Paul George is a greater match on the Celtics than he will get credit score for

Boston Celtics

George put out a playoff-caliber defensive depth in his preseason debut.

COMMENTARY

It was exhausting to keep away from the chatter when Celtics followers who’d hoped to land Giannis Antetokounmpo for Jaylen Brown witnessed their beloved franchise commerce away its longest-tenured star for Paul George as a substitute.

Why quit Jaylen Brown for a package deal centered round an older, worse defender with the identical talent set Brown already offered? That gave the impression to be the overwhelmingly widespread sentiment on the time.

Effectively, it’s solely been one preseason sport, and George is already turning that narrative on its head. As a result of positive, he’s older. That’s an incontrovertible fact. However George was — and stays — a star within the NBA. And he took his preseason debut critically.

George’s offensive stat line: 13 factors, 5 rebounds, 4 assists. Comparatively atypical. However one metric stands out: 5 steals. Sure, 5.

George flew everywhere in the defensive finish with an depth as if he have been taking part in in an elimination playoff sport. Joe Mazzulla’s philosophies have clearly sunk proper into George. He appeared solely targeted on profitable a basketball sport in any respect prices. Exhibition, common season, NBA Finals, the setting didn’t matter. George got here to compete.

Positive, there might have been some further juice concerned with taking part in his former staff. However that displaying didn’t really feel like George was motivated for the flawed causes. He didn’t simply wish to stick it to the 76ers. He appeared like he was proving he belonged in Boston.

And belong he does.

George gave the impression to be the right complement to the Celtics offense. He helps area the ground for Jayson Tatum. He bought into a great rhythm with Payton Pritchard. Every thing that Celtics followers might have hoped to see from the veteran, he delivered on. 

And George appears joyful to imagine the position of Robin to Tatum’s Batman, one thing that by no means appeared to meet Brown — which is inside his rights, provided that he got here in a 12 months earlier than Tatum and developed right into a celebrity in his personal proper. However George has already been “the man.” He mentioned previous to Friday’s matchup that he’s prepared to assist Tatum step even additional into the highlight, and he reiterated it postgame.

“My job is to attempt to make this as straightforward as potential for him,” George mentioned. “Right this moment was the primary alternative to form of be taught one another and get a really feel for each other … he’s going to be particular, he is aware of easy methods to make performs, easy methods to get his personal shot. However my aggression takes the strain off him.”

If George can keep wholesome for even 70 p.c of the season, this nucleus in Boston seems to be a power within the East as soon as once more. Now, that’s an enormous if, contemplating George has missed appreciable quantities of time previously. His sturdiness can be held below a microscope, regardless that Boston ought to be capable of handle his workload with a few of the youthful items of its surprisingly deep roster.

George has by no means received an NBA championship. He by no means bought shut with the Indiana Pacers, and he didn’t make all of it that far in his stints with the Thunder, Clippers, or 76ers, both. However Boston has a championship pedigree, and George nonetheless has the starvation to win the one factor he hasn’t been capable of declare in his illustrious profession: a Finals ring. 

So for all of the unfavourable buzz that surrounded the Brown-George commerce, Boston may need struck gold with their new celebrity. He’s purchased in fully.

“It’s like a badge of honor to put on that inexperienced,” George mentioned.