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#2 Ability to bounce back
Paul George has displayed the ability to bounce back and improve upon his situation before. After his horrific injury, George returned the following season for Indiana and averaged a career-high (at the time) of 23.1 points per game.
His numbers dropped again when he joined OKC. Paul George recorded 21.9 points in the 2017-18 season when the Thunder featured a big three of George, Carmelo Anthony and Russell Westbrook. With Anthony's departure following a loss in the playoffs to the Utah Jazz, Oklahoma's trio became a duo.
The 2018-19 season saw a resurgence of Paul George. Recording an average of 28 points and 8.2 rebounds, George was at his peak in scoring as he received more touches.
His postseason failures and redemption with the Clippers over the course of his two-year tenure with the franchise can reflect that.
While a trip to the Western Conference Finals isn't necessarily a failure, there are a lot of things that can be worked on and we should expect George to step up to the challenge.
#3 Paul George has a point to prove
Paul George is a prime example of someone who could not cope with the pressure of the NBA Bubble. His passive style of play and out-of-rhythm shooting created problems for the LA Clippers in the 2020 NBA playoffs.
The would-be contenders struggled early against the Dallas Mavericks, barely winning in seven games and then collapsed completely against the Denver Nuggets.
An airball from the right corner that hit the backboard was the lowlight for Paul George's 2020 playoff run, but it was also representative of his shooting slump.
However, George recovered from this display and came back firing the next season. In the 2021 playoffs, he averaged 26.9 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. Even after Leonard's injury in Game Four against Utah, George scored 37 points and 28 points in Games Five and Six to carry the Clippers to the Western Conference Finals.
In Game Five of the Western Conference Finals, Paul George recorded 41 points and 13 rebounds with six assists to prevent a 4-1 loss to the Suns. While the Suns won in six games, George showed that he could still carry the team in the absence of Leonard.
With more remarks regarding the clutch free-throws he missed in Game Two, George still has a point to prove regarding how far he can take this team on his own. With his legacy as a superstar on the line, Paul George has his work cut out for him during the 2021-22 NBA season.
Guess the Lakers players!
