Paul George Needs To Step Up As Leader
The franchise player and team leader are normally synonymous but not in Indiana – that needs to change. Although, Paul George is still transitioning into being a full blown superstar he has to better understand the responsibilities of that role.
David West has been the on-court leader for some time now and maybe George is comfortable with it. Unfortunately, West is aging and it is time for the All-Star guard to assume the leadership position. With both Hibbert and Stephenson both questionable to return next season, George needs to accept the fact he is the face of the franchise and act accordingly. He plays great on both ends of the court, nobody can question his talent, but during tough stretches his team hit this postseason, he should’ve stepped up to rally his team. Someone has to light that fire and push their teammates to perform at a high level. Someone has to stop the bleeding and instill confidence in a team that rightfully earned the number one seed in the East. Nobody seemed to do that and it showed not only in the team’s performance, but in their body language as well. They give up entirely too easy and that comes from lack of leadership.
As the face of a franchise and an All-Star, Paul George needs to address that issue moving forward.