George not apologizing for pointed comments toward teammates
- Game 3: Cavaliers at Pacers, 7 p.m. Thursday, TNT
INDIANAPOLIS – Paul George is not apologizing for pointed comments about his teammates following two playoff losses in Cleveland. The Pacers’ star forward did not think his teammates were offended. He did not believe he had caused friction in the locker room. And most importantly, George would rather be an NBA champion than politically correct.
With the Pacers down 2-0 to the Cavaliers heading into Game 3 on Thursday night, this is no time for whining. It’s time for winning. For those who viewed George as throwing his teammates under the bus, he had a direct response.
“Complete ignorance, to be honest with you,” George said following Wednesday’s practice at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, the venue for Game 3. “Everybody knows how close I am with my teammates. To really make that the highlight of the series?
“That’s what this thing is about — winning, trying to win, trying to bring a championship to Indy and trying to get out of this first round. That was the only story that needed to be written about. For them to say I’m a selfish teammate, or I don’t think about my teammates, or I’m throwing my teammates under the bus? I didn’t say anything bad about my teammates, other than what I think my teammates can do down the stretch in order to help this team win. I didn’t say anything that was even close to throwing them under the bus. Our locker room is still great. And I’m still very pleased with all of my teammates.”
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To review, George said Pacers guard Lance Stephenson had to be more composed following Game 2.
“He’s got to learn to control himself and be in the moment,” George said of Stephenson. “His body language has to improve — just for the team. We all know that Lance is an emotional guy. A lot of that is his heart and competitiveness. That emotion comes out of him. He’s got to channel that toward making effort plays on the court and doing whatever he needs for us to succeed.”
George also made comments about starting center Myles Turner, who averaged 14.5 points and 7.3 rebounds during the regular season, but had just six points and five boards in Game 2.
“He needs to make himself available down in the low post,” George said of Turner. “He needs to know at this point he needs to take it to the next level. We’ll continue to work with him.”
There was already criticism being thrown toward George following Game 1, after saying that he, not C.J. Miles, should have taken the last shot in Game 1. Miles missed a jumper just before the final buzzer in a one-point loss.
Asked about George’s remarks, Stephenson confirmed he had no issue with George. When the Pacers signed Stephenson late in the season, George backed that move enthusiastically.
“That’s my brother,” Stephenson said. “You know how when brothers get mad at each other.
“I feel like I got a little out of hand, being frustrated with Kevin Love scoring on me. I don’t like to get took three times in a row.”
Seeing George become more outspoken during the playoffs is an interesting dynamic. He has been criticized in the past for not being a vocal leader, despite being the Pacers’ best player, whose dynamic play carried them into the playoffs.
“If I didn’t say nothing, it would’ve been another story,” George said. “I didn’t lose no sleep over it. I was fine being the so-called villain.”
How the Pacers respond in Game 3 will help determine if this is a short series or a long one. George thinks his teammates may respond differently hearing comments from him, rather than from coach Nate McMilllan.
“Sometimes it carries a little bit more weight, because that’s the guy you’re on the floor with,” George said. “Sometimes players see things different than coaches. But not to say my voice is more important, or stronger, or heavier, than coach Nate.”
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McMillan said he did not have an issue with anything George said.
“You challenge your teammates,” McMillan said. “You believe in each other. You trust each other. Has there been any feelings that guys are hurt or anything like that in our locker room? We’re good. We’re ready to go.
“The coach is going to have his voice. They get tired of listening to that. You’re going to need those voices, or that voice, out on the floor.”
The biggest issue for the Pacers is not what George is saying, but how the Cavaliers are playing. Regardless of what George says after Game 3, if he is talking about another defeat, the Pacers will be on the brink of elimination.
Follow IndyStar reporter Clifton Brown on Twitter: @CliftonGBrown
Game 3: Cavaliers at Pacers, 7 p.m. Thursday, TNT