposed questions so I'll add one.

How comfortable will George be playing the 4 this season in small lineups?

I know he's done it in the past for Indy and expressed his disinterest as it can be a physical toll for wing players but with our current roster we have a smorgasbord of switchable defenders. If he's playing with Roberson, Mcbuckets, or Grant its likely that George is still guarding the 3 position but I'm a little more interested in those lineups where George is truly the 4th largest player for us and how well they would function offensively.

A pretty key cog for this would be Terrance Ferguson. If his defense and shooting translate this season imagine a lineup of Russ/Abrines/TFerg/George/Grant. That has some serious freaking mobility and shooting.

Pretty clear that Billy likes to tinker but I'm hoping George is willing to be a part of those experiments. I think last year Oladipo probably had an understanding with Billy that he didn't like the primary handler responsibilities with the 2nd unit so regardless of how many lineups we ended up seeing last season we didn't see Dipo at point guard until the playoffs. I'm hoping that's not the case for George when it concerns him playing at the 4.

[Ontario]

If you didn't enjoy Russell's MVP performance last year and are already determined not to enjoy the 82+ game Westbrook/George experiment maybe being a basketball fan is just not your thing, (or at least a Thunder fan... have you tried Golf as a possible hobby?)

Enjoying watching Russ put on a great show and thinking the team is better than clearly superior teams is a mutually exclusive ideal. One can enjoy watching Russ, and the Thunder, and still accept that they are not a contender. Just like one can enjoy watching Cousins, Embiid, Porzingis, Lillard and several other entertaining and good players without thinking their teams are contenders. If you have to convince yourself that a team is better than they are to enjoy watching them or root for them that is your issue. I never want the Thunder to lose. I just maintain realistic expectations because I am a fan and not a cheerleader.

Except none of the people you are talking to thought the Thunder were a contender last year and I have not seen anyone say they are going to win a title this year. All summer long you've been under valuing "realistic expectations", so you kind of are a cheerleader just for the other 29 teams.

[ThunderBolt]

I liked this quote from the article on newsok.com about George- “He's thoroughly excited for the season,” Capretta said. “He's getting a fresh start. He's got a lot of confidence in what (the Thunder) are gonna do. When you talk to him about it, he lights up.”

http://newsok.com/summer-of-george-okc-forward-hits-the-weights-in-offseason/article/5563494

[Pacersike]

1: How do you think he'll fit into the team?
2: How will this be the same as during the KD years and how will it be different?
3: Do you foresee any friction over who closes out games, given PG13's comments at times through his career?
4: What likelihood do you foresee for him staying past this season?

1. Pretty darn good. The Pacers were looking to find a Robin to put next to Paul, but the problem always has been that Paul is more like a Robin who needs a Batman next to him. Russ taking the lead over the team will take some pressure off Paul so that he can focus on other things again. Defense for example. Roberson is probably the best defender Paul has ever played with on the wings in most recent seasons. Solomon Hill was pretty good too but he couldn't play the 2 or the 4 and Paul refused to play the 4.
Roberson being able to play good defense on star players, will help Paul and was one of the things lacking on the Pacers to keep Paul happy.

Last season Paul ranked 79 of 81 of qualified players assist per turnover ratio with a very poor 1.14.
https://www.espn.com/nba/statistics/player/_/stat/assists/sort/assistTurnoverRatio/count/41
The more Westbrook can keep the ball out of Paul his hands, the better I would say. I have never really liked Paul dribbling the ball. The more he could catch and shoot, the happier I was.

2. I don't have an extensive vision of all the things that went right or wrong with KD, so I'll pass here

3. I believe some kind of friction is inherent with trying to win (basketball games). The only way there will not be any friction is if the Thunder become champions and even then it's unlikely not to happen. But as I said before, Paul George is not an alpa male and he is part of a team now which suits his qualities better than the previous 2 Pacer teams and I highly doubt your GM is going to talk to the media saying "Paul doesn't make the decisions around here." Paul is happier now and will be happier during the season, so any type of friction will be minor and will not be a main reason for a possible divorce. I see PG and Russ playing together again after the season, though it might always be the Lakers of course.

4. Most of the times I'm 50/50 in matters like these. The only team the Thunder have to fear, are the Warriors and they just won their ring last season, so there could be a little less focus this year for them and maybe a little more friction.
For me it's 50/50. It can depend of too many things and players for me to make a choice.

5. Best of luck to your team. If I would be in Indianapolis when Paul George was back in town, he would be the first Pacer player I would boo because of the way he left the team, but for all different kind of reasons, I hope the Thunder do very well this season and Paul George would be forced to make a difficult decision on where he is going to play after this season. It is better for the NBA and it is better for small market teams that the Warriors can be beaten this season.

[jambalaya]

PG sure likes to talk. Seems quick to have impression. Been around team / organization for a few weeks and super excited. U can be if u are. But that's fast. Maybe overdone at least in terms of staying. We'll see. At the moment it still seems more likely he says it was great, thanks... but bye then stay.

[Pillendreher]

Read on Twitter

George is coming for that DPOY.

[Dadouv47]

Thought PG13 wasn't an upgrade over Oladipo?

[ThunderBolt]

Read on Twitter

George is coming for that DPOY.

Whose the better defender, him or Dre?

[spearsy23]

Read on Twitter

George is coming for that DPOY.

Whose the better defender, him or Dre?

Roberson seems to have a larger effect on team defense.

[bondom34]

He's really so so so much better than I thought.