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Paul George to start at PF for Indiana Pacers

ByJohn Buhler|
Apr 10, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) brings the ball up court during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pacers won 107-103. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 10, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) brings the ball up court during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pacers won 107-103. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

According to Candace Buckner of Indy Star Sports, Indiana Pacers head coach Frank Vogel plans to start Paul George at power forward this season.

In a league that is trending more towards smaller lineups, Indiana Pacers head coach Frank Vogel wants to not only play Paul George at power forward, but wants him to start there. In Vogel’s mind, the ideal starting five for the Pacers in 2015-16 would be George Hill, Monta Ellis, C.J. Miles, Paul George, and Ian Mahinmi, one through five. George has been sensational at small forward the last several years in Indianapolis.

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When healthy, Paul George is a top-five talent in the NBA, but kept in mind he is coming off a gruesome leg injury suffered last offseason playing for the US Men’s National Team in Las Vegas. George missed all but a handful of late games in 2015 for the Pacers, as Indiana missed out on the Eastern Conference playoffs to the eighth seed Brooklyn Nets by a game.

Does George have the versatility to play stretch four at times for the Pacers? Certainly, but to start 82 games at power forward coming off his leg injury is a bit ambitious for Vogel. Indiana scrapped their big bruiser mentality this offseason with former power forward David West on the San Antonio Spurs and former center Roy Hibbert now with the Los Angeles Lakers.

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Indiana plans to use jump shooters and defensive versatility to win in the strong Central Division in 2015-16. Ellis, Miles, and George can all create their own shot and if Hill can limit his turnovers, then it could work offensively for the Pacers this winter. The challenge lies in if Paul George can handle the physical toll of playing the four every night and if Ian Mahinmi is ready for a starting role in Frank Vogel’s system.

Vogel is a great defensive-minded coach, so perhaps this drastic shift in defensive strategy will pay off for the Pacers and get them back into the NBA playoffs. However, will Paul George be able to hold up at power forward against the big interiors of the division rivals (Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, and Milwaukee)? The Small Ball Era’s biggest litmus test will reside in the Crossroads of America this season. This could get Indiana back to the Eastern Conference Finals or yield disastrous results.

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