George's performance in Philadelphia is like a roller coaster, with ups and downs, especially his public dissatisfaction with coach Nurse's arrangement for him to play the No. 5 position, which has caused a great stir in public opinion. Once upon a time, he was in the Clippers, his performance could be said to be at its peak, with an average of 22.6 points, which made people look up to him. However, after moving to Philadelphia, his performance plummeted, making people wonder: Is this still the George we once knew?
Coach Nurse's tactical arrangement is undoubtedly the fuse of this turmoil. The decision to let George play the No. 5 position has aroused considerable controversy in the basketball world. George's public dissatisfaction has added fuel to the fire. Imagine a player who is used to chasing small players being arranged to top the center position. It's like asking a cat to swim; it just doesn't seem right.
George's teammates were not idle either. Emperor's teasing made people laugh: "If you don't play center, should I, a 2.13-meter-tall small guard, go to the No. 5 position?" Behind this joke lies the team's helplessness and confusion about George's position arrangement.
Media comments have further escalated this turmoil. Clippers reporter Esnaashari pointed out mercilessly: "Under the circumstances of poor team performance, George actually dared to say such words, which is too outrageous." These words are undoubtedly questioning George's professional attitude.
However, in the game against the Pelicans, George contributed 25 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals, seemingly responding to external doubts with practical actions. Despite this, the team still lost to an opponent lacking many main players, making George's performance somewhat embarrassing.
The decline in George's state is not only a personal issue but also a big problem for the Philadelphia management. Last year, he joined Philadelphia with a super-max contract of $212 million over four years, but now he is seen as a "poisonous contract," making Philadelphia the laughingstock of the entire NBA. League executives expressed that Philadelphia predicted George would decline, but they did not expect it to happen so quickly.
In this turmoil, James' performance is undoubtedly a stark contrast. At 38 years old, he still maintains a high level of competitive state, while George's decline makes people sigh: Not everyone can kill all directions like James at an advanced age.
George's performance in Philadelphia and his "poisonous contract" with the team have become hot topics in this season's NBA. Whether Philadelphia's tactical arrangements are really inappropriate? What is the reason for George's state decline? These questions are not only what the Philadelphia management needs to think about but also what the entire basketball world needs to reflect on. Perhaps George needs to re-examine his role positioning, and Philadelphia also needs to make adjustments in tactical arrangements. In any case, this turmoil not only brings us thinking about basketball tactics but also profound reflection on professional attitudes and teamwork. We hope George can regain his form in future games and prove that he is still a reliable player.