The sport of basketball took a serious blow when Paul George shattered his leg in horrific fashion last weekend during a Team USA scrimmage in Las Vegas, but Indiana Pacers GM Kevin Pritchard is preaching optimism in the aftermath of the grisly accident.
George had been contesting a James Harden layup when his foot landed awkwardly against the base of the hoop, forcing his leg to bend unnaturally and snap.
Pritchard knows that George is facing a very long recovery, but also said that the injury could have been worse. "What I've learned through this process is that it's not ]career-ending]," Pritchard said.
"It's actually a good thing. It's bone and bone only. It doesn't look like any soft-tissue damage. We're not trying to project when he's coming back, just trying to get him through this week and then we'll know more, but the biggest risk right now is infection. That looks really good right now. They just changed his dressing and it looks really good.
"I have no fear he'll be back and back in a big way. We're not going to put a timetable on it but I don't think there's any doubt he'll be back."
Last season he averaged a career-high 21.7 points per game to go with 6.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists. His numbers rose in the postseason, where he carried a floundering Pacers squad to the Eastern Conference Finals before eventually succumbing to LeBron James and the Heat.
His absence leaves a gaping hole on both the Team USA and Indiana Pacers rosters. The idea of playing small ball with Kevin Durant as a stretch power forward may not be feasible now, as George's perimeter defense would allow that strategy to flourish.
As for the Pacers, with Lance Stephenson gone, the scoring burden is going to shift onto center Roy Hibbert who averaged just 10.8 points per game on 43 percent shooting. In the playoffs he had several games in which he scored zero points-without George or Stephenson, his offensive game will need to improve or Indiana will be in danger of missing the playoffs.
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