After signing a four-year, $211.6MM maximum free agent contract with the Sixers this summer, Philadelphia anticipated that former nine-time All-Star forward Paul George would help goose their scoring — but his contributions have been erratic so far, observes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Through 19 healthy games, the 34-year-old is averaging 15.8 points on .404/.314/.787 shooting splits, along with 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists. His shooting percentages from the field overall and from long range in particular represent his second-worst such rates across a 15-season career. In his last four contests, George’s long range woes have gotten even worse. The six-time All-NBA honoree shot just 4-of-25 from deep.
Sixers All-Star center Joel Embiid, however, is confident that George can bounce back as a shooter.
“He’s going to be great,” Embiid said. “I’m not worried about it. I think as we keep going and we start figuring out the best way to move forward, I think he’ll be way better than he’s been, more efficient, which he’s always been. Especially catch and shoot [and] shot creation.”
Pompey cites George’s difficulty integrating into the team’s offense next to Embiid as part of the problem.
There’s more out of the Atlantic Division:
- A lackluster defensive effort from the Raptors against Memphis on Thursday, in a 155-126 defeat, serves as just the latest example of a possible long-term issue for Toronto’s young core, writes Eric Koreen of The Athletic. Toronto already ranked 23rd in defensive efficiency heading into the Memphis defeat. Koreen notes that, though the Raptors have been effective at limiting opponent three-point attempts, the team has a tendency to foul too frequently, and is too lenient with permitting enemy scoring within five feet of the basket.
- Knicks wing Josh Hart has been a critical component of New York’s defense this season, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. The Knicks are 22-10 on the year, and winners of 16 of their last 20 contests. “My game is very simple,” Hart said. “I don’t go out there and try to do ball screens and 18 dribbles, dribble combos and all that. I keep it simple. If I don’t got a layup or a shot, I swing the ball, get these guys the ball. And fit in around them.” The team’s defensive rating this season ranks 14th out of 30 clubs, a slide from its No. 10 rating in 2023/24.
- Celtics All-Star wing Jaylen Brown is making a real case for All-Defensive team inclusion, per Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. “I feel like I’m one of the best two-way players in the world,” Brown said. “So I try to hang my hat on that side by doing different assignments like picking up guys full court, chasing guys off screens, switching onto bigs. That takes a lot of energy. Then to have to go back down and try to score 24, 25 a night, get other guys going. But defense is where our team kind of needs to set the tone and hang our hats with physicality, toughness, and I feel like I’m the leader of that, so I’ve got to hold myself accountable.” Himmelsbach notes that the athletic small forward has often been using his work on the defensive end of the court to kick off his explosive offense.