Paul George drew a lot of criticism for passing up the ball in the dying seconds of Game 1 of their first round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday. However, based on his history of taking shots in late-game situations, it seems like he made the right decision.
The Indiana Pacers star forward is 0-for-15 in potential go ahead or game-winning baskets with 20 seconds or less left. That makes him the player with the worst record in that category since 2010, which is also the same year he entered the league.
Some interesting @ESPNStatsInfo research on Paul George with the game on the line: pic.twitter.com/Qlbkmyc4di
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) April 16, 2017
Despite being a four-time All-Star and a Most Improved Player of the Year award winner years ago, George has failed to lead his team beyond the Eastern Conference playoffs and contend for a title in the finals. The farthest they've gone with him leading the team was in the 2012-2013 season, when they reached the conference finals, but lost to the Miami Heat in seven games.
This season, the 26-year-old Fresno State product is having another solid campaign with averages of 23.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.6 steals per game, but his inability to score in clutch situations is being magnified even more. Should he improve in that category and help bring more victories to his team, it could elevate his game to a higher level and bring the Pacers closer to a championship.
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