The Philadelphia 76ers must refine Paul George's offensive role, leveraging him as a secondary threat against the Boston Celtics' elite defense.
Bleacher Report's latest playoff-fit discussion is a reminder that Philadelphia still has choices to make regarding Paul George.
The Sixers could use George in a way that makes the defense concentrate on him. That means more secondary isolation, more attacking on closeouts, and more chances to attack after Tyrese Maxey forces the defense to rotate his direction.
George has still shown he can produce in those spots, averaging 17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists this season.
In theory, a secondary iso scorer behind Maxey gives the Sixers another way to survive when the possession breaks down. It also helps in the half-court, where George can create a shot without needing a set play to spring him open.
The problem is that Boston is built to make that idea harder than it sounds. The Celtics finished the regular season with a 112.7 defensive rating, and their wing foundation is built around Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, a pairing that can clamp down on the kind of shot creation that George thrives on.
That matters because Boston can guard George with bodies that are every bit as long and physical as he is; players such as Tatum, Brown, and Derrick White have the size and positional versatility to switch onto George and give him a tough time.
If Philadelphia tries to lean too hard into George's isolation, the Celtics can throw big wings at him, keep their eyes on any shooters, and make the possession end in a contested jumper. This makes the 76ers easy to game plan for and falls right into the Celtics' hands.
Overall, George still has value. But mostly as a secondary threat, not the primary engine. Against a team like Boston, Philadelphia needs to be efficient, decisive, and selective.
Utilizing George in a more supporting role would give Maxey a chance to breathe and stabilize the offense. If not, the Celtics' wing depth and defensive structure will make George's life far more difficult than it should be.
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Wes Dixon is a contributing writer to 76ersRoundtable. He can be reached at dixonwesley286@gmail.com.