How Much Did Paul George really lose since his injury?

Professor Emeritus

Professor Emeritus

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ade said:
I agree with what you're saying but I feel like major difference between PG and KD is shot selection and BB IQ.

Yes PG did come in Raw...but he"s developed into a terrific talent and offensively there's nothing he cannot do on the floor. I understand that he"ll never have KD"s inate scoring skills But his natural abilities are pretty close.

KD mixes his game where he scores from the inside and outside equally
KD developed his handle
KD gets to the line
KD can create for others

Why doesn't PG excel at any of these? PG can and should be much better player
Click to expand...

I think people way underestimate how difficult all those things are. You have the greatest players in the world on the other side of the court trying to stop you from doing what you're doing. Lots of players "want" better shot selection but they can't get the shots they want, so they have to settle for those crap ones. Lots of players "want" to get to the line but the defense is adjusting constantly to keep that from happening. Lots of players "want" to create for others but the other team sees the pass you want to make before you actually make it. Even Durant wasn't particularly good at creating for others until recently.

BBall IQ is something you can develop, but if you have a head start then you're always ahead of the game. Durant's BBIQ isn't incredible, but it's above average. PG13's is below average. PG13 can work to make his better, but he's starting from behind. He probably does want to mix up his game, but doesn't know how to pick the right spots because the defense is intent on forcing him to do what they want him to do. That's prolly why he (and Westbrook) are so historically awful on game-winners - they're too often taking the wrong shot because the defense knows how to take away the right shot, and they don't know the counter.

Durant, Lebron, Curry, etc. they all keep developing all the right counters. Players like PG13, Klay, Westbrook...they're still great, but they're great doing the thing they do as hard as they can and hoping it works - they don't really develop their weak points because the other guys is always going to stay a step ahead of them on the right counters.
 
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