The Oklahoma City Thunder have appeared to put their rough 0-4 start behind them, as they are now 11-6, and have gone 11-2 since stumbling out of the gates. A key reason for their turnaround has been the play of All-Star wing Paul George, who has seemed to played better in his second season with the Thunder and Russell Westbrook.
To likely the surprise of many, instead of going to his hometown Los Angeles Lakers (who he had been rumored to want to play for), George chose to re-sign with Oklahoma City for four years (and just shy of $137 million, per Spotrac) this past July. That ensured that OKC would be able to make noise in the Western Conference for the foreseeable future, and the Thunder are doing just that.
In his 17 games to start this season, George is on track for another All-Star year. He's averaging career-bests in points (24.3) and three-pointers made (3.3 on a 35.5 percent clip) in 35.5 minutes per game. He's been having a profound impact on the game on both ends of the floor, and it's not as if he didn't last season, but George is clearly benefiting from Oklahoma City no longer having Carmelo Anthony.
Anthony was traded to the Atlanta Hawks (who would then waive him shortly after), in addition to the Philadelphia 76ers' Justin Anderson and a protected 2022 first-round pick (per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski). In exchange, Hawks forward Mike Muscala was sent to the 76ers, and the Thunder received Atlanta's Dennis Schröder and Philly's Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot. Anthony would then sign with the Houston Rockets, who have now “parted ways” with him, per the New York Times' Marc Stein.
This trade was been a home run for the Thunder, and George especially; George was still a very good player last season with Anthony on the roster and Westbrook controlling most possessions, but this year, he's looked at ease more on the floor, and hasn't been up and down. He's clearly looked more comfortable.'
Takeaway #3: George has looked more comfortable
George is now getting more usage than was the case with Anthony on the floor with him, and it's paying off for the Thunder. Yes, George is making 41.5 percent of his shots overall, and his current three-point percentage of 35.0 is below his career average of 37.5 percent, but he's getting to his sweet spots much more frequently on the floor. George is getting better looks in both on and off-ball scoring opportunities.
He touched on how he feels more comfortable this year recently, per ESPN's Royce Young.
Paul George on being more comfortable this season in OKC and how that’s impacting both him and his teammates: pic.twitter.com/zrZNcnK0tz
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) November 22, 2018
That 35.0 percent clip is also understandable, considering George has what would be a career-high three-point rate (of 47.1 percent, per Basketball Reference), relating to 9.4 attempts per contest. He's been very good in transition pulling from deep after Westbrook and Schröder have pushed the ball, and that's led to good looks for George, which has often sparked the Thunder.
OKC was playing much slower last year, as they were just 18th in pace (per NBA.com) and now they are playing much faster, with the ninth-fastest pace in the league. That's enabled them to unleash George much more frequently in the open floor, where he has been very difficult to defend, given how he's both a terrific shooter from range and also a high-flyer at the rim.
Speaking of the latter, George is on track to finish at a career-high 0-3 feet from the rim, with a hit rate of 70.2 percent, per Basketball Reference.
George has been setting up his teammates, such as Steven Adams much better this year, too.
Takeaway #2: George has been a better passer
George didn't seem decisive in regards to his playmaking, which was reasonable with the way Westbrook dominated the ball last season in OKC. George seemed to be picking and choosing too often, and didn't seem nearly as comfortable in pick-and-roll situations with Adams as he has been to begin this year. This season, George is averaging 4.4 assists per game, which would be a career-high.
PG delivers. x3. #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/pFNEy6EFGz
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) November 22, 2018
Over the course of his tenure with the Indiana Pacers, George demonstrated he was a good and willing passer, and this season's 19.2 percent assist rate is indicative of that. When the defense is collapsing on George's drives, he's often been able to find Adams and at times Jerami Grant near the rim, or has been on-time dishing out to shooters such as Alex Abrines, Patrick Patterson, and Schröder.
Combined with Westbrook and Schröder, OKC is in better hands this season with George running the offense.
Takeaway #1: George has been even better defensively
For starters, George is currently posting a career-high in rebounds per game with 7.9, and that's lessened some of the burden on Adams and Westbrook, in addition to letting the Thunder grab it and go more in transition. Along with that, George is posting a career-best 2.4 steals per game and is leading the league in total steals, per Basketball Reference.
George has always been both a very capable on-ball defender against realistically 1-4 with his size, 6-foot-11 length, and ability to stay square or ice players in pick-and-roll, based on whether or not the scheme calls for either.
Where George is even more effective, though (and it's shown even more this season), is in off-ball defense. He's been incredible at jumping passing lanes, and in minutes with rim protector Nerlens Noel on the floor (along with Grant), George has been able to be more aggressive, and the three of them together have provided really good help-side shot-blocking.
“This is the defense Paul George plays.” #ThunderUp on @FOXSportsOK pic.twitter.com/L72skZV0cS
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) November 20, 2018
When Andre Roberson comes back from a left patellar knee injury setback that is likely to keep him out at least some time next month, per the aforementioned Royce Young, OKC and George will be even more stingy defensively with their length and athleticism.
Currently, the Thunder have the best defensive rating in the NBA, per NBA.com, and George is a massive reason for that.
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