Paul George opens up on his pre-season conversation with Ty Lue after dropping impressive performance against Kings - "I know I am able to be number one option... I am very confident in my ability"
Paul George added 40 points, six rebounds and six assists as the LA Clippers went past the Sacramento Kings, 111-109. The Clippers went 2-0 up in the season and the Kings fell to 0-2.
On a night where De'Aaron Fox was perhaps the best player on the floor (36 points, 15/23 FG) and Summer League MVP Keegan Murray put up 19 points on 7-for-10 shooting, Paul George managed to eclipse both of these performers, with the Kings coming mighty close to snatching a win.
De'Aaron Fox hit the buzzer beater and almost completed the comeback vs. the Clippers 🚨
Kings lose 111-109. https://t.co/P3HzewqtEm
Speaking with Andrew Greif of the LA Times, George spoke about his conversations around number one and two options with coach Tyronn Lue:
"I mean it was an easy conversation. I pride myself in being that guy that enjoys doing everything. I enjoy that, I enjoy being the glue guy ... I know I'm able to be the number one option on nights and number one option during posessions, I am very aware and very confident in my abilities." (via) Andrew Greif
Paul George on his preseason conversation with Ty Lue. Lue said earlier that he’d told PG to stay aggressive while Kawhi works his way back to full strength. https://t.co/SsjFIsXGpo
George had previously explcitly stated that he had no issues being the number two option, and that people categorizing the Leonard/George duo as 1 and 2 instead of 1-A and 1-B didn't bother him.
In addition to Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers' depth likely makes them title favourites
Since forming one of the most formidable duos in the league, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have been met only with disappointment.
When Kawhi first came to the Clippers on the condition that the team trade for George, the Clippers immediately became title contenders, however, the two have yet to bring the Clippers some hardware.
Their first season together (2019-20) was stained by the breakout of the COVID-19 pandemic. They finished second in the Western Conference and lost to the Denver Nuggets in the conference semifinals.
The Clippers managed to fight their to the conference finals the following season, but with Kawhi Leonard being injured, were put away in six games by the Phoenix Suns.
Kawhi Leonard sat out for the entirety of the 2021-22 NBA season, with Paul George starting in only 31 games. The Clippers finished eighth in the conference and lost in the play-in tournament twice, failing to secure a spot in the playoffs.
Now, however, the Clippers are arguably the deepest team in the league. At least three players who started most of last season could be relegated to the bench with the acquisition John Wall.
Although Reggie Jackson started in the two games the Clippers have played in, Wall could still be on a minute-restriction, given how long he has been away from professional basketball.
In the aforementioned two games, one against the Lakers and one against the Kings, the Clippers had six players scoring double-digit points in the first game and four players in double-digits in the second.
The bench had a lesser defensive presence in the first game, with the bench having a box plus-minus of -7 but were +9 against the Kings. Luke Kennard did most of the heavy-lifting off the bench, with +15.
With players like Norman Powell, Luke Kennard, Nicolas Batum and Terence Mann on the bench, the Clippers have their best chance to win an NBA title this season.