Coach Vogel expected to rest his stars but fan has other reason for slump.
The Indiana Pacers are suffering from a worrying slump in form as the playoffs approach, and amongst those struggling is Paul George.
The 23-year-old has seen his average drop from 21.7 to 18.2 points per game during the latest skid, as the Pacers generally struggle on the offensive end of the court.
In addition, speculation has been rife in the media regarding his off-the-court distractions which have supposedly had an effect on team chemistry and performance, although coach Frank Vogel has claimed that some of his key players are “worn down” and will be rested in the build-up to the playoffs.
While it is perhaps slightly unfair to single out George for criticism, the Pacers forward-guard has been touted as one of the next biggest superstars of the league as he continued his development and emerged as a real talent in last year’s playoffs.
That appeared to overlap into this season as Indiana made a strong start to the campaign and looked set to dominate throughout, with the Miami Heat trailing for the majority of the season.
The reigning NBA champions have turned things around as the final stretch approaches, although the two rivals will meet again on Friday night which could have implications for the top seeding in the Eastern Conference.
Nevertheless, questions are being asked of George during this difficult period, and the Pacers fans are undoubtedly anxious about their team’s ability to challenge for a championship with the playoffs just around the corner.
However, it appears as though some are taking a more light-hearted approach with the hope that George finds his feet again before April 19…
A Pacers fan posted an ad on Craigslist searching for Paul George's "Missing Talent" pic.twitter.com/nkdljT6Hfo
— NBA Legion (@MySportsLegion) April 8, 2014
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