By this time everybody is aware of the horrendous leg injury which befell the Pacer’s Paul George while scrimmaging with the Team USA Basketball All Stars last week. George suffered a compound fracture of both the tibia and the fibula of his lower right leg in an accident that was so gruesome that it ended the event that was being broadcast on live television. The shocked players and fans just didn’t want to continue in what was supposed to be a fun charity event. George’s stoic reaction and calm demeanor while being prepped and then taken to the hospital for emergency treatment had everyone who saw him describing him as “one hard-nosed hombre!”
After his surgery, George Twittered his thanks for all the fan support and promised that he would be back “better than ever.” It’s going to be a year of very hard work for the twenty-four-year-old George. It will be three months before he can put full weight on his leg. Then rebuilding the damaged and repaired tissue will take an intense and demanding therapy program. Fortunately, George is up to the challenging recovery program. The 2014-15 NBA season is out of the question for the Pacers star, even under the best of circumstances, however.
Where does that leave the Indiana Pacers? Some would say up the proverbial creek. Losing Lance Stephenson to free agency and even shopping Roy Hibbert for a trade shows how fragile roster building can be. Paul George was going to be “THE MAN” for his team this year. As it now stands, it is indeed fortunate that no Hibbert deal was consummated. Of course there are those that are already writing off the Pacers’ 2014-15 season and it’s hard not to go along with this POV. However, there are a number of experts who believe there is enough talent on the Indiana roster for the team to make another run for the playoffs. Solomon Hill, the team’s 2013 number one draft pick out of Arizona is being penciled in at the small forward spot to replace George. Hill had a solid rookie campaign and could take on starting responsibilities successfully. Replacing Stephenson at the shooting guard will most likely be Rodney Stuckey. Stuckey was a solid, dependable, if unspectacular performer during his seven seasons with the Detroit Pistons, so he will be a big change from Stephenson and perhaps a welcome one. It will be Hibbert who will have to really step up. The 7’2” center has been maddeningly inconsistent during his Pacers career, playing at an All Star level in some games and totally disappearing in others. His performance in this years’ playoffs was a disaster. He is 27 so it’s about time he matured and played on a professional level. If he doesn’t this year, well.. the elevator will be headed for the basement.