![]() Just as it did with Leonard, George’s playmaking took a massive jump in year 11. The Clippers run beautiful actions in Ty Lue’s offense, but George pulling up from three - he made 40.3 percent of those looks - can be just as good. That resulted in the best true-shooting percentage of George’s career as he posted his highest-ever usage (31.2 percent of possessions). He made 51.0 percent of his twos, his highest percentage since his rookie year, and 41.1 percent of his threes. George had an outstanding shooting season. The Clippers made history this season by making the conference finals for the first time, and that doesn’t happen without George. Whatever shortcomings the team had in the playoffs couldn’t be placed on him. If anyone on the Clippers needed redemption in 2020-21, it was Paul George, and he came through. He absorbed an extended minutes load - it became almost obscene once Leonard went out - and attacked the glass in smaller lineups. Once the playoffs began, George recaptured his Indiana Pacers postseason form and raised his level befitting a superstar. That led to some growing pains throughout the season as George dealt with turnovers, but it ultimately helped the veteran wing expand his game and become more impactful as a scorer. George was essentially the backup point guard, running the show when Kawhi Leonard was resting, even if he was playing next to Lou Williams. Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Imagesĭuring the regular season, George took advantage of the tutelage of assistant coach Chauncey Billups, who helped George hone his playmaking. Paul George had some indelible moments in his second season as a Clipper. He had a cold shooting spell immediately after returning from the foot injury otherwise, he was elite from 3-point range throughout the year until the month of May, when the Clippers packed it in. Aside from a bone edema in his right foot that cost him nine games, George was mostly available throughout the year, only missing the occasional game for load management, a decision that surely paid dividends in the postseason. George benefited from better health in 2020-21. He was third-team all-NBA during the regular season and among the top five postseason performers as he took his game to another level. This was a strong bounce back season for Paul George, and a necessary one after he had a playoffs he’d rather forget. His shooting numbers were 51.4/33.6/84.4.įuture contract status: George is entering the first year of a four-year max extension that he signed during the 2020 offseason. In the playoffs, George averaged 26.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game. He had a shooting slash line of 51.0/41.1/86.8. Key stats: During 54 regular season games, George averaged 23.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, and a career-high 5.2 assists per contest. Every day until the end of July, we’ll be taking a look back at the players who ended the season with the Clippers (apologies to Malik Fitts and Mfiondu Kabengele). Welcome to our annual Clippers season in review series.
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