The Clippers have been performing very well for two months now. Paul George Also. His peak at 38 points against the Thunder and his entry into the Top 100 best scorers in history reminded everyone of the player he is when he is in great shape.
But it is above all through his consistency and efficiency that he shines this season. And in a more discreet role because Kawhi Leonard and James Harden take up more space and more balls than him. But that's not a problem. “He is comfortable, with or without the ball. He's like that. He's an All-Star.”judges the former San Antonio and Toronto player for The Athletic.
Less balloon consumption
Because the Clippers winger has touched fewer balls since the 2018 MVP arrived in California. This season, he touches 58.2 balls per match, 11 fewer than last season and 17 fewer than in 2021/22. In addition, in 19% of cases, he benefits from a screen. He averaged 32% over the previous four years, peaking at 36% two seasons ago. Clearly, the pick-and-roll is now James Harden's weapon.
But “PG13” is no less effective, on the contrary, since it averages 23.9 points, its second best under the colors of the Clippers.
“Harden is one of the best at reading and making the play, and if we double take on Kawhi, then that leaves a lot of opportunities for me to be aggressive,” he analyzes. “And nine times out of ten, I have the third best defender on my back, so since I have the feeling that I can score in front of anyone, if I only have the third defender, then I am ultra aggressive. »
As he has less ball in his hands and plays less pick-and-roll, Paul George dribbles less. It is therefore no coincidence that he only loses 2.1 balls on average, his lowest since his first two years in the league, at Indiana.
A more dangerous shooter and defender
“Doc Rivers was trying to make me play like Ray Allen or JJ Redick”he remembers when talking about his first season in Los Angeles. “I know I can do it, but it's not my game. I need rhythm, to have pick-and-rolls, to play in the post. To touch the ball. »
The former Thunder hasn't become a simple shooter from distance this season, but he has moved a little closer to that role, taking more prize-winning catch-and-shoot shots. He attempts five per match, compared to 3.8 and 3.1 in the previous two exercises. We're not far from his first season, with Doc Rivers, where he shot 4.4 from distance per game. And with 42% 3-point success, he has never been so skillful in his career.
“We’re trying to give Paul George more catch-and-shoots, more mid-distance isolations,” confirms his coach Tyronn Lue. “Same for Kawhi. We let Harden take care of the pick-and-roll, make the play and make the right choices. If PG plays away from the ball, he is even more dangerous. He can shoot, penetrate, but also play the pick-and-roll if he doesn't have the shot coming off the screen. »
This more refined style, where he carries the ball less, also has an advantage for the player and for the Clippers: it allows him to spend less energy on attack, therefore more on defense.
“I'm usually the one who defends against the opponent's best outside player,” recalls Paul George. “It takes a lot of energy to get the ball up, to create, to score and to defend against the best player. There it's easier, I can concentrate on what I have to do in defense. When offensive opportunities present themselves, I take advantage of them and I can be aggressive. I can direct my energy elsewhere with the help of James Harden and his game.”
| Paul George | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2010-11 | IND | 61 | 21 | 45.3 | 29.7 | 76.2 | 0.6 | 3.1 | 3.7 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 7.8 |
| 2011-12 | IND | 66 | 30 | 44.0 | 38.5 | 80.2 | 0.9 | 4.8 | 5.6 | 2.4 | 2.9 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 12.1 |
| 2012-13 | IND | 79 | 38 | 41.9 | 36.2 | 80.7 | 1.1 | 6.5 | 7.6 | 4.1 | 2.9 | 1.8 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 17.4 |
| 2013-14 | IND | 80 | 36 | 42.4 | 36.4 | 86.4 | 0.8 | 6.0 | 6.8 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 1.9 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 21.7 |
| 2014-15 | IND | 6 | 15 | 36.7 | 40.9 | 72.7 | 0.7 | 3.0 | 3.7 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 2.0 | 0.2 | 8.8 |
| 2015-16 | IND | 81 | 35 | 41.8 | 37.2 | 86.0 | 1.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 4.1 | 2.8 | 1.9 | 3.3 | 0.4 | 23.1 |
| 2016-17 | IND | 75 | 36 | 46.2 | 39.4 | 89.8 | 0.8 | 5.8 | 6.6 | 3.4 | 2.8 | 1.6 | 2.9 | 0.4 | 23.7 |
| 2017-18 | OKAY | 79 | 37 | 43.0 | 40.1 | 82.2 | 0.9 | 4.8 | 5.7 | 3.3 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 22.0 |
| 2018-19 | OKAY | 77 | 37 | 43.8 | 38.6 | 83.9 | 1.4 | 6.8 | 8.2 | 4.1 | 2.8 | 2.2 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 28.0 |
| 2019-20 | LAKE | 48 | 30 | 43.9 | 41.2 | 87.6 | 0.5 | 5.2 | 5.7 | 3.9 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 21.5 |
| 2020-21 | LAKE | 54 | 34 | 46.7 | 41.1 | 86.8 | 0.8 | 5.8 | 6.7 | 5.2 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 3.3 | 0.4 | 23.3 |
| 2021-22 | LAKE | 31 | 35 | 42.1 | 35.4 | 85.8 | 0.4 | 6.5 | 6.9 | 5.7 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 4.1 | 0.4 | 24.3 |
| 2022-23 | LAKE | 56 | 35 | 45.7 | 37.1 | 87.1 | 0.8 | 5.3 | 6.1 | 5.1 | 2.8 | 1.5 | 3.1 | 0.4 | 23.8 |
| 2023-24 | LAKE | 38 | 35 | 46.8 | 42.1 | 91.1 | 0.6 | 4.9 | 5.5 | 3.7 | 3.0 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 24.0 |
| Total | 831 | 34 | 43.9 | 38.4 | 85.2 | 0.9 | 5.5 | 6.4 | 3.7 | 2.7 | 1.7 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 20.8 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
