By: Matt Luchini
Twitter: @matt_luchini
Paul George has been subjected to endless criticism, both in the regular season and postseason throughout the course of his 11-year NBA career. This criticism reached its peak during the 2020 Western Conference Semifinals against the Denver Nuggets as the Clippers choked away a 3-1 series lead and were eliminated from the bubble. In Game 7 of the series vs Denver, George finished with 10 points on 4/16 shooting; not what you want out of your second best player in a win-or-go home situation. Due to the coverage the 2020 NBA Bubble received in the middle of a world-wide pandemic, George’s struggles were put on display for the entire world to see. George’ became one of the laughing stocks of the Bubble, with his struggles earning him the nickname “Pandemic P” by Twitter users across the platform.
George has since responded to his poor performances in the 2020 NBA Playoffs in dramatic fashion. In 18 games so far in the 2021 NBA Playoffs, George has scored at least 20 points in each game. When Kawhi Leonard went down with a knee injury in the second round against the Utah Jazz, George became the guy for the Clippers. Since Leonard has been out of the lineup, George has averaged 30.8 points per game, 11.2 rebounds per game, and 6.1 assists per game while playing about 40 minutes per game. The Clippers have gotten contributions from other players, such as Reggie Jackson and Terrance Mann, but George has clearly been the best player on the court for the Clippers since Leonard’s injury. Game 5 of the 2021 Western Conference Finals may have been George’s greatest playoff game of his career, putting up 41 points on 75% shooting, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists in 41 minutes, while on the road against the Phoenix Suns.
The Clippers are still in a tough spot. They still face a 3-2 series deficit against the Suns and it is unclear when or if Kawhi will return in the series. If he doesn’t, George will need to continue his hot streak he’s been on since the start of the playoffs. If he is able to lead the Clippers to a series win after being down 3-1, the “Pandemic P” days might be over.
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