No. 1 player on LA Clippers that should take buzzer-beater shots in 2021-22: Paul George
I understand that Paul George wasn’t at his best as a shooter in the postseason last year for the LA Clippers.
I also know that he was just starting to heat up before Kawhi went down and defenses smothered George all game, every game.
He was shooting 36.1% from three before Leonard went out, and 44.4% from the field. His field goal percentage was still a 44.1% in the playoffs as a whole, so it was really only his three-point shooting that went down. He finished with a 33.6% three-point percentage.
Now, I understand that Leonard is going to be absent again for likely a pretty big portion of the season. I also know that George now has experience dealing with that absence. Last postseason is only going to make George’s mental stronger, which of course improves a hooper’s jumper.
We’re paying George $39 million next year. I want him taking every important shot unless Kawhi comes back.
And it’s not a bad choice at all. Don’t put much stock in the whole ‘Pandemic P’ narrative. George is a great shooter, and always has been.
The facts are that he shot a career-high 46.7% last year, and almost hit his career high 0f 41.2% from three (he shot 41.1%). The seven-time All-Star is one of the best players in the Western Conference, and so many teams would kill to have PG be there to take a game-winner for them.
Give me PG13 at the buzzer this season. I want him at the buzzer every single time until the best player in the Western Conference comes back for us (hopefully by February). You won’t be disappointed.