It sounds crazy, if you've watched the injury. (Note: Do not go watch the injury. No good can come of that.) But Paul George still believes there's a chance that he can play again this season after he recovers from his severely broken leg. He just needs a little help: The Pacers need to make the playoffs.
From Pacers.com:
“Everything happens for a reason,” George said. “It gave me a chance to be in the weight room and spend some time there. I've got to use this as a blessing. It's tough to say you got hurt for a reason, but I honestly think I did. Now everything is starting to come back for me. I'm feeling great. I've been cleared to be in the weight room and work out. That's been keeping me positive and sane.”
George said he will not travel with the Pacers early in the season, but is likely to do so on most of the road trips later. He reiterated his hope that he might come back at the end of the upcoming season, although the Pacers as an organization are operating under the assumption he won't.
“It's very possible that I can play (this season),” George said. “I've talked to all the guys and said, 'Man, you guys have to get in the playoffs. That's the best chance I've got of coming back and playing this year.' I've already got it in mind that I could miss this whole year. I'm come to peace with that, but I'd love to be able to come back and play again.”
via Mark Montieth's Media Day Notebook | Indiana Pacers.
It's good to hear that George's progress is coming along so well. It's great to hear his positive attitude and how much he's involved with his teammates in trying to rally them for the playoffs.
But two things. One, the Pacers have to make the playoffs and while this is still the Eastern Conference, the competition is much higher. The Cavaliers and Pistons are much better than last year and without George, that offense is going to struggle to a crazy degree. There's no Lance Stephenson back-up plan. So that's going to be tough.
Two, as we learned with Derrick Rose two years ago (man, has it been that long?), sometimes these things drag on and on. Granted, Rose's injury was ligament and not a fracture which is less complicated to repair, but George had a significant amount of metal in his leg. The mental and physical conditioning to jump back into the playoffs is very difficult. That's why the team is operating under the assumption he won't be available. It's great that George wants to get back. It would be great for the Pacers and their fans, for George even.
