In recent games, Paul George's performance has been nothing short of disappointing, especially in crucial moments. Despite being a key player for the Clippers, he has become a burden to the team during decisive moments. For example, in the recent game against the Kings, the Clippers were once leading, but George made consecutive mistakes in the last three minutes and missed multiple shots, ultimately resulting in the team's reversal and loss.
It's frustrating when he can't hold up under pressure in critical moments and instead gives opponents an opportunity. In contrast, another player, Bobby Kobe, has shone brightly. Who would have thought that Bobby Kobe, who was not highly regarded, could almost bring the Clippers out of a dead end with one precise three-pointer after another? Especially in the game against Philadelphia, he calmly took over the game in the crucial moments, demonstrating a level of efficiency that is currently lacking in George.
A netizen commented after the game: Honestly, George's current performance is really disheartening, especially those mistakes in crucial moments; it's hard to believe he's an All-Star player. And what about Bobby Kobe? He's a treasure; his role in the team is growing, and he's truly a cost-effective player. This statement is spot on; George's state is becoming increasingly unstable, while Bobby Kobe, despite a significant salary difference, seems to understand how to stand out and lead the team in critical moments.
George's inefficient offense has become a major concern for the Clippers this season. His choices in one-on-one situations are often frustrating to watch. Sometimes you see George holding the ball, just swaying back and forth, trying to do some fancy moves, which directly wastes valuable offensive time and sometimes even results in a miss. Everyone knows that in crucial moments of NBA games, you need to be calm and efficient, but George often makes overly complex moves at such times, which disrupts the team's offensive rhythm.
Netizens have expressed dissatisfaction with this issue: George's playing style is really unpredictable, especially in crucial moments. It's not that he can't play, but he always tries to be flashy, resulting in turnovers and inefficiency, which is a big problem. This is also a very realistic problem; George seems to always make showy moves, attempting to solve problems through individual skills, but what's truly needed are more reasonable offensive choices and teamwork.
Compared to George, Bobby Kobe's performance this season can be described as efficient and stable. He makes more rational choices on the offensive end, choosing to shoot quickly or break through to create damage when facing defense, making his offense more efficient, and his decision-making in the game is relatively calmer. In contrast, George seems to always focus on personal performance, neglecting how to better drive the team's offense.
Moreover, Bobby Kobe's salary is only $19 million, a world apart from George's top salary. Can we say that his performance is just slightly better? No, Bobby Kobe's performance is incredibly cost-effective; he can maintain high efficiency even when not highly regarded, and his presence is like icing on the cake for the Clippers.
Looking at George, although he has a top salary contract, his performance on the court is increasingly questionable. Is his current salary really worth it? The problem doesn't just lie with George. The Clippers' lineup looks pretty good, but George's performance has yet to break the deadlock. Other players in the team are not lacking in ability, but they seem to struggle to provide the necessary support to George in crucial moments.
The situation in Philadelphia is even more complicated - without a top point guard, George's offensive organization is extremely difficult, especially in the final quarter, where his inefficient offense directly leads to the team's offensive stagnation. Even Maxi's performance fails to make up for George's shortcomings, and Philadelphia's offense repeatedly hits bottlenecks, with offensive efficiency continuously declining.
Netizens have pointed out: What Philadelphia needs now is not just a scorer, but also a point guard who can lead the offense in crucial moments. If George could effectively organize the offense, the situation might improve, but apparently, he is not the leader who can lead the team right now.
This is also a major expectation for George, as he should be the kind of player who can withstand pressure in crucial moments and lead the team out of difficulties. Unfortunately, it seems he hasn't fully developed this ability. The biggest problem George faces right now is his offensive inefficiency. In crucial moments, he often makes irrational choices, greatly limiting his role in the game.
Perhaps in his mind, he still focuses too much on personal performance, ignoring how to drive the team as a whole. In fact, if George could pay more attention to tactical execution and reasonable offense, he could potentially become a core player for the team, but currently, the problems are still significant.
In the future, George needs to quickly adjust his state, especially in terms of decision-making and efficiency on the offensive end. If he can't improve his performance in crucial moments, he will face greater challenges. The Clippers need a player who can step up in crucial moments, not someone who only shines in the regular season.
Otherwise, as he gets older, George's competitive state may further decline, affecting the team's performance. A netizen's summary is quite apt: If George can't make changes on the offensive end, his career may go downhill, after all, the NBA is a place where efficiency and decision-making matter.
These words really hit the nail on the head. Although George is still a capable player, whether he can maintain competitiveness depends on how he adjusts himself, especially in crucial moments. If he can successfully regain his form, perhaps the Clippers still have a chance to regain their top-level competitiveness. But if he continues to be inefficient, the future of the Clippers may become increasingly difficult.