The Philadelphia 76ers are going to be the most difficult squad to predict next season. As everyone knows, expectations for this team have wavered greatly, with some people penciling them in as a surefire playoff participant next year while others are not too enthused about their chances of mounting a comeback bid in this campaign.
Part and parcel behind the general mystique about just how far this team can go is their dangerous tango with the injury bug. And one of its biggest victims last season was Paul George, who has likewise been sidelined all preseason long.
But aside from the fact that George is still nursing an injury, the nine-time All-Star saw his production and overall numbers dip in general last season. Granted that injuries halted his chances at ever finding his groove with his teammates, but even so, he turned in some of his worst numbers since he was a rookie in Indiana.
So far, George has not been worth the max contract investment from the 76ers. He has been wildly disappointing, and in all likelihood, his level of production is most likely not going to return to what it was when he was at his peak which, unbeknowst to many, was not that long ago.
Bill Simmons drops a harsh truth bomb about Paul George and the 76ers
Bill Simmons, a longtime NBA analyst, dished out a rather interesting think piece in his recent pod appearance, being of the opinion that after seeing such a drastic decline when it comes to his statistical turnouts, George is most likely going to remain at his current level moving forward.
After posting 22.6 points per outing during his final campaign with the Clippers in 2023-24, George posted just 16.2 points per contest last season. Even worse, all of his shooting percentages took a deep nosedive, while also coughing the ball up more on a game-to-game basis.
At 35 years of age and touting tons of mileage and injury history in his body, Simmons is probably correct. While there is a reasonable chance for George to improve those numbers, such an improvement will most likely be marginal. Expecting him to return to his Pacers/Thunder/Clippers self would be an exercise in futility.
Moving forward, the 76ers should know better than to inflate their expectations on Paul George. He is alreadu up there in age, and given the team’s new dynamic anyway, it is probably smart for the coaching staff to start reducing his role, even if gradually.