Want to know what dysfunction looks like?
Consider that prior to the start of the Indiana Pacers 102-90 Game 4 loss to the defending champion Miami Heat Monday night star forward Paul George was defending sidekick Lance Stephenson as someone who's "genuine" in the wake of his ongoing trash-talking battle with LeBron James, only to derisively dismiss him in the aftermath as "young" and having "to be smarter with situations."
At least somewhat fueled by Stephenson's "I'm in his head" taunt, James torched the Pacers for 32 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, propelling the Heat to a 3-1 Eastern Conference Finals series lead. And still, when all was said and done, the 23-year-old Stephenson remained unrepentant.
Though he struggled the whole night and didn't score a basket until halfway through the fourth quarter, Stephenson told CBSSports.com "I have no regrets." That came on top of his pre-game comments when he told reporters "I don't care how LeBron feels. I love it when people challenge me, I like to bring out the best in people. That's how I am. When I talk junk, it makes me happier in my job. I like the challenge, I like to force myself to do my job."
Recognizing that in the end some of Stephenson's tactics may ultimately stand to make all of the rest of the Pacers' jobs that much harder, George added "Well, you know, Lance is young.
"That's a teaching point. It's a learning lesson for him. I mean, sometimes you just gotta watch what you say. On the big stage, everything you say is going to be bulletin board material and have a powerful meaning behind it."
In terms of having to watch what you do and say on such a big stage, the 24-year-old George speaks from experience, as he spent the latter part of the season trying to quiet such controversies as fathering a child with a Miami stripper and reportedly being "catfished" in an online scam.
"We've just got to be smarter with situations and voicing our opinions sometimes." George added of Stephenson. "Just because of what was said and what was done, it just wasn't a good time for him."
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