Guest Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers star, discusses various topics such as his take on Nikola Jokic, the Clippers' load management issue, developing rhythm with the team, playing with Kawhi Leonard, being overlooked in high school, leading the Indiana Pacers, their impact on the NBA, facing LeBron James and The Miami Heat, time with Russell Westbrook, and mental toll after injury.
The Clippers have the potential to excel in the playoffs despite their record and lack of a full season due to injuries and roster changes.
Kawhi Leonard's precision, efficiency, and defensive skills make him a standout player who adds immense value to the Clippers.
The Clippers' roster changes have made it challenging to establish on-court chemistry, but with time and a healthy roster, they have the potential to solidify their identity in the playoffs.
Deep dives
The Clippers' Record Doesn't Reflect Their Potential
The Clippers may not have a standout record, but they have the potential to be a strong contender in the playoffs. Due to injuries and roster changes, they haven't had a full season to showcase their abilities. With their talented roster, skilled coaching, and proven winners like Kawhi Leonard, they have the ability to make adjustments in a seven-game series and come out on top.
Kawhi Leonard's Impact on the Court
Kawhi Leonard is a standout player at his best, characterized by his precision, efficiency, and presence on both ends of the court. His work ethic, attention to detail, and dedication to his craft make him a force to be reckoned with. His strong defensive skills and ability to disrupt opposing teams' offense adds immense value to the Clippers.
The Clippers' Journey to Finding Their Identity
The Clippers' roster has undergone changes, making it challenging to establish on-court chemistry. With limited practice time, the team is still figuring out the best rotations and lineups. However, with time, practice, and a healthy roster, they have the potential to solidify their identity and perform at a high level in the playoffs.
Paul George's Growth and Development
Paul George has made significant strides in his game, evolving from a primarily spot-up shooter to a versatile wing player with exceptional ball-handling skills. Through dedication and hard work, he has increased his offensive capabilities and become a dynamic scoring threat. His defensive prowess and competitiveness further contribute to his impact on the court.
Playing as a close-knit team and defensive strategies
The podcast episode discusses the speaker's experience playing on a basketball team that emphasized closeness and teamwork. Despite not being the most talented team, their strong bond and hours of practice allowed them to understand each other's strengths and weaknesses on the court. They had a defensive strategy of utilizing drop coverage and having a strong low man to protect the paint. This approach, which is now commonly used in the NBA, impacted the way teams guarded in pick-and-roll situations.
Transitioning from being the main player to a complementary role
The speaker reflects on his journey from being the main player on the Indiana Pacers to accepting a complementary role in teams with other superstars. He realizes that in order to win a championship, he needs to be a team player and support the stars. He values self-awareness and acknowledges that his best performances came when he played alongside other great players. Despite having the ability to take over games, he recognizes the importance of fitting into a system to achieve team success.
We are thrilled to share this amazing conversation with our guest, Los Angeles Clippers star, Paul George. There is so much discussed on this episode and we really appreciate his willingness to be open and candid about a lot of things. Topics include: His take on Nikola Jokic and what makes him such a dominant force, The Clippers being the 'poster-child' for the NBA's load management issue and why blaming it all on the players is wrong, trying to develop a rhythm with The Clippers team given how little the team has actually played together, how much he loves playing with Kawhi Leonard and the confidence he brings to a team, why Paul George feels like he was overlooked in high school, his early days as an Indiana Pacers and how he earned the trust to lead that team, how he improved his game in Indy, reflecting on that 3-4 year stretch where The Pacers with Roy Hibbert, David West, George Hill were a legit threat in the Eastern Conference, how they feel that Pacers team changed the modern NBA, Paul shares his best Lance Stephenson stories, the moment Paul George burst into superstardom by blowing by LeBron James and The Miami Heat, describing the challenge of beating LeBron and The Heatles in a 4-game series and how putting Chris Bosh at the 5 spot changed everything that series, his time with Russell Westbrook on The Oklahoma City Thunder and how Paul came to his own conclusion that he could likely not be the best player on a Championship team after his injury, the mental toll it took for PG to come back from that injury and so much more.
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