LA Clippers First Half Loves #1: Point Paul George
My number one biggest love from the first half of the season for the LA Clippers has been the rise of Paul George the point guard.
Now, has PG really been the PG for the Clips? Not really; Patrick Beverley has filled that role for the LA Clippers, especially on defense. But on offense, the team has relied on George to be the initiator more than he ever has, and it’s working out well.
Paul George is averaging a career high in assists, and it’s not particularly close. Looking at his per 100 possessions statistics tells the story best, as it normalizes for minutes played and accounts for how he’s been used year by year. Before this year, his best season in terms of assists per 100 possessions was last year, in which he averaged 6.2 assists per 100 possessions.
Before that, his best showing was 2012-13 with the Indiana Pacers, where he put up 5.9 assists per 100 possessions. Flash forward to this year, and Paul George’s new role with the LA Clippers has him putting up 8 assists per 100 possessions. The Clips have given him the reins to initiate the offense, and he’s performing.
He’s been effective in scoring with the ball in his hands, too. Per NBA stats, Paul George scores 1.15 points per possession as the isolation ball handler, which puts him in the 87th percentile league-wide. Similarly, he scores 1.02 points per possession as the pick and roll ball handler, which puts him in the 85th percentile league-wide.
On the two most common plays in the NBA – isolation and pick and rolls – Paul George is in the top 15% of scorers, and he’s distributing the ball better than he ever has before. If he keeps getting more and more comfortable as the initiator of the offense, a point guard with his physical profile who can score as easily as he can will be devastating.
Did I miss anything you loved from the first half of the season? Be sure to let us know on social media and here in the comments section, and follow along for all things LA Clippers!