The Los Angeles Clippers hold a 3-2 lead over the Dallas Mavericks after a statement victory in Game 5. Paul George shrugged off his poor performances in the last few games and proved why he has superstar status in the league.
Heading into Game 5, George was shooting less than 30% from the field. Now that’s unexpected! But things fell into place for him after a historic 35 point stat line in Game 5.
In the post-match interview, George opened up about his shooting struggles. He admitted to being in a ‘dark place’ and being unable to find his rhythm in the Playoffs.
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Paul George’s post-game comments not well received by Raja Bell
Raja Bell recently appeared on The Ringer NBA Show and was not impressed by PG’s admission to being in a bad place. In fact, Bell openly criticized George for opening up in front of fans.
“Keep that sh*t to yourself.” said Bell. “Nobody wants to hear Paul George is checked out, he’s the second-best player on the team.”
Raja Bell on Paul George admitting that he had been in a dark place mentally while in the bubble “keep that shit to yourself, nobody wants to hear that” pic.twitter.com/RPtAUGmCmb
— ClipperTalk (@ClipperTalk) August 26, 2020
According to Bell, nobody is interested in hearing the reasons behind his poor slump of performances. Moreover, Raja believes George should have kept his issues to himself and performed at an elite level. The reason being, George is the second-best player on the team and he needs to act like one.
Playoffs mode activated for Paul George?
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Despite winning by a mile in Game 5, the Clippers aren’t completely out of danger yet. The Mavs European duo of Doncic and Porzingis can still tie the series at 3 games apiece.
For the Clippers to succeed, George has to be consistent with his performances. The fact that he went ice cold in the middle of the Playoffs is a concerning matter for the Clippers.
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Paul George looked confident and motivated during Game 5 of the series. This determined PG is what the Clippers need in their team right now. Kawhi Leonard is doing his regular postseason thing while Lou Williams is giving his best from the bench.
The deciding factor for the Clippers vs Mavericks series will be the six-time All-Star, Paul George. However, if Game 5 is any indication, Playoff P is back, and it means nothing but trouble for the Mavs.