NFL
By: Henry Curi
As the Los Angeles Clippers take a 2-1 lead against the Denver Nuggets, it’s a little hard to comprehend how a Denver team who had six players in double figures came up short. Especially having Nikola Jokic pour in 32 points and 12 rebounds of his own. But in this game, it’s not necessarily what head coach Mike Malone’s team did wrong, it’s what six-time all-star Paul George did right. As he brought out the real Playoff P that’s been around since his series against the Miami Heat in 2013. A series that witnessed his emergence as a superstar. Most notably, his ability to push even the greatest opponents to their very limit.
Game 3 Was Rated PG-13
In-Game 3 against the Nuggets, George was the embodiment of the term efficient. He scored 32 points on 12-18 (66%) shooting from the field and 5-7 (71%) shooting from beyond the arc. His best game in these playoffs since Game 5 against the Dallas Mavericks in the first round, where he dropped 35 points on 66% shooting as well.
These numbers are way above his playoff averages this year by a wide margin. The former Fresno State star is averaging 20.4 points on 40% shooting from the field and 33% shooting from three.
This was the perfect game to remind not just the world, but himself on what he’s truly capable of on the basketball court. Particularly in pivotal situations. It was either lose two in a row and have Denver gain control of the series, or keep the crucial momentum on his team’s side with a victory.
NBA fans saw what he ended up doing.
Even though he’s been struggling throughout the postseason and having as low as nine points (Game 4 versus Mavericks) in one game, there’s no question Playoff P was going to show out sooner or later.
The True Birth of Playoff P
Although he gave himself the nickname in 2018 during his series against the Utah Jazz—as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder—this mantra should’ve been solidified five years before that.
At just 23 years of age, George was able to put an up and coming Indiana Pacers team at the brink of a finals appearance in 2013 against a Miami super team. A squad that included players such as Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade, and of course, LeBron James, who was the MVP that season.
The last time the Pacers made the conference finals prior to George’s take over with the franchise? Back in 2004, where they lost the series 4-2 against a Detroit Pistons team who won it all that year.
It took nine years to get back to that position. But as George kept progressing, he took a powerful group of opponents to seven games. In a series that saw his points per game playoff average skyrocket from the year prior. As he went from 9.7 to 19.2 points per game from 2012-2013. This was the same series that included one of the most iconic moments in his career, with a vicious posterizing dunk on Chris Andersen. A move that saw him beat James off the dribble to execute the miraculous highlight.
Even Pacers legend and TNT commentator Reggie Miller—who was broadcasting that game—said after the play, “We are seeing a superstar in the making here with Paul George.”
He was able to have this massive jump on his second go-around against the same Heat team that eliminated him in 2012. So although Miami won the conference finals in 2013 as well, they faced the same player in George. But also a completely different beast.
From there, his ticket to stardom was punched. George put the whole league on notice. Showed that a player coming from a small name school was ready to take on anybody who dares challenge him.
Winning the Mental Battle
Game 3 against the Nuggets displayed just that. His team is facing the best performer in these playoffs in Jamal Murray, along with arguably the best center in the league in Jokic. But George may have finally overcome the most important battle aside from these players so far. A battle he’s been having with himself.
The Clippers guard stated in a post-game interview, “Whenever I can just relax, calm down…come out and just play. I’m always in a good place. I just gotta do that. Come out here and be calm and relaxed…My teammates continue to trust me, Doc [Rivers] continues to trust me. That’s the easy part. Just gotta come out here and play ball.”
He did not want to let his struggles get the better of him. As well as keep regressing his capacity as an elite star. The best players find the best moments to avoid that and work things back into their favor.
George did that and conquered yet another adversity in his eventful career. But the question is, can he keep this up?
Game 4 is on Wednesday.
