While VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey will steal the spotlight from the Philadelphia 76ers' shock 111-97 victory over the Boston Celtics, Paul George's critical performance also deserves its flowers. The 35-year-old has finally accepted that his role on this roster is not to be the leading superstar, but a 3-and-D presence who can lay a stable foundation for his electric teammates to build upon -- something the Sixers have not had in recent postseason campaigns.
Throughout his first year with the Sixers, George struggled to comprehend his role as the third offensive option behind both Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. The lines have become more blurred for George with the emergence of the sensational Edgecombe, forcing the veteran forward further down the pecking order.
It can’t be easy for a household name like Paul George to set aside his ego and allow his younger teammates to take over on the floor, but it is now clear that he has embraced this reduced role to tremendous effect.
George's new role could shape the entire Celtics series
For as long as time itself, the Philadelphia 76ers have been desperate to acquire a forward who can provide an effective presence on the defensive end of the floor, while also contributing from deep. If Game 2 of the 76ers' playoff matchup with the Celtics is anything to go by, this is a role that suits an aging Paul George to perfection.
The Boston Celtics possess a wide array of weapons that can hurt you in any given minute. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Derrick White are just a few names who can bury countless shots from three-point range and swing a game's momentum on less than a minute's notice. George's versatility and defensive acumen allowed him to switch between his opponents and disrupt their production on a night where the 76ers could not afford to lose.
Offensively, George was just as impactful. Despite taking seven fewer shots than Edgecombe and 15 fewer than Maxey, the former LA Clippers star still scored 19 points while shooting 53.8% (7-of-13) from the floor. George’s spacing and patient offensive approach also allowed his teammates to get to their spots with ease
Accepting his new 3-and-D role is just the first step for Paul George; the Philadelphia 76ers need to see this version of the veteran consistently. With a player of his calibre complementing the explosive duo of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, the Sixers have every chance of clinching a shock series victory over the Boston Celtics.
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