Larry Bird on Paul George: ‘He Don’t Make the Decisions Around Here’

[Big Bid'Ness]

 


Larry Bird on Paul George: ‘He Don’t Make the Decisions Around Here’

Late last week, Indiana Pacers president Larry Bird spoke from Summer League in Las Vegas, and discussed his team’s desire to play at a faster pace next season.
 
Bird also mentioned that he wants Paul George to play at the power forward spot, something PG says he’s willing to do … but not exclusively.
George is coming a devastating leg injury, and won’t have much of a say in his position change, according to Larry Legend.
Gregg Doyel @GreggDoyelStar

Pacers' Larry Bird on Paul George not wanting to play major minutes at power forward: "He don't make decisions around here." Column coming.

2:13 PM - 14 Jul 2015

Per the AP:
After announcing the signings of three players Tuesday, Indiana’s president of basketball operations made his most extensive and direct comments yet about playing the 6-foot-9, 220-pound swingman at a new spot. [...] “I’m not going to get into a battle about where Paul George will play,” Bird said. “He’s a basketball player and we can put him anywhere out there.”
 
Before heading to Florida to watch the Pacers’ summer league team play, coach Frank Vogel told reporters he had not determined how much time George would log at power forward. On Saturday at a local basketball camp, George said that while he’s willing to play anywhere, he didn’t anticipate playing 30 minutes per game at that spot. [...] “He don’t make the decisions around here. But I did it, and I loved it after I did it,” Bird said, drawing laughter.
 
The flurry of offseason moves has left no doubt that George will get some time as a stretch four. The question is how much time? [...] He added later: “I know what it did for my career and coming off this injury, I think it would be a good thing because he can still guard some threes, but he doesn’t have to do it all the time.”

 
Time to get man handled in the post.

 

[Pugz]

hes gonna play his game still. if anything, people will fest on him.

 

[buzzy]

Seems like sooner or later all PF spots are gonna be filled by SFs anyway

 

[dez]

Front offices trying to take back the power..
This may not end to well for Indy..

 

[cruzg24]

How is this any beneficial for Paul George? He is going to get eaten alive in the post. Hes their go to scorer and then expect him to lock down bigs? This is a terrible idea considering he is trying to get back from that injury, I know hes back but he didnt play much at the end of the year.

 

[Pugz]

its more beneficial for the team. he would pull the defense out. hed be fine until they play a team with a traditional type power forward.

 

[cruzg24]

Yea I guess youre right.