Paul George’s first season with the Philadelphia 76ers has proven to be much more challenging than anticipated, as Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
While the Sixers were optimistic when they brought in George during the offseason, his integration into the team has been a struggle so far, not only due to the team’s poor 7-16 record but also because he has had difficulty finding his role within the offense after returning from an early-season injury.
The Sixers’ major summer acquisition has yet to make the impact many had expected.
The former Indiana Pacers star has faced the challenge of adjusting to the team’s system while sharing the floor with superstars like Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
With Embiid’s recent sinus fracture sidelining him for an extended period, George may be called upon to take on a larger scoring role, though the team must also work to find ways to get all three stars – George, Embiid, and Maxey – on the same page during games.
The balance between them on the court has been an issue, and the team has struggled to maximize their collective potential.
“I think just moving a little more, just finding my way of moving,” the Los Angeles Clippers tradee stated when discussing ways to improve his offensive production. “Running the floor a little bit better. I think we got to allow each other to create space.
“So I have to cut to the nail sometimes to allow Tyrese to play in the open court, then I got to do it. But I think for sure, just more clarity for myself.”
In Friday’s loss to the Indiana Pacers, George struggled to get involved, finishing the first half with just three points on three shots, essentially a non-factor in the offense.
Coach Nick Nurse acknowledged that the forward’s lack of involvement was partly due to the Pacers’ aggressive defense.
The Pacers’ full-court man-to-man pressure threw off the Sixers’ offensive execution, and Nurse suggested the team needed to work on handling such defensive intensity.
“We weren’t very good in the first half,” Nurse admitted. “Some of the up-court pressure took us out of better execution, right? We really got to look at that and get better. It’s just full-court man-to-man, pick-up pressure.
“It’s not like it’s a trapping thing. It’s just you still got to be able to ball down the first and get into our stuff and execute stuff.”
Despite the early struggles, George remains focused on improving his play, hoping that with more time and clarity, he can help turn things around for the 76ers.
Paul George is still finding his way in Philly: https://t.co/wSXSdG5K8P
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) December 16, 2024
