The Philadelphia 76ers managed to turn in impressive back-to-back wins to keep them alive in the race for a top-six seed in the East and a guaranteed playoff spot, but it is pretty apparent that this team will be needing much more firepower to truly be a threat to the teams currently slotted above them.
Fortunately, it seems like they will be getting exactly that pretty soon. Paul George is set to return from his league suspension in nearly a week. And more importantly, head coach Nick Nurse bared that the coaching staff will not be imposing any restrictions when he gets back on the hardwood for the first time since January 29.
As per Sixers insider Austin Krell, Nurse said that there is no ramp-up period expected for George, and that he will be ready to go once he returns from his suspension. This development could not have come at a better time for the 76ers, especially since they are already missing three of their other starters due to varying injuries.
The 76ers will be getting Paul George soon to boost their chase for a playoff spot
Already in his 16th year in the league and inching closer to celebrating his 36th birthday, George is, without a doubt, a shell of his former self. But having said that, he still has a lot left in the tank, albeit in a reduced role that is not as taxing on his aging body.
The nine-time All-Star is averaging just 16 points per game this season, which is the lowest mark in his career since his sophomore campaign in Indiana. His all-around production has remained, though, as he is tallying nightly averages of 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists. He is also draining more than 38 percent of his attempts from three-point territory with defenses basically treating him as their best spot-up shooter.
George is also still a very competent asset on the defensive end. He is registering 1.5 steals per outing, and while he is no longer the one-on-one savant that he was well-known for on defense, he remains a highly intelligent defender who can clean up a lot of mistakes on the 76ers’ collective game plan on D.
The 76ers are still only within striking distance for a guaranteed playoff spot, and with their shorthanded lineup successfully holding down the fort in the meantime, having Paul George (and a few others) back will be huge, especially as they aim to build momentum heading into April.