The Philadelphia 76ers are surging as of late, having won eight of their last 11 games. With the team enjoying a much cleaner bill of health as of late, save for a singular hiccup for now, they are starting to grasp what they are capable of with such a talented roster. And with only four games separating them from the sixth seed, an outright playoff berth is still well within their reach.
Tyrese Maxey has been flaunting his clutch gene in recent games. Meanwhile, Joel Embiid is beginning to settle himself on the hardwood on his way back to his usual self. However, the same cannot be said for the third component of their Big Three. Paul George, whom the 76ers had high hopes for, has been absolutely underwhelming thus far.
George is currently posting his worst non-rookie marks across the board this season. Thus, it is not surprising that many are already penciling him in as having one of the worst contracts in the NBA. Philadelphia gifted him a max contract in free agency, only for the nine-time All-Star to turn in a pretty putrid personal campaign.
Norman Powell breaking out is making the 76ers look really bad for signing Paul George to a max contract
Given George’s poor start, his former team is probably realizing that it may have actually dodged a bullet. The LA Clippers, while still without Kawhi Leonard in a jampacked Western Conference race, have remained relatively competitive even without George. Behind their rather impressive run this season are James Harden and Norman Powell.
Powell in particular has been incredible, averaging 24.2 points per game on a stellar 49.5 percent shooting from the field, including a glistening 46.6 percent conversion rate from three-point territory. He has played like an All-Star, and his consistency has made the Clippers forget they ever lost George.
The veteran has previously dismissed, albeit magnanimously, George’s exit as an addition by subtraction, and at this rate, it would be really difficult to counter his point. The Clippers have remained a steady boat all throughout, and Powell’s breakout season is only making the 76ers look bad for going all-in on their new, steeply declining star.
There is still way too much basketball to toss aside the possibility of Paul George regaining his form as one of the league’s most lethal two-way snipers, but until he manages to do just that, he would remain entrenched as one of the biggest disappointments in the league, with the Philadelphia 76ers bearing the full grunt of signing him.